Let’s take an explore and run around the Wallace trail, and the rail corridor in the Bukit Timah Diary farm area, exploring the a 10km running route in the vicinity, with interesting visits to the Singapore Quarry and Wallace Knowledge center.
To achieve a 10km distance, my route in summary see me touching the road end of Wallace trail from Diary Farm Carpark B, backtracking towards the Singapore Quarry and spilling onto the nearby rail corridor straights and back to the Carpark for a full 10km.
Here, the route offers a mix of road, gravel pavements and a number of hilly portions at the Singapore Quarry great for hillwork runs.
Our run starts off from one of the two the Diary farm carparks operated by Nparks. Namely Carpark A and B with the latter having a public toilet useful for washing up post-run. Also, both a carparks A and B are connected to the Diary farm and Wallace trail by a Forest trail comprising of mix of road asphalt and gravel trails surrounded by Durian and Chempedak trees.
Wallace trail and Wallace knowledge çenter (1.3km)
On some background, the Wallace trial is one named after British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. He contributed to Singapore’s early field of natural history. Also, the Wallace trail is a small self-contained 1km forested walk. It starts off as a road asphalt and transitions into a gravel path which circles in a loop through the forest into the road trial. The road trail is home to a musing known as the Wallace knowledge çenter.
In a nutshell, the Wallace education center is one dedicated to environmental education and conservation awareness. It tad reflects Wallace’s spirit of scientific inquiry and discovery. The center is small open air unconditioned indoor gallery which sits in the old hut-like building.
Moreover, the Wallace knowledge çenter is home to a small display exhibits. Here, you can find family friendly exhibitions, interactive exhibits, educational programs, and workshops. They are designed to engage visitors about biodiversity, ecology, and the importance of preserving natural habitats. It is also tad a hub for environmental education to foster a deeper understanding, to inspire and appreciate the conservation of Singapore’s natural environment.
Avoid the gravel trails when running
Notably, a secondary highlight item here on our Diary farm run is the Bukit Timah mountain bike trail which cuts through the trail. You encounter an uphill climb from the Wallace knowledge çenter is an uphill climb towards colonial bungalow surrounded by a white picket fence. Also, past a fallen tree, the path here transitions into the forested gravel trail section of the park. Here, I would recommend to turn back if you do not have trail shoes to continue you run.
From road to gravel which leads into the forested area of the Wallace trail with steps. The path here is more suitable for trail walking than running. Also, the presence of steps, protruding tree roots and forest dense foliage affecting visibility does make it rather hazardous for trail running at speed. This is especially if you are injury prone. Hence I recommend turning back and stay on the road towards Singapore quarry via Dairy farm road.
Hillwork at the Singapore Quarry (3.4km)
Backtracking from the Wallace knowledge çenter sees a route from road transitioning to a forested gravel path. It runs alongside Diary farm road, past Carpark A and entering the uphill route up towards Singapore Quarry. Carrying along the Diary farm road from Wallace trail will bring you on a hilly section leading into the Singapore quarry grounds.
Here, you pass the MOE Dairy Farm Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre here too. The route here is largely an uphill climb which is good for speed hill work. Also, you can find many wildlife littered along the path up here, such as monkeys, hawks and jungle fowls.
Moreover, the Singapore Quarry is a highlight viewing spot in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. It is tad a hidden gem that has transformed from once by the late 20th century. Initially established in the early 1900s which provided a vital role in Singapore construction boom and early infrastructure as a local granite source during the colonial era.
Also, the quarrying activities ceased in 1999, with the site was redeveloped into a nature park. However, this is not without leaving behind a scarred and rugged landscape of Singapore’s past. Nature gradually reclaimed the area, and is today a serene spot for wildlife. The meandering route here offers you a unique glimpse into the lush natural rainforest ecosystem that once covered the island.
Additionally, this trail, which meanders through secondary forests, allows you to encounter wildlife. Guests here includes large groups of monkeys living within the forested area. The air here is also very fresh and a tranquil escape from urban life while promoting awareness of the island’s natural heritage.
Rail corridor via Fuyong Interim Park and Rail mall (4km)
Furthermore, coming back down the hill from the Singapore Quarry road, you will encounter a small side path and detour along the route leading into through Fuyong Interim Park. The park sits alongside a small private residential estate which connects to the rail corridor via rail mall. You pass through here from the Singapore Quarry to the Rail corridor area.
Running the Rail corridor (6km)
Notably, the rail corridor is not fully paved and transitions between a mix between paved asphalt, concrete and gravel trail. It is not as flat and even to run fast as compared to the Gardens By the Bay route we explored. From here, we head north from 9 mile toilet towards Hume and U-turn after the Hillview Railway Bridge.
Upper Bukit Timah railway truss bridge
Also, a highlight bridge along way here you can cross be the Upper Bukit Timah railway truss bridge. The bridge is well-preserved. Notably the çenter rail of the tracks as well as the steel superstructure which makes up the truss and supports of the bridge.
The relatively new 24km Rail Corridor is a nature path following the route of the old Singapore KTM railway from 1903. It is an ambitious and transformative project aimed at converting the old railway line that once connected Singapore to Malaysia into a vibrant space. It stretches from Tanjong Pagar in the south to Woodlands in the north.
Moreover, the route offers a continuous route for walking, cycling, and other recreational activities. The Rail Corridor reflects Singapore’s colonial past and the close ties with Malaysia, including the Bukit Timah Railway Station from the 1930s.
Notably, the preserved line starts off from Tanjong Pagar railway station and runs through here midway. Though the route, you can find distance pole marker informing you the distance form where the trail starts. Notably, it is 12km at the Rail mall area.
In addition to the Singapore Quarry Bridge, running across the corridor trail around the 12km mark, the Hume area has another smaller railroad bridge crossing over a working road.
Unlike the first Upper Bukit Timah rail truss bridge, this smaller bridge over Hillview road has the rails preserved and cast into the pavement. And interesting touch in preserving the old railway which has been here for almost a century. We would had approximately covered about 5.5km here at Hume before doing a U-turn back southbound along the Rail corridor towards Hindhede Quarry.
Wrapping up back to Diary Farm (last 4km)
Wrapping up 6km into our run, backtracking from the Rail Corridor back to the Singapore Quarry road via Fuyong Interim Park will complete the last 3-4km on your route downhill back to Diary farm Carpark B where we started from.
Ultimately, I find the Wallace trail and Singapore quarry route tad bit too short to recommend for a 10km run. This is given the need to make several detours along your route. However, the route is great if you are looking at a sub-5km run with a hills to provide some exercise variety and hillwork opportunities.
Alternatively, you can stick to the entire Rail Corridor if you are looking to cover the distance, though it is not so fun to run given it can get rather packed and crowded at times with commuters, and cyclists. Maybe that’s another running route to explore in the future.
All in all, that wraps up our Wallace Trail and Diary farm run, nestled within the Dairy Farm Nature Park in Singapore. Our running route today is one notable not just in nature, but a historical and cultural heritage of the railway and Singapore Quarry past.
