Running Punggol Buangkok Sengkang Park connector

We love the park connectors, you can run, cycle, blade, scoot or simply walk. Day or night, the scenic waterways always attract families (including pets) and activities.

Lovely cloud reflections at Coney Island entrance

When I need to choose a spot for my long runs, the Sengkang Park connector links me to Punggol and Buangkok, and the loop will last me 20 to 25km.Β  Some convenience factors for me would be be toilets, water point and shelters (lockers would be a bonus).

1) Toilets – For obvious reason, stomachache in the middle of coney island is no fun.

2) Water point for my hydration needs. Try running in Bishan Park loops and you will realise they only have 2 or perhaps 3 water points. (Please correct me if I am wrong)

3) Shelters from the environment. You can run in the rain but not under thunderstorm.

Look at Google Map below, I have highlighted the water points (roughly every 5km) in my favourite running route. You can start from anywhere, any direction, just follow the waterways and “long kang” (drains) to form a 20km loop.Β Google Map Link

Sengkang Punggol Running route
Sengkang Punggol Running route

Expect to see Container parks, nice vantage bridges, dams, beautiful sunrise or sunset, and the spectacular Punggol landscape. I have yet to spot the otters.

I live in Sengkang, but I need to admit that Punggol is more scenic πŸ™‚

Punggol 21
Punggol 21, Jewel Bridge

When you run around your neighbourhood, you will realise how landscapes can change in months. Green area cleared, boarding come up, and the BTO flats literally grow floor by floor in weeks! And Sengkang hospital will be ready in a few months!

 

 

If you start from Compass One (Seng Kang MRT), clockwise through Buangkok you will reach Sengkang Park connector towards the swimming pool. You will run behind Kampong Lorong Buangkok (Singapore’s last Kampong on the main land, GPS 1.383346, 103.878035).

Sengkang Park connector
Sengkang Park connector

#Water point B(refer map) Anchorvale Swimming Pool

Sengkang Swimming Pool

 

Run along the river and you will reach the dormitories and Punggol Marina. Look across the straits at Johor Pasir Gudang. There will be a lot of fishing enthusiasts (anglers) too.

Punggol end Jetty

#Water point C. Punggol End

If you want to end your run, take a bus back to Punggol bus Interchange. Or if you want additional challenge, run the Punggol end slopes!

You can enjoy seafood or rent a bike to go to Coney Island (closed at 7pm).

Bus to Punggol end

But this lush greenery and laid-back corner at Punggol end will be very crowded soon, with new flats and even industries.

Future Punggol Developments
Future Punggol Developments

I hate this zig-zag route running parallel to Coney Island. Seems like never ending, and always feel lonely on this stretch. You will get occasional bikers and joggers.

Below picture of HDB, you will see remote planes flying around weekends.

You will see Lorong Halus bridge before Water Point D. This bridge looks nice day or night.

#Water point D. Punggol Promenade toilet (200m from bridge, 50m to Container Park)

This is 15km mark on my run, 5km to go but I hear Happy hours πŸ™‚

ofo bikes rental
ofo bikes Punggol

Nearing the end of my route, one more km to Water Way E.

#Water point E. Punggol Park (This is actually in Hougang)

Punggol Park
Punggol Park

 

#Water point A. This can be Buangkok or Sengkang MRT

A slow run (20km pace 7 to 8) will take you between 2 to 2.5 hours. Enjoy the scenery.

Additional tips :

1-Ladies, do not go running alone in the late evenings, run with a pal. Some areas suffer from blackouts. And there are many construction sites around.

2-Beware of the irritating bright lights from ebikes and scooters, they are fast and often blind you with their spotlights!

Do you prefer Sunrise, Sunset or even full moon? Do share your favourite park and running routes with me.

Macritchie Trail run
– Cycle to Sengkang North and Seletar airport
– Cycle to Coney Island
– Follow our running adventures here

Cycling Seletar North

When we went cycling Seletar North area, we found some interesting landscapes. Sand, airport and this scenic water body between Punggol Timor Island and Punggol Barat Island.
Cycling Sengkang West

Never heard of Punggol Timor or Punggol Barat?
You are not alone, as everyone only knows about Coney Island :p
seletar sengkang cycling map

Referring to map above (credit Google), let us orientate our route Cycling Seletar North, checkpoints :
1 – Sungei Punggol Dam (If you head North pass Marina Country Club, you will reach Punggol End, Coney Island)
2 – The water body between Punggol Timor and Punggol Barat
3 – Seletar Airport
4 – Yishun Dam
5 – Take new road Seletar Aerospace Way to reach Sengkang Fernvale or Jalan Kayu

Video (Link) : Kids ride faster when I nag :p

Some of the checkpoints along our cycling route. Dam at Sungei Punggol.
IMAG2788

You will not miss these colourful dormitories. Are these workers busy building North East’s infrastructure and public housing?
Cycling Seletar

Vast amount of sand along Punggol Timor Island! (just in case Singapore’s neighbours try to disrupt our construction sector). It reminds me of those slides down Pinnacles’ sand dunes (in Perth).

This might also explain why the stretch of road along Seletar North is more dusty.
Sand bank Seletar

At “checkpoint 2”, I told Yee not all snails are escargots, and we normally do not eat snails raw.
IMAG2799

Cycle further down and you will see aeroplanes on the tarmac of Seletar Airport.
How to go to Seletar Airport
Cycling to Seletar Airport

Take note of overgrown scrubs along certain stretch of Seletar West Link. We might need to push our bikes. We miss the left-turn at Seletar Aerospace Way “checkpoint 5” and ended near TPE “checkpoint 6”.

Cycling seletar aerospace
Cycling seletar aerospace

This detour cost us an additional 45 minutes as there was no cycling path and we had to push the bike for about 1.5km!

I am very proud of the adventurous spirits displayed by the kids. Although we were tired (and hungry), and it was getting tough to cycle in dim light, we persevered and reach home safely together πŸ™‚

Additional tips :
– Females should not cycle or jog alone, as these corners are very quiet and has thick vegetation
– Round trip cycling from Anchorvale Swimming Pool to Seletar Airport is around 9km, add 5km to reach Jalan Kayu
– The Marina Country club should be another interesting sight, you can see “boats” parked under the green roofs
(Marina Country Club is about 3km away from Punggol MRT)
– Easy cycling should cover this distance in under 90 minutes, we stop over for some “candid poses”
– The pathway (check the video) after Sungei Punggol Dam is a bit narrow, we need to share the path with joggers, cyclists and foreign workers
– As we get nearer to Seletar Airport, you will hear planes flying overhead (video at 7.48 minute)
– If you are really lost, bus 103 and 117 serves Seletar Aerospace area

* if you have time and energy to spend, try cycling 4.5km across Yishun Dam “Checkpoint 4” towards Orchid Country Club and Lower Seletar Reservoir. Mandai Park Connector will link you to Singapore Zoo (10 km). (The shallow water at Lower Seletar Reservoir waterplay area is very popular with toddlers)

Seletar Airport map

Our Sengkang-Punggol round trip video is not up yet, but you can read about our Coney Island experience.

Forget Punggol Waterway Point, you will definitely find more adventures along Seletar North and Sengkang West πŸ™‚

*updated 2021 Aug – Last Fishing Village and Rower’s Bay are popular with folks from Sengkang and Punggol too.

Click this cycling link for all our biking adventures.