Dec 27, 2008. Siggiewi to Hagar Qim Walk

Today's walk was again led by our good friend, Gunther Jacob.

A map and satellite image of the route of the walk, courtesy of Sandro Bugeja.






And some photos below, courtesy of Silvan Mugliett.

Agriculture in a reclaimed Quarry, Qrendi

Approaching Qrendi

Preaching to the fathful

Canopy over Hagar Qim

Returning to Siggiewi

The Times Thursday 11th December 2008

Enjoying a walking supper as the sun sets

George Cini

Above: The exquisite beauty of Il-Blata tal-Melħ, close to Baħrija. Below: Green pastures in the lean winter months. Photo: Malta Ramblers Association.

"By sunset we are wending our way across fields of wild thyme. The aroma is sensational. I crumble some on my salmon sandwich. Beat that for a walking supper.

"The sun plops into the sea and we return to Mellieħa to find a free rock festival in full swing..."

This is the sensuous manner in which Nick and Liz Hallissey describe - in this month's edition of the magazine Country Walking - the walks they enjoyed tremendously in Malta during a recent three-day visit.

With a circulation of 120,000, the monthly magazine is distributed in the UK, Europe and the US.

The Hallisseys, who were guests of the Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana, were accompanied on their walks by members of the Malta Ramblers Association, among them Lino Bugeja, Romano Cassar and Annalise Falzon.

The authors wax lyrical about country walks during the lean tourist months as they recall the breathtaking and awesome sites they have been to, such as the Blata tal-Melħ, close to Baħrija Għar Lapsi, Binġemma, Dingli cliffs and the Victoria Lines, which they liken to "Hadrian's Wall with sunshine".

The authors write that the brave little island is now fighting yet another battle in its tumultuous history, this time to win the hearts and minds of walkers.

"If they (walkers) can look beyond the lack of creature comforts and focus on the magic moments Malta yields, they can help the locals turn this rough diamond into a real gem," the Hallisseys wrote.

Ramblers Association president Lino Bugeja said when contacted that this type of exposure puts more responsibility on the association so that the impetus it started three years ago is maintained.

"Through such publicity, the Malta Tourism Authority and those responsible for opening up the countryside and the coastal zones will, hopefully, realise the importance of rambling as a tourist attraction," Mr Bugeja said.

The action by the Land Department to clear public areas that had been taken over by third parties is indeed most welcome.

Ramblers hope that further action would make more of the countryside accessible to the public, to whom it belongs, Mr Bugeja added.

Dec 8 Walk and lunch

Some photos from today's walk, led by Romano

Climbing up from Gnejna

Approaching Ras il-Pellegrin

Gnejna on a winter's day

Beneath Ras il-Pellegrin

Approaching the top

Walking towards Fomm ir-Rih

Wied il-Hmar

Our secretary addressing the multitude (at lunch)

November 16, 2008 Walk

Starting from our meeting place, we crossed Wied San Martin and through almost unknown pathways we crossed the roundabout near St.Dorothy’s School, passed by the chapel dedicated to St.James in the outskirts of Zebbug, till we reached Wied ta’ Bakkja or il-Wied tal-Baqqija. We succeeded to ramble along this valley upstream reaching Wied San Anton & continued towards the wayside chapel dedicated to San Blas, where we had a very short rest, just sufficient to be able to observe some interesting graffiti on its façade. Afterwards we headed uphill till we reached another wayside chapel dedicated to Santa Lucija & San Nikola. Finally we had a well-deserved rest on the promontory situated between il-Wied tal-Isqof on one side, & Wied il-Luq on the other side.

Passing by ir-Razzett tal-Isqof, we descended towards il-Wied tal-Isqof through a typical footpath ( in Maltese called minzel ), crossed the same valley & continued rambling towards the tal-Virtu promontory. Finally we descended through Wied il-Merhliet & using secondary roads, we crossed the Rabat-Zebbug main road and reached our starting point after some 4 ½ hours.

Walk leader : Simon

Distance : 17 km

Some info on Razzett ta' l-Isqof, provided by RAM President Lino Bugeja:

The Razzett ta' l-Isqof was built by Bishop Baldassare Cagliares (1615-1633). However, the coat of arms on the facade is that of Davide Cocco Palmieri (hence the Palm Tree). A stone slab on the left records a notarial deed dated 23 August 1792 probably relating to an extension of the razzett.

The large cave under the servants' quarters with a running stream and a large stone table is a very important feature. It's a romantic hide-away.

Photos courtesy of Marcel Pisani

Heading towards Wied San Antón

San Blas Chapel

A well-deserved rest

Tal-Virtu promontory & Mdina Cathedral

Ir-Razzett tal-Isqof

Coat-of-Arms at ir-Razzett tal-Isqof

Heading towards tal-Virtu promontory

Il-Wied ta’ Bakkja

RAM Membership Form

NGOs propose changes to Mepa powers

From the Times of Malta
Oct 28, 2008

Environmental organisations joined forces in the name of sustainable development and yesterday presented the Prime Minister with a report listing 74 recommendations for the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).

The seven non-government organisations launched the report, Towards Sustainable Development Planning In Malta, during a press conference and called for more accountability, improved planning procedures, better enforcement and environmental protection.

The NGOs were Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth, the Gaia Foundation, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, the Ramblers Association, Save Wied Garnaw Action Group and the Light Pollution Awareness Group. Nature Trust and BirdLife also contributed to the report.

The 47-page document is divided into five main sections. The first looks at improving the legal framework and recommends that policies governing development outside development zones and in protected areas be strengthened and made legally binding.

The NGOs suggest the pre-screening of development applications so that those proposing illegal development are not processed; suspending a development permit until the appeal is decided; removing Mepa's power to sanction illegal development in protected areas; obliging Mepa to provide a public register on pending enforcement notices; updating building regulations and sanitary laws; increasing fines for illegal development; and making Mepa board members personally liable and accountable.

Another set of proposals is aimed at improving Mepa's organisational structures by appointing a full-time chairman and board members - including members on the Development Control Commission and Planning Appeals Board - to avoid conflicts of interest.

The NGOs also call for the role of the Environment Directorate and the Heritage Advisory Committee within the decision-making process to be strengthened.

The third section looks at improving development planning procedures by better addressing third-party rights, restarting public consultation if plans are considerably amended, and assigning Mepa the responsibility of commissioning Environmental Impact Assessments, which so far lies in the hands of developers.

Further proposals deal with ensuring Mepa makes use of its powers to fine developers of illegal buildings and setting up district management teams to monitor specific green areas.

Finally, the proposals seek to improve the public's role in development planning by making information more accessible.

After presenting the recommendations to the media the NGOs headed for Castille where they handed the document to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

He thanked them for their contribution to the reform, which he had listed as a pre-electoral promise, adding that last week he had concluded consultations with Mepa employees.

Speaking during a Nationalist Party activity last month Dr Gonzi said he was planning to announce details about the reform by the end of the year.

Mtahleb and Ras id-Dawwara 25 October 2008

Today’s walk (25th October) was fully subscribed and all participants were punctual so we could set off right on time at 9.00. The forecast did not foresee any showers but the air was still rather crisp then and several of us put on a light jacket. Half an hour later all had taken it off and rolled up their sleeves. The day turned out to be glorious.

Foreign walk leaders (or shall we say “semi-Maltese”) were Bertus Zuijdgeest, a Dutchman who has been living in Malta for the last seven years, assisted by our Irish friend Maura Marlow. At the assembly point, in the car park near Migra il-Ferha (Mtahleb) Bertus briefly introduced themselves, welcomed the participants and explained where the walk would take us and a few basic rules (like not to create a big gap from the one walking in front of you otherwise the group could stretch out too much) and some sound pieces of advice (like not to walk along the path near the cliff edge as it could be very slippery at this time of the year).

Along the route which took us to the spectacular Dahlet id-Dwieb (plural of ‘debba’, a mare) a participant, taking the cue from another member who had told us what he knew about the etymology of ‘Migra l-Ferha’, informed the group of the event, or legend, which had given origin to this place name. Unfortunately no one could do the same with names like “Ras id-Dawwara “, the promontory on the left of Dahlet id-Dwieb, or of the rocks a little further on known as Il-Qaws, or of “Imtahleb”. But even Prof. Aquilina does not offer any help in this respect (he says that it comes from ‘haleb’; but probably most of us would have guessed that). A friend has now offered to look up these place names in Prof. G. Wettinger’s works.

We walked to the other side of this inlet surrounded by impressive cliffs. From there we had a frontal view of the two giant caves at sea level. The dark openings of the caves framed from above by the whiteness of the cliffs and a clear blue sky, and from below by a calm blue sea was indeed a beautiful sight. We proceeded inland to take a good look at the biggish rock-cut cave with niches and a sort of stone bed (Is this Ghar Doson?) which reminds one of the cave at Ras il-Wardija in Gozo. Again no one knew whether this was part of our archaeological heritage or a more recent undertaking.

Then we started climbing up towards Mtahleb. At this point we had a good overview of all the cliff face from Ta-Baldu till Imtahleb. The highlight in that panorama is the Mtahleb chapel precariously balanced on the cliff edge, and the rock-cut caves which formerly were inhabited and some of which still serve for storage purposes.

We then crossed part of Wied Ilma (aka Wied ir-Rum [Valley of the Roman?) and Wied Markozz and along footpaths made our way back to the starting point. It was 11.15 when we were back.

The terrain here was quite easy-going except for some rough terrain and steep but not too long incline. We had two short breaks for a quick snack, to take photos and, above all, to take in the peace and beauty of this very scenic and remote part of the island

Walk Leaders: Bertus and Maura, assisted by Joe Agius.

Some photos below, courtesy of our intrepid photographer, Silvan Mugliett

And yet more photos below, this time courtesy of our older photographer, Joe.












And a couple more photos below, courtesy of Maura

Against the Flow 19 October 2008

Although the first walk after the summer break was quite challenging, at 0830 more than 80 ramblers were waiting impatiently at the meeting point, eager to start walking. After a brief introduction by the secretary, all the group headed towards Wied ic-Cawsli and eventually passed through Wied il-Kbir, stopping for a very short break near Ghar Hanzir. At this point, the valley system bifurcates into two, with the one on the right leading to Wied Qirda. We took the left fork, leading eventually to Wied Xkora.

Walking practically on the valley-bed, we passed through Wied Sillani and Wied Musa, and struggled through the final stretches of Wied Xkora till eventually we reached the final point of the Siggiewi by-pass, where we had a well-deserved rest.

Then we continued upstream, passing through lesser-known valleys such as Wied ta' Manduca and Wied San Lawrenz (the most difficult & tiring slope - in the vicinity of the Laferla Cross). Then we walked through a beautiful garigue area, leading to the Gebel Ciantar cliff edge overlooking Fawwara and the Migra Ilma areas.

Here we stopped for another rest, whilst observing the scenery.

Afterwards we descended again towards Siggiewi, passing in the vicinity of Wied Zikku, and visiting two wayside chapels on our way back -tal-Providenza and ta' Hal Xluq. Following an almost unknown footpath, we reached Wied Xkora again and headed directly towards the main village square.

This was quite a 'difficult walk' bearing in mind that we started practically at sea level and reached a point approximately 250m ASL, and also that the terrain was not that easy for long stretches of this walk. However, this shows the determination of our members!

Walk leader: Simon

Duration : About 5 hours

Distance : 17 kilometres


Some of the photos below are courtesy of Silvan Mugliett

Ghar Hanzir

Alex, explaining the way forward

Wied Sillani

Heading towards Wied Xkora


Explaining the way forward…!?


A defaced Coat-of-Arms on a building near Wied Xkora


Outskirts of Siggiewi


Former Chapel of San Lawrenz

Beatiful garigue at Gebel Ciantar


Gebel Ciantar with Verdala Palace in the background


The promised island…Filfla


A well-deserved rest on the cliff edge

Fawwara – Lunzjata Chapel

Ramblers having a rest


Gebel Ciantar


Descending in the vicinity of Wied Zikku


Tal-Providenza Chapel


Another short rest at Tal-providenza

Hal Xluq Chapel