Tai Mei Tuk is the gateway to some of the finest, most beautiful scenery

AN austere room in one of the first government housing estates in dingy Shamshuipo is the unlikely starting point for an escape into some of the SAR's most scenic retreats.

Welcome to Block 19, Shekkipmei Estate, home to the Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association (HKYHA).

The remote Plover Cove Reservoir area has so much to offer, you really need two days to take in the sights and enjoy the recreational activities. And that is where the HKYHA comes in: it has a hostel right next to the dam wall at Tai Mei Tuk, offering dormitories and private rooms. This would be the first time I had stayed anywhere overnight on a Weekend Walkabout.

I joined the association at its headquarters, paying the $110 annual subscription fee, and then booked a private double room for one night at the Tai Mei Tuk hostel, Bradbury Lodge, for only $190.

The hostels offer basic accommodation and communal kitchens where you can cook your own food. Check-in is not until 4pm on weekdays and you must leave by 10am. The times are more flexible at weekends, but I went mid-week.

I was a little concerned that my plans would go awry when I arrived at Tai Mei Tuk at midday. I was carrying a fairly heavy rucksack, and had hoped to go cycling that afternoon. Would they let me leave my bag at the hostel? I was lucky. The warden was still on the premises, and allowed me to drop off the bag in my room. The following morning, when I wanted to go trekking, she put my luggage in the office for safe-keeping, telling me to return after 4pm.

Tai Mei Tuk, in the northeast New Territories, offers arguably the most beautiful scenery in the SAR, nestling under steep mountains and overlooking Plover Cove and the reservoir, which covers nearly 12 square kilometres.