A communications tower on the Chinese side of the border pokes its head up over Robin’s Nest (492 metres) like something out of a sci-fi movie.

The pavilion makes for a good resting spot for hikers; it’s also close to a drivable road – but taxi drivers may need a little persuasion to venture here.

Getting there: the pavilion stands to the east of Fanling, above Nam Chung, just off the Wilson Trail, about 15 minutes’ hike from the end of South Bay Road.

Silver Dragon Waterfall, Lantau

Mui Wo’s main waterfall, a gentle stroll from the pier, is prominently touted in tourist literature and infested with day trippers as often as not. So walk past it and climb up the hill past Silvermine Cave to where Ngan Leung – Silver Dragon – cascades 10 metres down a cliff into a deliciously swimmable pool.

It’s by no means easily accessible, and reaching it requires scrambling up a steep, rocky path. But the effort makes getting to the top all the more worthwhile.

A thundering torrent, fine panoramas over the valley, and a bathing spot tailor-made by nature – there’s usually nobody else around, so swimming costumes are very much optional. It’s quite feasible to spend a whole day here – bringing a picnic and something to wash it down with is sensible.

Getting there: from Mui Wo, take the Olympic Trail that runs roughly north towards Tung Chung. About 100 metres past Wo Tin’s four houses, turn left at electricity pole #94145 onto the track that winds through the woods for about 250 metres to the base of the waterfall.

When you cannot travel overseas, find places near you that you’ve never been to

Central Green Trail

The Central Green Trail is not wildly green but – running from just by Hong Kong Park up to the Peak Tower – there’s no denying that it’s central.

Three kilometres long, it’s a pleasant alternative to busier routes such as Old Peak Road. The (almost) sea-to-sky trail follows the tram line until about halfway up, where it joins Chatham Path, which leads on to Barker Road and thence The Peak itself.

Its attractions for urban fitness aficionados are obvious and – given that it passes several places of interest – the trail is also a good inner city hike for visitors.

Starting at The Peak and walking down is, of course, an easier option. Quite how the sedan chair carriers coped either way will always be a matter for amazement.

Getting there: The trail starts at 1 Tramway Path. The closest MTR station is Admiralty.

Red Brick House Market, Kam Tin

Before 1997, various businesses catered to the British military stationed in the Shek Kong valley. Two in particular, a brass factory and a sister enterprise that dealt in candles, did a brisk trade in gifts and novelties, and they and their descendants continue to thrive (on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) at Red Brick House Market, which is a merry antidote to the blander sort of mall found in Hong Kong.

Retro fashion, collectibles, flowers, pottery plus brass and candles, of course – there’s happily no rhyme or reason to the four dozen or so shops and stalls clustered beneath Red Brick’s roof, and the ambience is uniformly relaxed. A weekend flea market pops up by Kam Tin’s MTR station, but it distinctly lacks Red Brick’s class and character.

Getting there: take Exit B from Kam Sheung station and cross the bridge over the river. About 10 minutes’ walk leads to the market, which is on Kam Sheung Road.

The Soko Islands

So why come here? The thrill of having an entire beach to yourself, of poking around abandoned hamlets, and of sailing back at the end of the day revelling in the feeling that you’ve totally escaped from that very concrete jungle.

Getting there: no ferries run to the Sokos. A day trip with a private charter costs around HK$390 per head. Sailing from Central takes about two hours.