Malta, Gozo and Comino Guide: 60 long and short walks with detailed maps and GPS; 3 car tours with pull-out map

Douglas Lockhart was a lecturer in geography at Keele University, leading walking groups on Malta and Gozo for many years. He visits annually and knows the islands intimately. Since 1983 people out walking in sunny climes have been relying on our 'little blue books' to follow the trails - and to make friends with other walkers. Sunflower started by exploring the Atlantic Islands, but has branched out: we still love islands - from the Azores to Zakynthos - but we cover many mainland destinations too, like land-locked Switzerland and the coastal Basque Country. All our guides have the familiar mix of car tours, walks and picnics. More recently, we introduced restaurants and recipes in our 'Walk & Eat' series, which explores around cities from Stockholm to Avignon.

Table of contents:

Preface 5
Acknowledgements; Useful books 6
Getting about 7
Picnicking 9 Picnic suggestions 10

TOURING
TOUR 1 MALTA: FROM TOURISM TO RURALITY AND BACK AGAIN! 17
Sliema * Salina Bay * Mellieha * Cirkewwa * Golden Bay * Mgarr * Bingemma Gap * Rabat * Mdina * Mosta * Naxxar * San Gwann * Sliema

TOUR 2 MALTA: ANTIQUITIES, FISHING VILLAGES AND GARDENS 21
Sliema * Hypogeum * Marsascala * Marsaxlokk * Wied iz-Zurrieq * Hagar Qim * Ghar Lapsi * Buskett Gardens * San Anton Gardens * Sliema

TOUR 3 GOZO: THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN 24
Mgarr * Ir-Ramla * Marsalforn * Victoria * Dwejra Bay * Xlendi * Mgarr
WALKING

Waymarking and maps 28
Walkers' checklist 28
What to take 29
Weather 29
Photography 30
Where to stay 30
Maltese pronunciation and place names 31
Nuisances and hazards 32
Shooting and trapping 33
Country code for walkers and motorists 34
Organisation of the walks 35
TOWN WALKS, MALTA (with plans)
1 Valletta: capital and planned town 36
2 The Three Cities: Cospicua, Senglea and Vittoriosa 39
3 Mdina and Rabat 43

COUNTRYSIDE WALKS
Northern Malta - walks near Mellieha and St Paul's Bay
4 Ghadira * Madonna statue * Armier Bay * Marfa 47
5 Armier Crossroads * Qammieh * Ic-Cumnija * Ghadira 50
6 Ghadira * Il-Prajjet * Ghajn Snuber * Golden Bay 56
7 Selmun Palace * Mgiebah Valley * Blata l-Bajda * Mistra Bay * Xemxija 56
8 Wied l-Arkata * Bidnija * Il-Qolla * Pwales Valley * Xemxija 60
9 Falka * Wied il-Ghajn Rihana * Ghallis Tower 62
10 St Julian's * Madliena * Gharghur * Maghtab * Bahar ic-Caghaq 65

Western Malta - walks near Rabat, Dingli and Siggiewi
11 Bingemma Gap * Nadur Tower * Bingemma Fort * L-Iskorvit * Golden Bay 69
12 Rabat (Busugrilla) * Chadwick Lakes * Mtahleb * Il-Qlejgha * Bahrija * Gnejna Bay * Mgarr 72
13 Mosta * Qlejgha Valley * Chadwick Lakes * Dwejra Lines * Mosta 78
14 Rabat (Busugrilla) * Tal-Lunzjata Ridge * Dingli * Ta' Baldu * Tat-Targa * Rabat (Busugrilla) 81
15 Rabat (Tal-Virtu) * Wied Ta' l-Isqof * Gnien il-Kbir * Rabat (Saqqajja) 86
16 Buskett * Ghar il-Kbir * Laferla Cross * Verdala Palace 88
17 Buskett * Rdum Dikkiena * Ghar Lapsi * Hagar Qim * Blue Grotto 92 18 Siggiewi * Tal-Providenza * San Niklaw Chapel * Siggiewi 96
19 Siggiewi * Wied il-Hesri * Wied Qirda * Wied il-Kbir * Qormi 98

Southeastern Malta - walks from Marsaxlokk and Marsascala
20 Marsaxlokk * Borg in-Nadur * Gudja 101
21 Marsascala * St Thomas Bay * Il-Hofra * Fort Delimara * Tas-Silg * Marsaxlokk 104
22 Marsascala * Zonqor Point * San Leonardo * Xghajra * Marsascala 108

Gozo - walks from Victoria and Mgarr
23 Victoria * Zebbug * Xwieni Bay * Hekka Point * Gharb * Victoria 111
24 Victoria * Xlendi * Dwejra Bay * Santa Lucija * Victoria 115
25 Mgarr * Mellieha Point * Mgarr ix-Xini * Sannat * Victoria 119
26 Mgarr * Hondoq ir-Rummien * Qala * Dahlet Qorrot * San Blas Bay * Ir-Ramla * Ggantija * Xewkija 123

Comino
27 Walks from the Comino Hotel, San Niklaw Bay 128

Bus, helicopter and ferry timetables 131
Index of geographical names 134
Emergency telephone numbers 136
Fold-out maps inside back cover