Cameron Highlands Activities - trekking etc
Cameron’s trails
There are a number of trails that locals used in the old days and are today trails for day trekkers.
perfect place for birdwatching. The silver-eared mesia - a resident in the highlands |
One of Jim Thompson's favourite trails was purportedly Trail 4 that takes one from main town Tanah Rata to the forestry department through the beautiful pine forest. Below are a few of the trails tested during the last trip to Camerons.
By no means should anyone attempt to try the trails as a pre-dinner stroll (see. JimThompson) for the forest gets dark early and losing ones way is not a rare occurrence. Only last year, a family went missing for days until rescue teams found them wandering in the woods.
Time: approx. 1 1/2hr
Distance: 2.57km
Trail 9 starts at Tanah Rata and takes you to Robinson Falls. To get to Trail 9, walk straight down from T-junction facing the Cameron Highlands hospital on Jalan Besar. It’s a 1.5km walk before you actually get to the beginning of the trail, passing a few local schools on your left along the way. At the end of the road, take the pedestrian bridge-this will lead you to Robinson Falls. Another 15minutes or so, you will get to a metal gate. The trail down this steep slope will eventually take you to the Robinson power station.
This trail may be a little too trying as it can get very slippery especially after rains. However, because it is no longer a popular route, you may be able to spot more interesting wildlife. When we headed down an off-route, there was almost an opportunity to meet face to face with a mammal moving in our direction. As the rustle of the undergrowth got louder and the musky scent of the animal became more pungent, we were most certain of an all-show.
But just then the wind direction changed and the creature caught our scent in the air and bolted off the other way.
But if you are not accustomed to such surprises then best to stick to well trodden paths. An alternative route to the tough descend to the power station that trail 9 has to offer, is to take trail 9A which branches off to the left from the metal gate. Along the way, look out for a great variety of montane forest birds and even the excruciatingly shy banded-leaf monkeys up on the treetops. For a better look, its best to keep as quiet as possible so your actions will not scare them off.
Trail 9A ends up at the foot of the hill on Boh Road. Either take a left to the Boh tea plantation which is another 3km (to the gates of the plantation) and another 1.5km to the factory. Or take a right to the junction of Boh Rd. And the main road, where you can catch a local bus back to Tanah Rata.
Tip: It is an easier downhill stroll from Tanah Rata to Boh Rd than the reverse.
Time: approx. 1 hour including climb up to watchtower
Distance: 0.8km
Trail 4 to Parit Falls begins just beside Century Pines Resort at Tanah Rata |
Parit Falls |
Take the road opposite the police station at Tanah Rata. The large signboard at the entrance to this road indicates ‘Parit Falls’. The trail is unfortunately paved for the convenience of the ‘trekkers’. About 15minutes into the walk, the area opens up into a concrete recreational square which seems to have been completed recently. There is also a new road that now leads almost to the doorstep of Parit Falls where bathers can drive and park by the river.
Look for a footbridge which takes you back onto trail 4. The bridge leads you up a flight of stairs and then onto the paved trail again.
This trail snakes its way through a patch of coniferous forest and ends up at the Forestry department. As noted in the Lonely Planet that the Parit Falls is more like ‘sewage falls’, well, that is indeed true. After all, the word ‘parit’ translates ‘drain’, and in rural Malaysia, drains are often used as convenient disposal systems.
There is a watchtower at the top of quiet a steep hillock about 25mins from the footbridge. It seems that this trail was a favourite in the old days as a pleasant alternative for a cool, refreshing stroll through the jungle rather than walking down the main road.
Trail 8 |
Difficulty: difficult; needs physical preparations prior to climb
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Time: approx. 2 1/2hrs
Distance: 1.37km
This trail starts just a short distance from Robinson Falls and up a steep slope to the left. A signboard shows the way. This steep incline continues for at least 1/2hour and then takes a turn down into a valley. At the bottom of the valley, take the path to your right up a steep slope until you get to a ledge with an electrical pylon sitting on the edge. From here, the slope increases quite drastically until it levels off and begins a more gradual climb to the peak of Gunung Berembun at 1840m. Just before the peak, trail 7 veers off to the left and down towards MARDI in Tanah Rata. There are a number of trails in which you can make your descend from the peak. This depends on where you want to end up at.
The mossy forest on trail 8 and 3 |
You could follow the same way you came, take Trail 7 as mentioned above. Or you can take trail 3 which is the trail that will lead you to a small levelling after 1 hour’s trek. At this levelling, there are several alternative routes as indicated on the signboards. Trail 3, Trail 4 (or mistakenly printed as trail 6 on the board), trail 5 all descend from this junction.
Trail 5 |
Difficulty: nice stroll but more difficult then Trail 9 and 9A
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Time: approx. 1 1/2hrs
The paths on Trail 5 and trail 9 are clearly laid out |
Trail 5 is a pleasant route to take if you have attempted trail 8 or trail 7 and have already tested your endurance. This takes you downhill on a gradual slope so you have time for a stroll rather than a trek. The trail goes through a short stretch of clearing and ends up at the back of MARDI’s staff quarters.
Time: approx. 3hrs
Trail 3 starts off just to the back of Arcadia cottage, south east of the golf course. This is a pretty difficult climb and leads all the way to Gunung Berembun. The trail is a steady incline all the way and gets very steep towards the end of the climb to the peak. If you would rather not make the climb to the mountain top, there is an alternative where you can opt to take trail 5 and head downhill back to Tanah Rata. Trail 5 ends up just behind the staff quarters at MARDI.
Activities at Camerons
leaf insects |
At RM3 per entry per adult, Butterfly Farm is nice to visit not so much for the butterflies as the variety is limited but perhaps more for the other insects such as the leaf insects, Rhinoceros beetles and even reptiles. Next door is Butterfly Garden with almost the same display of insects and reptiles but they have quite a collection of cactus on sale in their shop.
Both places open from 9.00am to 6.00pm daily.
Standing at 2031m, Gunung Brinchang has a telecommunication tower at its peak and is the highest point accessible by road on the Peninsular. It is 7km from the base of the turn off from the road into Sungei Palas tea estate to the peak and is a steep uphill climb. Best not to make it in the afternoon as it can get a little hot during the climb. The views can be beautiful but sheets of mist float by and this can linger for quite some time....so be prepared to wait for a while to catch the view.
Please Note: The thing is, after a steep climb to the top of Brinchang, what you see down below may not be to your liking. The view shows lots of slope scarring and development. Unfortunately not seeming to blend into the environment is a forte with developers here. So, it's really your choice to make the effort for the view but personally, I'd rather take a trail walk.
Open to public. Located opposite Merlin Hotel. Weekend rates go for RM84 per day, weekday rates for RM45 per day. Retirees have a better rate, please ask for the discounted rates - only for OAPs! After 5pm, tee-off are half rates. Check the rates as often golfers are not informed of these available rates.
What to bring
Sweater
Raincoat for trekking
Binoculars, camera, videocam etc. Films can be bought in Tanah Rata
Medication, toiletries etc
Normal clothing and trek shoes, slippers, track pants. Try not to wear pumps like the nike or adidas walking shoes - when wet, their grip are not strong.
Article Updated by Yeok: 4th June 2003
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