​​​​​​Walks for 2024 - March to May​

 

Saturday, 27th April 2024

Wied Is-Sewda & Mriehel

 

•    Meeting Point :   We park our cars in front of "Alan Motors" or in Wied is-Sewda itself.

•    Meeting Time  :   2.45pm.

•    Walk Starts      :   3.00pm.

•    Buses              :   50, 51, 52, 53, 56 from Valletta.  181, 182 from Mater Dei Hospital.  X3 from Airport.  Stop on Bus Stop Warda 2.   From Siggiewi or Rabat, take Bus 109.  Stop on Bus Stop Sewda.

 

We walk down Wied Is-Sewda for over one kilometer and if we are lucky it will be full of water.  At the junction with the Mriehel to Zebbug minor road we turn left towards Mriehel.  After walking a short distance along the bypass, we turn right onto a single file cement path that takes us in the direction of Qormi.  We continue along country lanes until we reach the chapel of "Santa Marija Tal-Blat" where we can have our break.  We now walk upstream along the valley and keeping Wied Is-Sewda on our left we continue all the way back to the Attard-Zebbug main road and back to our cars.

 

Wednesday, 1st May 2024

 Kuncizzjoni – Fomm Ir-Rih - Ras Il-Pellegrin

 

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

•    Meeting Time  :   3.15pm.

•    Walk Starts      :   3.30pm.

•    Buses               :   109A stops on bus stop Wied Gerzuma, near Kuncizzjoni Church. Time: every 2 hours.  Or take bus 109, stop on Bus Stop Lellux, and then 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.

 

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 FommIr-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 garrigue 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.

 

Sunday, 5th May 2024

Three Cities Joint Walk

 

•    Meeting Point :   Cospicua (Bormla) in front of AUM

•    Meeting Time  :   8:45am.

•    Walk Starts      :   9:00am.

•    ​Duration          :   3h 30min​

•    Buses              :   2 and 3 from Valletta.

 

 

In order to celebrate the united front being presented by all of our country's walking organisations, we will be organising a huge joint walk along with Leisure Ventures, Trekking Malta, Trail Makers and Xir Camminito the Three Cities on the 5th of May 2024. The organisers will also make an important announcement which represents the next step in their collaboration to safeguard the public accessibility of our countryside and urban areas. Mark the date and come and show us your support on what will be Malta and Gozo's biggest meetup yet for the rambling community.

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Starting from the AUM, we will first walk around Senglea, before heading to Birgu, where we will stop for a short break near the ditch gardens. We will then resume our walk and visit Fort Ricasoli, before heading back to Birgu whilst enjoying the view of Fort St. Angelo. The walk will then return to its starting point.

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Following the end of the walk, we are planning a special visit to St. Lawrence chapel in Birgu, which will be opened so that we will able to see La Vallette's battle sword and visit the crypts on site! Those who wish to attend this final part can do so against a small donation in benefit of the chapel.

 

Don't miss out this huge event for the rambling community!

 

Saturday, 11th May  2024

Mtahleb Basin (East)

 

•    Meeting Point :   We park our cars near the hostel in the vicinity of Mtahleb Church.

•    Meeting Time  :   3.15pm.

•    Walk Starts      :   3.30pm.

•    Buses              :   Apparently no buses pass near Mtahleb Church.  A lift with somebody is needed.

 

We start the walk by going past the chapel and soon start the long way down towards the sea enjoying beautiful scenery all the way.  We pass the large uncovered water reservoir and continue all the way down to the cliff edge where we turn left (facing Dingli Cliffs).  We walk along the cliffs edge all the way around "Il-Qaws" (The Bow or Arch) towards Dawwara Point where we have our break. The caves in the cliffs below us were used in March 1942 by Carmelo Borg Pisani, the Maltese/Italian spy who was later caught and sentenced to death. We continue to Dawwara Point to better view the magnificent cliffs, running east and west.  Here we turn inland and soon start the long climb up to the top along country tracks through the peaceful surroundings and sparse dwellings.  Eventually we pass through the quite unique Mtahleb village complete with some troglodyte dwellings.

 

Saturday, 25th May 2024

 Mistra Valley - Selmum

 

• Meeting Point  :    We park our cars close to Mistra Gate.

• Meeting Time  :    3.15pm

• Walk Starts      :    3.30pm

• Buses               :   41, 42, 49 from Valletta, 221 from Bugibba, 222 from Sliema Ferry, 250 from Mater Dei.  Stop on Bus Stop Mistra.

 

From Mistra Gate we walk away from the sea keeping close to the valley bottom where we soon pass a Neolithic ‘village’ on our left and three banks of old stone beehives hewn out of the limestone on our right.  After some scrambling we come to the Mizieb road where we turn right and right again and start a long gentle climb.  We pass an unusual square “girna” on the right and soon see some red Pleistocene deposits that were formed after the island emerged from beneath the sea.  We take care to cross the busy Xemxija to Mellieha road, pass some catacombs on our left and continue towards Selmun Palace.  Here we take a steep track down into Mistra valley and walk back to 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

 

• 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.