Selected Nature Trails of Penang Island

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TRAIL 7 : CIRCULAR TRAIL AROUND BOTANIC GARDENS

(c) Forest Ang

Length: 4 km 2 hours
Recreational grading : 3
Condition: natural - little or no disturbance
Use: light
Status: water catchment area

This trail starts from the main entrance to the Botanic Gardens. Take the Lower Circular Road on your right. After 7-8 minutes you will see an orchid house on your right. A few steps after it, there is a paved path leading into the jungle. It will bring you to the Lily Pond, 100 metres away.

At the Lily Pond, look for a path on the right beside the pond. You will notice a mini ridge (2-4 metres in height). Find the path that goes up the mini ridge. If there is no path, try to get to the top anyway. Once you are on top of the mini ridge you will be able to see a clear path. Follow the path and cross a stream that flows down into the Lily Pond. Be careful here as the trail thins out. Look for markers and backtrack if you think that you have gone wrong. After that the track becomes more clearly defined and steeper. You will need to use your arms as well as your legs to climb. After an arduous climb you will reach the top of the slope.

There are two paths here. Do not take the one on your right. It is level and leads around the contour of the hill to Mount Olivia. Instead, take the path which goes straight ahead. You will continue climbing higher and then descend to join a well defined trail. At this junction the right-hand trail leads to Vale of Tempe. Take the left-hand trail.

Continue on, enjoying the views of Pearl Hill and the northern part of Penang Island to your right. After 25 minutes you will come to another junction.

From the junction the trail leads downhill. You will see a rain gauge on your left. Twenty metres after that you will cross a bridge over a stream. Walk up to the level path and continue until you reach the end, where the path makes a sudden drop into the valley below. (This is 3 minutes after the bridge.) Continue down the slope. You will join the Upper Circular Road of the Botanic Gardens, which will lead you back to the main entrance of the Gardens.