Heat vs cold, snakes vs sheep: how hikes in Hong Kong and the countryside of southern England are different
- Hong Kong’s country parks, with their wild boar, snakes and spiders, are a far cry from Kent in southern England, with its dogs, cows, sheep and robins
- Swapping Hong Kong’s heat and humidity for mud, snow and ice, the writer treks through the Kentish countryside
One of the delights of life in Hong Kong is escaping the crowds and taking a hike in the spectacular country parks.
For me, this was a lifeline during the pandemic, when Covid-19 restrictions made going for a walk one of the few forms of leisure possible. My treks in the hills kept me sane and were enjoyable even when I had to wear a mask.
Hiking in Hong Kong has become increasingly popular, but it carries risks. There were more than 1,000 rescue operations last year and eight hikers died in the first five months. You need to navigate the heat, the humidity and pollution while not slipping on the steep, isolated slopes.
The wildlife is both a wonder and a worry. Watch out for creepy caterpillars, scary spiders, wild boar and venomous snakes. I once came face to face with a big Chinese cobra.
I knew I would miss the thrill of hiking Hong Kong-style when moving back to Britain last year. But the High Weald of Kent also has much to offer. It lacks the vertiginous hillsides, stunning cityscape and sweeping sea views of Hong Kong but there is still much beauty to be found.
The landscape here is quintessentially English. I tramp through fields of sheep. The view takes in medieval churches, traditional oast houses, weatherboarded Kentish cottages and ancient oak trees. There is even a little steam train. It is as if time has stood still.
Over the past five months, I have seen the fields turn from a parched yellow during the summer heatwave to vibrant green when the rain finally arrived and then white with the onset of frost. They were first cracked by heat, then flooded by downpours and later shrouded in snow.
There are foxes, badgers, robin redbreasts and pheasants, along with the cows and horses. But you still have to watch yourself. The welcome package at my rented cottage warns hikers to beware of bulls. A woman walking a dog in Sussex, not far away, was trampled to death by cows in the summer.
There are lots of canine encounters. They mostly want to lick you to death, but my wife was bitten by an overly enthusiastic sheep dog. And we are occasionally pursued by a flock of friendly sheep.
The weather presents different problems. Gone is the searing summer heat of Hong Kong. Now, I am wading through mud or, when it freezes, struggling to stay on my feet. Ever tried running on ice? I wouldn’t recommend it.
Like so many aspects of life in Hong Kong and Britain, hiking involves big differences, but both places have much to offer. We all have to take our chosen path and hope we are heading in the right direction.
