A very peculiar “coasteering” with landscapes that could be from abroad. A couple of not very interesting obscure creeks included in the loop.
- Beauty/fun: 5/10 pretty peculiar landscape, abandoned old villages; bushy unremarkable streams with low flow.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 5/10 the “coasteering” is relatively simple, but for loose rocks and a couple of traverses. The streams require a bit of navigation, they have dense vegetation, and some slippery sections. Beware when going downhill if wet (+1 difficulty)
- The map (how to download to your phone offline maps)
See full screen & the Garmin track.
After hiking Ma Niu Ho & Shek Shui Kan, I had a stream in the middle missing: Ha Miu Tin Hang (下苗田坑). I guessed that it was not going to be specially interesting either but I researched a bit and found this video. Interesting. Starting at the inner part of the reservoir up Golden Bamboo creek 金竹淵 & down Ha Miu Tin. This way, it looked fun enough to invite buddies to the exploration.
So meet at Tai Po Market MTR and taxi to Bride’s Pool road. Just opposite to the entrance to Wang Chung stream.
Old path
& connect with the reservoir level. Video.
There is a little section that we hiked on a relatively clear (but for 20m within the woods) path (0:24). Well hiked and even with some ropes set by people who go fishing there. All the rest we were on the “shoreline”. In summertime it must be covered in water. Tons of big fish bones around. Also remains of abandoned old villages. Relatively flat but
with a few traverses too. There is an alternative short hiking path to avoid one of the traverses (1:10). Eventually, we arrived at the bottom of the Golden Bamboo creek (1:21).
The initial section is a bit messy. Including what it looks an abandoned illegal immigrant camp and dense vegetation. After some minutes it become more clear. Atop bamboo sections (2:14) that we guessed where the reason of the name of the creek.
Nothing specially interesting . Exit through the bushes somewhere around here.
We continued on the main path around the reservoir for a few minutes. Then (2:38) we found the obscure path on the right around here into the woods.
This is a bigger stream and definitely in summer time must look cute with several pools and waterfalls.
The lower part had some old abandoned water gathering structures and man made walls (3:14) and paddies on the banks. Flattish. And connect with the very clear main path (Miu Sam Ancient Trail)
on which we jogged back to Wu Kau Tang bus stop.
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