Discover Hong Kong’s Newest Hiking Route: Robin’s Nest Country Trail

The newly established Robin’s Nest Country Park, located at Sha Tau Kok in the northeastern New Territories, boasts a landscape rich with natural beauty. The park features rolling mountains and a diverse array of ecosystems, including dense woodlands, shrublands, and upland grasslands, offering visitors breathtaking views.

A historical journey awaits along the path from Shan Tsui to the Robin’s Nest Country Trail entrance, where WWII military relics from the Japanese occupation, such as pillboxes and trenches, can be explored. These serve as reminders of the past before you embark on a scenic hike with stunning vistas of mountains and the sea.

The trail leads to Ah Kung Kok, offering panoramic views of Sha Tau Kok, distant Shenzhen Yantian, and, further along, the serene landscapes of Luk Keng, Nam Chung, and Double Haven. The peak provides a vantage point to admire Shenzhen Wutong Mountain to the north and Pak Sin Leng and Wong Leng in the distance. The trail culminates at a viewing point where hikers can reflect on the journey and soak in the tranquility.

Seasonally, the park is transformed by nature’s palette: vibrant red azaleas in spring and shimmering silver grass in winter.

In terms of difficulty, the government’s hiking website rates it as 3 out of 5 – so it it a demanding yet short hike (average 2.5 hours long), with steep inclines, and good terrain.

How to get there:

Start Point:

• To reach the start of the Robin’s Nest Country Trail, take public transport to Tam Shui Hang Bus Station on Sha Tau Kok Road – Shek Chung Au. From there, it’s about a 30-minute walk along Shan Tsui Village Road. Use Green Minibus route 55K or KMB route 78K for transportation.

End Point:

• After approximately 2.5 hours, return to the start point to leave, or continue another 1.5 hours on the Lin Ma Hang Country Trail (2.6km) to Lin Ma Hang Village.
• From Lin Ma Hang Village, take a 20-minute hike to Lin Ma Hang Road and catch the Green Minibus route 59K.

Please note that a section of Lin Ma Hang Road near the village falls within the Frontier Closed Area (FCA). To use Minibus route 59K, a valid Frontier Closed Area Permit is required, or you must get on or off before the FCA and hike to the village. Hikers should pay attention to the waymarks and can consult the Hong Kong Police Force website for FCA access information.