Small as our country may be, there’s actually no lack of green spaces. Here are four trails to check out if you need to find your equilibrium.
Small as our country may be, there’s actually no lack of green spaces. Here are four trails to check out if you need to find your equilibrium.
Tip: best to do them in the early mornings or evenings, unless you want to burn to a crisp.
Dairy Farm Loop
Route: From the car park beside The Salvation Army through Bukit Timah Hill.
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Plug in to “Firestarter” by The Prodigy when attempting to scale the never-ending staircase of doom.
Sights: Explore the Singapore and Dairy Farm quarries (they’re quite zen), before heading towards Wallace Education Centre, where you can learn more about the changing landscapes of the area. The trail is paved with gravel, and will begin to show signs of treacherous inclines. You will then be lulled into complacency as the path meanders along until a sign points you towards Dairy Farm Loop – with a warning that this trail is not for the faint- hearted! Maybe don’t attempt this if you’re new to hiking, and be prepared to sweat buckets.
Marina Coastal Trail
Route: From Marina Bay Sands, through The Flower Dome at Gardens By The Bay, Marina Barrage and Gardens By The Bay East.
Duration: 1.5 hours (one-way).
Difficulty: Literally a walk in the park.
Sights: Modern man-made marvels are juxtaposed against the serenity of the Singapore River on this trail littered with tourists and office workers winding down after a long day at work.
Earth Trail
Route: From HortPark, through Alexandra Arch, Telok Blangah Hill, Henderson Waves and Mt. Faber Park.
Duration: 2.5 hours (one-way).
Difficulty: Manageable with comfortable walking shoes.
Sights: A great way to bird watch and catch sight of exotic species such as the Pink-necked Pigeon and the Yellow-vented Bulbul. Take a moment to breathe in the fresh air on the canopy level, before charging through the Earth Trail and exploring the undergrowth of Telok Blangah Hill.
Durian Loop
Route: Accessible from Bukit Timah Hill Visitor Centre, or Rifle Range Road. The trail takes you around a loop, ending at Rifle Range Road, with the option to continue on to MacRitchie Reservoir.
Duration: 2 hours (loop), 5 hours (one-way to MacRitchie).
Difficulty: Your glutes will burn.
Sights: The trail features towering durian trees and steep inclines. You can bring along a hiking stick, which will come in handy if the trail is muddy. The Durian Loop is not well manicured and is not engineered for mud-fearing princesses. You may encounter local wildlife like monkeys, boars, and even snakes; do not feed them or show any signs of intimidation, and trudge ahead with determination. Note: if you are attempting to trek to MacRitchie Reservoir, ensure that you have enough daylight hours and water for your own safety.
Images and Text Danny Irsyaduddin Osman
