Marfa Palace to Mellieha via Ahrax Tower (The White Tower) - Malta 1 Oct 2017

Marfa Palace to Mellieha via Ahrax Tower (The White Tower)
Mellieha
Malta
Distance 10.5km Climb 140m
Sunday 1 October 2017

I saw this route while looking at the map following our walks to St Agatha's Tower (The Red Tower), and Cirkewwa to Mellieha Bay earlier this holiday. Also following a visit to the Tourist Information Offices in Medina, I picked up a number of walking leaflets. One leaflet included this as part of a walking route. With only a couple of days left of our holiday we decided to do it. Mind as it was easier to get the bus out and walk back we did the walk in reverse to the leaflet direction. 

We left the hotel and walked to the main road to catch the first bus, which was the 42, towards Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal. Leaving the bus a couple of stops before the Ferry Terminal we crossed the road at the junction and turned eastwards. At the side of the road we passed what is shown on the map as a battery overlooking the South Comino Channel. Dark clouds were gathering and the wind was picking up.

We walked down the gentle slope towards the Riviera Hotel, passing a stall selling nic-naks, where Anne had to stop for a look. In the distance we could see Ahrax Tower (The White Tower)

At the bottom of the bank we walked around the Marfa Quay, which I believe was where the Gozo Ferry used to sail from before the Ferry Terminal was built at Cirkewwa. 

Another large hotel stood across the bay, walking to the right of this hotel we followed the road. Across the fields to our right we could see St Agatha's Tower (The Red Tower).

At the road junction we turned down to our left back to the coast and walked by some beach huts in Ramlet il-Qortin. 

Once around the bay we were in an area of small residential and holiday homes. Some people were sitting out on their verandas, drinking coffee, listening to music and watching the day go by. A gentle climb away from the bay.

At the top of the small rise we took the road to the left heading towards Ahrax Tower which we could see in the distance.

Rather than follow the road to our right, we took some steps down onto a promenade by the side of Armier Bay. 

Turning right we followed the promenade by the side of the bay, passed a cafe/bar onto the sand. We could that very few people were out today as there were a lot of empty sun loungers under the yellow umbrellas. 

Leaving the sand we climbed to the road by a large defensive wall and continued left. Across the sea to our left, the South Comino Channel, we could see Comino and the Santa Maria Battery. A place we had walked the other day on our walk around the Island of Comino.

Crossing a boat slip way, we took the road uphill away from Armier Bay. We could hear families gathering in the houses and holiday homes for Sunday. 

At the top we turned right and walked a few meters. We should have turned left. After retracing our steps we walked back down to what had been our left and followed the large defensive wall. Unfortunately we were now on the inside of the wall and we should have been on the outside. 

Never mind, we soon found a way over it, and arrived in another area of small houses and holiday homes. Dark clouds were gathering as we walked down to the bay.

Reaching the bay Ir-Ramla tat-Torri we turned right until we reached a small cafe near a sandy beach. Time for a short rest and a coffee.

Across the South Comino Channel we could see the Comino Tower, and further beyond I believe is the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Mgarr on the Island of Gozo.

A few people sat on the sand, we were used to seeing crowds and were a little surprised to see the beaches so empty, perhaps it was the dark clouds. We still found it warm, with occasional bright bursts of sunlight.

After our coffee we walked along the sandy beach, joining a road that led us around the bay. Instead of turning up a road to our right towards the Tower we continued following the road around the coast. We could see nearly all of the Island of Comino with the Island of Gozo behind.

The road becomes a rough track following around the coast. After a short while we turned right and found a narrow, rough path across the garrigue that took us up to Ahrax Tower (The White Tower), the internet shows this Tower is known by a few different names. Armier Tower being another. 

Looking north west we could see Comino Tower.

Looking south west we could see St Agatha's Tower (The Red Tower). We could also see there was a tower to our south east, across St Paul's Bay. All of the Towers were in line of sight and could communicate with each other passing warnings of invasion back to Valletta.

From the Ahrax Tower we walked down the road and joined the road we had ignored earlier when we continued walking along by the bay. Turning left we followed the road down to a large residential and mobile caravan site, with a large fence.

We followed the road as it turned right, and we started a gentle climb south east.

We passed a couple of pillboxes.

Along the road we started walking passed picnic areas where I believe wattle and olive trees provided shelters and it looked like families had gathered to eat and drink and spend time together.

At the top of the road we turned left and walked along a new road, more wattle and olive trees provided shelter for family groups. After a few hundred meters we reached the Immaculate Conception Chapel. The cliffs in the area are called The Cliffs of Our Lady.

Taking a few minutes we went in, it was nice and peaceful inside.

Signs show the original Chapel nearly fell into the sea and has been rebuilt further from the edge.

Walking to the statue of Our Lady, I could see cracks in the rock. A memorial stone to Marc Bradshaw is a reminder how dangerous the cliffs are here.  

After a few minutes we turned and walked back along the road south westerly. On the way I would stop and walk near to the edge to get some photos.

Looking into the Mellieha Bay we could see a fish farm. Information shows this area of cliff is called Donkey's Cliffs.

The road runs along the Marfa Ridge and gives great views right, looking across to Comino and Gozo. Left we were looking across to Mellieha Town and its large parish church. On our way we passed this converted pillbox.

As we were walking along the Marfa Ridge, it was turning warmer. The dark clouds that had been threatening all day disappeared.

Also a number of the local corbelled huts.

At the top of the road we reached the roundabout near the wayside shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows. We had walked passed this shrine on a couple of our other walks, links above. Turning left we followed the road down hill.

This had been another good day walking. We had covered 10.5km with a 140m climb. Today was going to be our last walk in Malta this holiday. Hopefully it will not be our last ever.

There was time to find some shade and have a couple of shandies, followed by a relaxing swim.

More to follow


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Malta or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to previous walk in Malta The Victoria Lines 30 Sept 2017.