The Southern Ridges

The Southern Ridges stitch together a run of hilltop parks along the south of the island with bridges and raised walkways, so you can walk about ten kilometres almost entirely through greenery without crossing a road. The signature structure is Henderson Waves, a pedestrian bridge thirty-six metres above the road whose timber deck undulates in a series of curved ribs that form sheltered alcoves, lit at night and the highest walkway of its kind in the city. Beyond it the Forest Walk runs on a steel gangway through the canopy of secondary rainforest at Telok Blangah, full of birds and the occasional monitor lizard, and the route continues to HortPark and Kent Ridge with views over the port and the strait. The link was proposed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 2002 and took two years and S$25.5 million to build. It is the best long walk on the island and, being raised, mercifully breezier than ground level.

What's there

• Henderson Waves - the undulating timber bridge high above the road.
• The Forest Walk - the steel canopy gangway through secondary rainforest.
• Mount Faber - the hilltop park and views over the harbour and Sentosa.
• HortPark and Kent Ridge - the gardens and ridge at the western end.

When to go

Year-round; start at first light or in the late afternoon, as the middle of the day is punishing even under canopy. Henderson Waves is lit in the evening and is lovely after dark. Sudden storms are common and the walkways get slippery.

Before you go

It is hot and humid work whatever the hour, and the full ten kilometres defeats people who underestimate the climate; the route can be done in sections, and Mount Faber to Henderson Waves is the best short version. There is little food or water along the way. Mosquitoes are present in the forest sections.

Nearby

Sentosa and the cable car are at the Mount Faber end; Haw Par Villa is near Kent Ridge.

Key facts