A DIY Guide to The Southern Ridges If you enjoy walking or cycling in lush open spaces, do not miss the great outdoor experience that What to wear and bring the Southern Ridges offers. Away from the hustle • Do dress comfortably and wear and bustle of city life, it is one of the latest and walking shoes. most exciting recreational destinations that • Bring a hat, sunscreen lotion, water, Singapore offers. insect repellant, binoculars, camera The most distinguishing feature about the Ridges is the seamless experience it offers to visitors – the Guided walks available 9-kilometre chain of green, open spaces spanning 1. SR guided walk ($6/pax, at least 15 the hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park to sign up, 1 guide to max 20 pax) and Kent Ridge Park are mostly connected by nature Route for SR guided walk: pathways and bridges. Henderson Waves (Mt Faber side) Hilltop walk Terrace Garden Forest Walk Alexandra Arch Floral The other highlights of the Southern Ridges are Walk (HortPark) Ends in HortPark the Forest Walk and Canopy Walk – bridges cutting 2. HortPark guided walk ($4/pax, at least through the adinandra , a distinct type of belukar 15 to sign up, 1 guide to max 30 pax) secondary forest where the forest regenerates after exhaustive agriculture exploitation. These trails are 3. Kent Ridge Park guided walk excellent for bird watchers to observe birds in their Please email [email protected] natural habitats. You can also find a rich variety of or call the HortPark hotline at 64715601 flora and fauna here. to sign up for the guided walks. Gain a deeper insight of Singapore’s history as you The building of the Southern Ridges walk on the Ridges. Take beautiful photos of wild The Southern Ridges was one of flowers and birds, and panoramic shots of the city, several areas in Singapore targeted for harbour and Southern Islands from strategic spots preservation. A plan to improve access along the Southern Ridges. to and connectivity within this 9km chain of hills by building a series of pedestrian linkages to connect Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill and Kent Ridge was developed. The Southern Ridges was opened to the public in 2008. Mount Faber Park Te K Depot Road lok Blangah R a ise m p p u Telok Blangah Hill Park ng Highlights Ba hr • View from Mount Faber u • adinandra belukar (secondary forest) • Forest Walk – Elevated Walkway • Henderson Waves • Alexandra Arch Telok Blangah Heights • Canopy Walk ad Ro Hyderabad Vivo City Harbour Front rive Telok Blangah Road MRT Station k D ar P e c Pepys Road n ie c S Science Road Alexandra Park 1 Pasir Panjang Road PUB South Buona Vista Road Reservoir Kent Ridge Park Flora Walk Canopy Walk and HortPark Alexandra Arch Forest Walk Hilltop Walk Henderson Waves Faber Walk Marang Trail Marang Trail (Harbourfront MRT Station Exit D next to Marang Road). Some common tree species you can The Marang trail begins right after you step off the see on this trail: escalator exiting from Harbourfront MRT Station (Exit D) near Marang Road. This trail leads you to the cable • Angsana tree - a common, fast- car station at the Jewel Box on Mount Faber. growing tree in this region. • Saga Tree - its seeds are commonly Embark on this walk of steps and shaded footpaths picked and used in jewellery and that pave the way to beautiful sights and sounds of artwork; popular for their bright red the secondary forest. Enjoy the peace and tranquility colour that symbolizes passion and of nature as you jog or walk on this trail. Listen to the everlasting love. loud chirping of cicadas that break the silence of the • Shrubs, plants, climbers and flowers forest. Cicadas live on the tuip tuip tree, the dominant like the Bat lily, ground orchids and tree in the adinandra belukar, making loud mating Crape ginger. calls to attract females. If you are lucky, you can spot the drongo, yellow oriole and other birds in the lush greenery. The Marang Trail is deliberately unlit Depot Road Mount Faber Park after dark to minimize disturbance 124, 131, 195 At the top of the Trail is the Jewel Box, an F&B to nocturnal life in the forest. Do 272 Telo K establishment comprising bars, restaurants and various bring along a torch and take extra k Blan a gah m Rise p precautions if you wish to walk on Loop on entertainment options on Mount Faber. Chill out with Faber g unt Ba Mo hr a beer or have an ice cream as you enjoy a panoramic this trail after dark. u Ro view of the harbour and southern islands from different ad vantage points. You can also get to Sentosa Island from A Do note that the Marang Trail the Jewel Box in a cable car. Parks 409 Parks 409 d C Mou d a B covers an elevation of 70 metres nt F oa o aber R 124, 273 R (or the equivalent of a 24-storey n o D s building), so this trail may r e d 131, 145, 648, 176 Highlight not be suitable for young n 10, 30, 57, 61, 65, e 80, 93, 97, 100, 131, Flora and fauna of secondary forest children, the elderly and H Pender Road 143, 166, 300, 646, 855 10, 30, 57, 61, 65, the less fit. 80, 93, 97, 100, 131, 10, 30, 57, 61, 93, 97, 100, 143, 145, 166, 188, 963 131, 143, 145, 166, 188, 963 Vivo City 6, 10, 30, 57, 61, 64, 65, 80, 93, 97, 100, 131, Telok Blangah Road 143, 145, 166, 300, 855 Difficulty level : moderate to Harbour Front challenging MRT Station Distance : 0.8km Marang Trail Walking time : 15 min Merlion Cable Car Car Park Bus Stop MRT Shelter Toilet Sculpture Station Faber Walk At the end of Marang Trail lies Faber Walk. If you wish to give Marang Trail a miss and head straight for Faber Walk, TheDo note naming that theof MountMarang Faber Trail covers an you can get your transport to drop you off at Mount Faber elevation of 70 metres (or the equivalent Road, or park at one of the car parks at Mount Faber Park. Inof 1823,a 24-storey Sir Stamford building), Raffles so this gave trail orders may fornot the be removalsuitable offor the young former children, Chief ofthe Faber Walk, of which many parts are sheltered, meanders theelderly Island, and Temenggong the less fit. Abdul Rahman, through Mount Faber Park and ends at the start of a prince of the House of Johore. Together Henderson Waves. The slopes of this 56-hectare park are with his followers, he was moved “lock, covered by dense secondary rain forest, and are home to stock and barrel” to Telok Blangah. an amazing array of flora and fauna. The Temenggong and his entourage were allotted space along the beach from The trail, which takes you on a loop around the peak of Tanjong Pagar to Telok Blangah covering Mount Faber Hill, offers spectacular views of the southern an estimated 200 acres of ground. part of Singapore and the Southern Islands. For a close-up view, use one of several telescopes situated at Palm Plaza 57, 145, 175, At the same time, one of the first western 195A, 195, 272, 273, 176 and along some parts of the trail. You can catch sight of merchants, a native of Scotland named Depot Road Mount Faber Park Alexandra Guthrie, acquired a piece of passing ocean liners and cruise ships in the far distance. 124, 131, 195 This trail will also take you to small landmarks at Mount land behind Telok Blangah Hill. 124, 131, 195 Faber including the Merlion Sculpture and the Danish 272 Telo K Prior to this the site was known as Telok k Blan a gah m Seaman’s Church. Rise p Blangah Hill. Loop on Faber g unt Ba Mo hr u At night, the park is one of the more popular romantic Ro The park was renamed after Captain ad spots on the island. Join several couples and families in Charles Edward Faber, a British engineer A enjoying breathtaking sights of the city’s twinkling lights. who cut a road up to the summit in 1845 Parks 409 Parks 409 d C Mou d to set up a signal post. This ship to shore a B nt F oa o aber R 124, 273 R communication post was constructed to n o D direct ships through the water channels. s Highlights r e 131, 145, 648, 176 This Signal Post was eventually demolished d n 10, 30, 57, 61, 65, • Bird’s eye view from Mount Faber e 80, 93, 97, 100, 131, during the redevelopment in 1994 due to H Pender Road 143, 166, 300, 646, 855 • Merlion Sculpture 10, 30, 57, 61, 65, the unstable condition of the structure. 80, 93, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, 166, 188, 963 • Jewel Box 10, 30, 57, 61, 93, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, 166, 188, 963 (Extracted from the Oral History Department) Vivo City 6, 10, 30, 57, 61, 64, 65, 80, 93, 97, 100, 131, Telok Blangah Road 143, 145, 166, 300, 855 Harbour Front MRT Station Difficulty level : Easy Distance : 0.8km Faber Walk Merlion Cable Car Car Park Bus Stop MRT Shelter Toilet Walking time : 15min Sculpture Station Henderson Waves Henderson Waves is a stone’s throw from Faber Walk. You can also park at Mount Faber Carpark D. Alternatively, take the staircase from Henderson Road up to Mount Faber Park.