​October to December 2024 ________________________

 

Wednesday, 2nd October

Fawwara - Dingli Cliffs - Laferla Cross 

 

• Meeting Point :   The start of the walk is on the road from Siggiewi to Ghar Lapsi.  

• We park our cars at the junction with the last road on the right just before the Dar Tal-Providenza homes.  

• Meeting Time  :   2.15pm.

• Walk Starts      :   2.30pm.

• Buses              :  109 from near Domus Romana, Rabat, 201 from Airport.  Stop on bus stop PROVIDENZA, close to Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi.

• Location: Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.839711, 14.430145

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Following a narrow lane, we come to a scenic road with nice views of Filfla.  Passing the Annunciation Chapel, which has an underground spring, we walk up a rough track that winds uphill.  At the top, we find the remains of a Bronze Age village where we can see a number of 3000-year-old silos, dug in the ground for the storage of grain and possibly water.  We meander on the garigue for quite some time and set our sight on the Laferla Cross in the distance.  From here on, the route is downhill as we make our way back to our cars.

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Saturday, 12th October

Bidnija Bridge (North)

 

• Meeting Point   :  We turn off the Mosta-Burmarrad road onto the Bidnija road

• We park our cars at the bottom of the valley, close to the newly widened bridge.  

• Meeting Time  :  2.15pm.

• Walk Starts      :  2.30pm.

• Buses               :   103 from Mosta Centre and stop on bus stop XEMX.  Then 6 minutes walk down to the small bridge.

• Location:  Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.922122, 14.404605

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We walk downstream along the Ghajn Rihana valley and just before reaching the Mosta to Burrmarad road we turn left and go upstream along the Wied l-Arkata valley.  At Bidnija Church, we follow the road towards Zebbiegh for quite some time and turn left downhill towards San Andrea School.  Upon reaching the valley floor, we turn northwards and walk upstream along the Ghajn Rihana valley all the way back to our cars.

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Saturday, 26th October

Kuncizzjoni - Fomm ir-Rih - Ras Il-Pellegrin

 

• Meeting Point :   We park our cars near the Kuncizzjoni Church.

• Meeting Time  :   2.15pm.

• Walk Starts      :   2.30pm.

• Buses                  :   109A stops on bus stop Wied Gerzuma, near Kuncizzjoni Church, every 2 hours.  Or take bus 109, stop on Bus Stop Lellux, and a long walk to Kuncizzjoni.  Time: every 1 hour.  Boarding of these buses is from Siggiewi and Rabat.  For more information check with Transport Malta 21222203.

• Locaton: Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.899996, 14.349647

 

While we are waiting for the walk to start we can observe some interesting graffiti of sailing ships on the RHS of the façade.  We walk away from the church towards the Sylvia King memorial where we turn left along the Victoria Lines.  Here we have one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the Maltese islands.  We climb down some steps and continue down a fairly steep clay slope towards Fomm ir-Rih where we can enjoy the cliffs views.  We cut across to the northern side of Ras Il-Pellegrin for a break overlooking the scenic Gnejna Bay area below.  From here we continue in an anti-clockwise direction on rough garigue following the cliff edge at a safe distance all round the plateau.  We retrace our steps past the reservoirs, up the clay slope to the Victoria Lines and back to our cars near the church.

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Saturday, 2nd November

Verdala Palace - Buskett Area

 

• Meeting Point :  We meet in front of Verdala Palace near Buskett, close to bus stop Verdala.

• Meeting Time :   2.15pm.

• Walk Starts     :   2.30pm.

• Buses              :   56 from Valletta. 181 from Mater Dei Hospital.  

Note:  This is “The Paul Debono Charity Walk”.  Before the walk, a donation of 5 euro will be collected in aid of The Malta Hospice Movement.  

• Location: Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.862581, 14.397781

 

We walk on the main road away from Rabat and soon go into Buskett where we follow lesser-known paths to the other side of the valley and up to the top of the ridge. We can have our break here and enjoy the magnificent view of the garden below us and Verdala Palace as a backdrop. We are now on the outskirts of the garden and proceed to pass some Roman quarries and the ventilators of a wartime flour mill. Down some steps and we pass the entrance of a flour mill, which was built by the British in the 1950’s to ensure a supply of food in the case of nuclear war. We re-enter Buskett from the back entrance and proceed through narrow paths, passing a recently renovated farmhouse. We cross the valley and up the other side towards Verdala Castle and our cars.

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Wednesday, 6th November

Delimara

 

• Meeting Point  :  We park our cars in the car park, near the Hunters Tower Restaurant in Marsaxlokk , near the playing field.

• Meeting Time    :    2.15pm

• Walk Starts        :    2.30pm

• Buses                :    81 from Valletta, 119 from Airport, 210 from Mater Dei Hospital.  Stop on Bus Stop Marsaxlokk.

• Location: Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.840589, 14.548112

 

We walk away from village, up a narrow track to the top of the hill, where we turn right onto the Delimara road.  We pass the fort, (dated 1881) and the lighthouse and follow the low cliffs to the foreshore towards Delimara Point.  Turning north, we follow the east coast of the peninsula passing salt pans and many bays until we reach “Il-Hofra z-Zghira”.  We leave the coast and climb to the top of the ridge where we turn left along the tarmac road that takes us back to where we left our cars.

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Saturday, 23rd November

Fawwara - Dingli Cliffs - Laferla Cross 

 

• Meeting Point :   The start of the walk is on the road from Siggiewi to Ghar Lapsi.  

• We park our cars at the junction with the last road on the right just before the Dar Tal-Providenza homes.  

• Meeting Time  :   2.15pm.

• Walk Starts      :   2.30pm.

• Buses         :  109 from near Domus Romana, Rabat, 201 from Airport.  Stop on bus stop PROVIDENZA, close to Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi.

• Location: Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.839711, 14.430145

 

Following a narrow lane, we come to a scenic road with nice views of Filfla.  Passing the Annunciation Chapel, which has an underground spring, we walk up a rough track that winds uphill.  At the top, we find the remains of a Bronze Age village where we can see a number of 3000-year-old silos, dug in the ground for the storage of grain and possibly water.  We meander on the garigue for quite some time and set our sight on the Laferla Cross in the distance.  From here on, the route is downhill as we make our way back to our cars.

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Wednesday, 4th December

Armier - White Tower

 

• Meeting Point  :    To get to the starting point of our walk, pass the turning to the Mellieha Bay Hotel and at the top of the hill turn right. Park at the turning to Armier, close to Bus Stop XMAJJAR.

• Meeting Time  :    2.15pm

• Walk Starts      :    2.30pm

• Buses:               :    41,42 from Valletta; 221 from Bugibba; 222 from Sliema Ferries; X1 from Airport.  Stop on Bus Stop Qammieh.  Then a 10 minute walk to Bus Stop XMAJJAR, our meeting point.  Note that bus 49 stops from going to Armier in October.

• Location: Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.981796, 14.358314

 

We walk down the long straight road towards Armier where we follow the coast in the direction of the White Tower passing the pretty bays of Armier and Little Armier.  We pass the recently developed campsite and make our way onto the headland where we see a small chapel and on the cliff edge a statue of the Madonna.  Next to the statue is a tablet to the memory of a young man who fell over the cliff edge in July 2000.  Here we can enjoy the wide panoramic view of Gozo and Comino to the left and St Paul’s Island with its statue straight ahead.  We follow a path along the cliff edge until we reach a red and white post where we turn inland and make our way back to our cars.

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Saturday, 14th December

Il-Maqluba - Wied Iz-Zurrieq Promenade

 

• Meeting Point  :    To get to the starting point, take the road under the runway at the airport, to the next roundabout, turn right and then follow the signs for Qrendi.  Once on the Qrendi bye-pass, keep on to the very end, where we find the Chapel of St. Matthew’s and Il-Maqluba.

• Meeting Time  :    2.15pm

• Walk Starts      :    2.30pm

• Buses              :    74 from Valetta.  Stop on bus stop Maqluba.

• Location: Google Maps    Co-ordinates: 35.831519, 14.456443

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If time permits we can have a quick look at “Il-Maqluba” before the walk starts, but remember the walk starts at 2.30pm sharp !!  We start our walk by taking the road to Hagar Qim but soon turn left to pass Palazzo Guarena and meander along a country road towards Hagar Qim.  On the way we can see a rare double-faced sundial on a farmhouse. Near Hagar Qim we turn left and walk along the promenade with lovely views across Wied Hoxt and Wied Iz-Zurrieq.  We have our break at a place with spectacular views of the Blue Grotto.  We continue along the Wied Iz-Zurrieq promenade to the very end and then walk inland to visit the quaint Tal-Hniena Chapel and the nearby Palazzo Gutenberg.   From here we meander back along country tracks to Il-Maqluba and our cars.

 

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Saturday, 28th December

Delimara

 

• Meeting Point  :  We park our cars in the car park, near the Hunters Tower Restaurant in Marsaxlokk , near the playing field.

• Meeting Time    :    2.15pm

• Walk Starts        :    2.30pm

• Buses                 :    81 from Valletta, 119 from Airport, 210 from Mater Dei Hospital. Stop on Bus Stop Marsaxlokk.

• Location: Google Maps   Co-ordinates: 35.840589, 14.548112

 

We walk away from village, up a narrow track to the top of the hill, where we turn right onto the Delimara road.  We pass the fort, (dated 1881) and the lighthouse and follow the low cliffs to the foreshore towards Delimara Point.  Turning north, we follow the east coast of the peninsula passing salt pans and many bays until we reach “Il-Hofra z-Zghira”.  We leave the coast and climb to the top of the ridge where we turn left along the tarmac road that takes us back to where we left our cars.

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Advice for Walkers

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This section provides advice for anyone taking part in a walk organised by the Malta Geographical Society.

Most walks involve using paths around and occasionally across fields; they can be uneven and muddy. In spring and summer you may have to cope with vegetation on and next to the paths.

Our walks are led by experienced walk leaders.

Here there is advice on clothing, what to bring on walks and good practice for group walks.

       All walkers

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• Note that walks start at the time given on the walk program. Anyone who wants to join the walk after it has started or who decides to leave before it has finished should make sure the leader knows.

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    Parking

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• The Society  encourages car sharing to get to walks – partly to reduce our carbon footprint and partly to ensure we all can park.

      Clothing/Footwear  

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• Anyone coming on a Society walk should be suitably clothed. A list of essential items includes:

• a pair of walking boots or shoes,also a spare pair of shoes in the car

• a waterproof jacket, outdoor trousers; a hat of some sort depending on the weather, something to eat and drink. Water is important to keep you hydrated.

• A walking pole is useful and a whistle for emergencies and for wet weather a pair of over trousers.

• Something to sit on to protect against the damp and the cold is important.

• Some may wish to bring a first aid-kit, a change of clothing and sun-glasses and sun cream. 
   

      Food and drink

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• Bring food and drink  for the refreshment breaks. 

 

      Accidents/incidents

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• Alert the walk leader immediately if you feel unwell or need medical attention.

In the event of an incident/accident occurring report it to the Secretary or Chairman as soon as possible after the walk.

•    Leaders do carry First Aid kits and have basic First Aid training.

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    On the walk

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     The walk coordinator is in charge and responsible for ensuring the safety of the group and follow all instructions when directed. Do not move ahead of the walk coordinator.

     It is important that we all play a part in keeping walkers in touch on a walk. If you need to go into the bushes please tell someone so that they can tell the leader. Please let someone know if you are stopping – for whatever reason. Be aware of the walkers behind you at path junctions and ensure they have seen you turn off onto a sometimes hidden path.

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     We ask all walkers to respect protected plants and vegetation and to leave no trace of food/fruit as it will take months to decompose. Take any rubbish that you have accumulated on the walk home with you.

    Particular care should be taken when walking along a road without a pavement. You are advised to walk single file and face the oncoming traffic unless blind bends make this dangerous. Please take care when crossing a road and when walking on quiet, narrow lanes and try to keep to one side, normally the right hand side.

    When using gates make sure that any gate is left as found, and not left open when it should be closed. When walking across a field and through crops keep as close as you can to any obvious route but sometimes the leader has to rely on a map to guide the way. Please walk in single file where the pathway is narrow and keep together and walk briskly when using the public footpaths which go through private gardens close to houses.

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    A farmer/land manager may have posted notices with instructions for walkers; look out for these. Similarly there may be notices from local councils saying that a path is obstructed for some reason and advising an alternative route.

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