Marsaskala to Marsaxlokk Bay
Malta
Distance 16.3k Climb 225m
Monday 3 September 2018
Today we were doing Walk 3 from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks. A walk we did not get the chance to do last year. If you would like a copy of the booklet then please follow the link. The booklet gives a good description of routes and points out loads of interesting information. I am writing the basic details of our walk, as it would be wrong of me to copy all of the information from the booklet. I would recommend this booklet to anyone interested in doing this walk.
From our hotel we took the first bus we could into Valletta. At the bus concourse we changed for a bus that would take us to Marsaskala.
Arriving at Marsaskala we overshot our stop and so walked back along the promenade to the start of the walk at the parish church of St Anne's and the impressive bell tower.
After a few photos we walked back along the promenade, south, and followed it as it turned east around Marsakala Bay. It was very quiet and there were not a lot of people about.
Near the entrance to the bay as the promenade turns south east we saw a number of saltpans dug into the limestone.
As the promenade curves south passing the peninsula we passed St Thomas Tower.
There is a Geocache nearby. So we had a walk around the Tower, on checking out the details I saw that it had not been found for some time so we gave it a miss.
Returning to the promenade the booklet advises pass the old Jerma Palace Hotel and head down to the shore rather than walk the road.
So this is what we did. We passed a pillbox and walked across the rocks above more saltpans. Which took us south west into St Thomas Bay.
This turns into a flat area with saltpans then into a small beach area, families were gathering to enjoy the sun. We could see that part of the beach was closed and so we took a path up the side of the cliff and around, avoiding the closed area.
We returned to the beach further along dropping down from the cliff near a small café. A little further on there was a lifeguard station and another café where we stopped for a short rest and some refreshments.
After our rest we continued around St Thomas Bay.
At the top of the track we passed a closed gate and continued around the Bay.
Our route turns up the path to our right, east across the peninsula but before going up here I continued, north east further along the Bay and took some photos of the arches in the rocks. Birds were nesting in shady hollows in the rock face.
And I took photos of the tower.
Returning back to the route, I turned east crossing the peninsula.
We followed the path along the top of the cliffs, south and as it turns inland, south west.
Passed a fortified farmhouse with its own chapel, the booklet advises turn left, east for a 100m to get a view of caves and cliffs.
After taking a few photos I returned back to the path we were following towards Marsaxlokk. On reaching the Tas-Silg Fort we turned left, south east, we could hear the dogs.
At the end of the path we followed the signs towards St Peter's Pool, south. This gave us our first view of Marsaxlokk Bay and took us onto the road, where at the junction we turned left, east then south east, walking above the power station.
A little further on we started turning left and right and left as the signs led us, north then north east and east, down to St Peter's Pool from the main road. It was very warm here and a lot of people were enjoying the sun and clear water.
We crossed to the other side and found some shade, Anne decided to stay here and rest. I walked a little further around the coast.
There was hardly anyone around here as I walked around the corner.
Headingsouth east towards the Lighthouse at Delimara Point. It was along here I came across some loud snapping dogs, fortunately they were tied up.
Moving southwards I reached the road that led me to the lighthouse.
Walking passed the lighthouse, I could see more saltpans at the end of Delimara Point.
On returning back along the road I stopped to take a look at the outside of Fort Delimara and the deep defences.
On returning back to the road I continued along it for awhile and took a path down to my right, north east back to the coast. Hoping to avoid the dogs, unfortunately the path I took led me straight to them. Never mind once passed them I continued along the coast.
Until I reached Anne sitting under her tree in the shade.
Together we walked back up to the main road in reverse to our walk down to St Peter's Pool, and turned right. Walking back above the power station returning to the junction where we had turned to follow the signs to the Pool. Now we continued straight on for a few hundred meters before taking a track down to our left, south west.
This led us down hill onto another main road, where we turned right, north. At the next junction we turned left, west. We had been to Marsaxlokk Bay before on another trip to the Sunday market. So we knew where we were heading.
The quayside looked so different without all the stalls and hustle and bustle of all the people at the Sunday market in Marsaxlokk Bay.
After buying a drink and taking a few photos we walked passed the parish church.
Up to the road where we turned left and walked a few meters to the bus stop. We had timed it just right the bus was waiting and so we were soon on our way back to Valletta.
Arriving in Valletta at the bus concourse we ran to catch our bus back to our hotel. It had been an excellent day walking. We had covered 16.3km with 225m climb. We had now completed all the walks from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks. I would recommend checking out this link to anyone interested in doing any walking in Malta.
This was our last full day in Malta and we had had a great time, tomorrow we would be on our way home.
More to follow
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.
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