The Jardines Lookout Mt Butler Violet Hill Hike is a loop we used to like to do before we began a disdain for running down stairs. It begins at Park View here. There’s parking available, or buses and taxis. Go up Hong Kong Trail Section 5 (note, don’t go up Tai Tam Country Trail which is nearby), this is nice easy climb which can be done in 15 minutes. It says an hour or 45 minutes, but you’d have to be 400 pounds, blind, or handicapped or all of the aforementioned to take that long to get up. At the top is Jardines Lookout, with some great views looking down the harbour at both ends. Head down towards the Quarry, it’s stairs but it’s not the worst stair descent in Hong Kong.
Now for a bit of a steeper climb up Mt Butler, if it’s your first time you’re going to struggle, at the top of Mt Butler you can get more good views of the City and overlooking Tai Tam Reservoir. Down from there is a steep stair decent which is about as enjoyable as listening to a whole album of Kenny G. It’s short though so hang in there. The Jardines Lookout Mt Butler Violet Hill Hike then takes you down to Tai Tam Reservoir, it’s all down hill on road and a good jog. If you’re buggered, you might want to head back on Tai Tam Family walk and back to Parkview, this should take you just over an hour. For a workout we head towards the Twins Catch Water (see our GarminConnect or MapMyHike route) and hike up Violet Hill from the twins Catchwater.
Ordinarily this would be a walk in the park, but after Jardines Lookout and Mt Butler and the run around the Catch Water, it can be quite challenging. We have to go at a fair speed up Jardines Lookout and Mt Butler and basically run/jog the rest of the way to do the Jardines Lookout Mt Butler Violet Hill Hike in under 2 hours, just enough time before the Nazi parking cops will get you.
We used to do this 3 times a week but it’s become a bit boring, plus occasionally you don’t get a park so we end up going back home and doing the Peak Hike. Another way would be to do Jardines Lookout, Mt Butler, head to the Twins Catch Water then instead of going up Violet Hill, run around Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path which is less demanding but still a good workout.
Jardines Lookout Mt Butler Violet Hill Hike Level of Difficulty: 7/10 (each part on their own they’re about 3/10)
Jardines Lookout Mt Butler Violet Hill Hike Views: 7/10
Jardines Lookout Mt Butler Violet Hill Hike Access: Parkview, although this can be accessed from multiple places
Send us any questions or comments you have about the Jardines Lookout Mt Butler Violet Hill Hike Rome via email or ask us on twitter.
