One of my favourite trekking routes in Singapore, the Southern Ridges comprises 10 km of green, open spaces that connect Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve.
The walk is long but it isn’t a difficult one as the parks are all linked by foot trails and connection bridges with plenty of directional signs so you don’t get lost in this lush greenery.
If you’re feeling stressed at work or probably have been overworking yourself, take some time off for a breather and come enjoy this trail. Getting close to nature and enjoying sights of flora and fauna along the way simply offers a welcoming respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life and a cool reprieve from the sultry heat. To stop and smell the roses is what we all need to rejuvenate the mind and body so we can walk a longer journey.
Exiting from HarbourFront MRT Station Exit D, you will see the start of the Marang Trail that leads up to Mount Faber. Do note this trail consists of several flights of steps of an elevation of 70m (approx. the height of a 24-storey building). The steps and footpath are well shaded by the dense forestry and as you slowly walk up the silent hill, all you can hear is the singing of the cicadas in the background.
At the end (and the top) of the Marang Trail is Mount Faber, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Singapore, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Southern islands.
Moving along the trail to Henderson Waves…
Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore approx. 274m in length and 36m above ground. It connects Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park.
Henderson Waves is like a piece of art. The bridge has a wave-like structure with a series of undulating curved steel ribs that alternately rise over and under the deck. And these ribs also form alcoves that function as shelters with seats for resting.
A quick summary of the entire walk we have embarked on…
Hilltop Walk runs through Telok Blangah Hill Park which used to be a gathering place for trading communities in the early 19th century. Stop by the Terrace Garden at the top of the park to enjoy a stunning 360° view of Singapore.
The Forest Walk meanders through the secondary forest of Telok Blangah Hill to Alexandra Arch. The Elevated Walkway (metal bridge) allows you to walk at eye-level with the forest canopy. You can easily spot squirrels and monkeys here!
Another interesting architecture is this Alexandra Arch which is built to look like an open leaf.
Welcome to HortPark – The Gardening Hub, Southeast Asia’s first one-stop centre for gardening-related activities in a park setting. I took plenty of pictures here because there are just so many beautiful flowering plants and landscapes. Here’s a couple of them –
After a long picnic break at HortPark, we went on the Canopy Walk at Kent Ridge Park which is a 280m long boardwalk that links to the ‘Reflections of Bukit Chandu’.
‘Reflections at Bukit Chandu’ is a World War II museum housed in a restored colonial bungalow close to the ‘Battle of Pasir Panjang’ site, where 1,400 soldiers from the Malay Regiment heroically defended against a 13,000-strong Japanese army.
These pictures speak for themselves. Singapore is not just a concrete jungle, it does have rich biodiversity and truly lives up to its name as a Garden City. Have you discovered this part of Singapore yet?
I plan to do the Marang Trail > Faber Walk > Henderson Waves > Hilltop Walk > Forest Walk > Labrador Nature Reserve walk next. Ever since I did an event at Labrador Park in 2007, I haven’t been there for ages so it’s about time to go exploring again.
Till my next expedition, folks. Ciao!
Hi, how long does it roughly take to complete this trail? Plan to do it after work in the evening but would be afraid it would be too dark by the time I complete it.
Hi, I did that walk pretty long ago but if I remembered correctly, I took about 3 hours to complete but that was because I had several rest breaks and took time for photography as well. If you walk continuously on the trail, I think you should be able to finish within 2 hours. Hope this helps.