Exiles Bay Sliema to Mediterraneo Marine Park - Malta 21 Nov 2019

Exiles Bay Sliema to Mediterraneo Marine Park and return
Malta
Distance 19.5km Climb 210m
Thursday 21 November 2019

We left the hotel on the Triq it-Torri and turned left walking north east. 

 

We have walked along this route a few times now. You can see our last walk here on the link Around Sliema. Across St Julian's Bay we could see the Dragonara Casino.

There was building work next to the Barracuda.

Around the corner we passed the large church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Then the stunning Balluta Buildings. 

Continuing around the waterside we reached the Love Statue in Spinola Bay. 

Up along the Triq San Gorg then through the Spinola Park, a young kitten was drinking from a large puddle.  

Leaving Spinola Park we were heading towards the large Portomaso Blue Tower, we could see the Tower from our hotel room. 

We took a short diversion to look down the steps at the marina. We could not believe the price of a meal at one of the posh restaurants. Turning around we saw the large building near the Blue Tower that from this angle looks like a large cruise liner.

We took the road, Triq il-Knisja to the right of the large cruise liner. Passed the modern church.

At the bottom we followed the road left passed the grand looking Westin Hotel. It looks like the hotel is having work done as there are boards covering a large area further along the road.

As the road bends, St George's Bay comes into view. The beach looked so different to what it did the last time we walked here. Today there were hardly any bodies lying about on the beach in the sun.

We followed the road around St George's Bay. At the north end the road was being dug up for repair. Further up the bank we passed an impressive looking building, which my map shows is the Institute of Toursim Studies.

At the top of the bank we were near the Corinthia Hotel and the Radisson Blu. We didn't realise it at the time but we were at the start/end of the Pembroke Heritage Project. 

The edge was a lovely green lawn, our wander took us over the road and into the Pembroke Gardens a small multi levelled park. Ahead we could see below us there was a carpark and a tennis ground.

We walked to the left of the tennis courts, at the end of the path was another small car park. Over the road there was two signs showing the start/end of the route. We were heading north west along the coast towards the reverse osmosis plant. In the distance we could see the Madliena Tower.

Walking behind the reverse osmosis plant we reached a track. Turning left we were following signs for the Heritage Route

The route has a number of information signs. One sign shows this path crosses over the military foot bridge. Some of the track is a metal grill, lifting walkers off the garrigue. After a few hundred meters we reached another track junction. Down to the right the track led to military ranges. Warning flags were flying to show the Armed Forces of Malta were training so we continued following the signs for the Heritage Route up to the left. Every now and then we could hear the armed forces firing. The path climbs gently up towards some houses.

At the top we walked around a gate and before reaching the road a sign directed us left along a footpath. The path continues to climb gently upwards.

At the top there are some seats and you have views all over the area. Looking directly ahead we could see our route. One of the many information boards show that in the middle distance is a British troop shelter from the Victorian era and to the left other military quarters.

Walking down the road, we passed a range sentry on the corner as we turned left again, to pass the Victorian troop shelter. On our way up the road we passed a few old firing points. At the top another right turn to pass in front of the old military quarters, from the sounds of children it sounded like this must now be a school?

In places we were back to walking on the metal grill. 

At the top the route signs directed us right onto Triq Martin Luther King.

After a couple of hundred meters the road bends left slightly and we passed a school commemorated to Martin Luther King.

We turned off the route slightly and crossed a small flat area which led us onto the garrigue, we should have stayed on the route as there was a large pipe to climb over. Eventually we were back on the route and walking left. We could see the path turning right towards Madliena Tower.  

The Tower had a red flag flying showing the Armed Forces of Malta were firing, in fact on our way along the route we could see the rounds landing in the sea. 

Beside the Tower is a fougasse. Information boards show this was an improvised weapon. It would be filled with explosives and projectiles and fired at any invaders. Looking at where it was aimed it coved a small bay. 

Looking left we could see the next tower in the chain that surrounds the island, Qrejten Point with Buggibba behind. After a few minutes rest where we discussed what next, we decided to carry on along the coast. Crossing some well walked garrigue. 

A little bit up and down before we reached a track that led to a road. Up to our right was a large number of derelict building with very artistic paintings on the sides. We turned left following the road down hill. At the bottom as the road turned right we could see that it just broke up into nothing. It just shows the power of some of the storms that must lash the coast. A local fisherman pointed to the best track to take, as he walked passed with his fishing rods and bucket. This photo shows what is left of the road down on the right.

The track led to a large area that looked like an area of cleared buildings. Which we later realised due to the electric hook-ups and barbecue pits was where people in the summer would bring caravans, campervans etc. A summer transportable community.  At the end the road follows along the coast behind the Water Park and Mediterraneo Marine Park. To the right we could see the old salt pans.

As the road turns right we followed around the rear of the Marine Park.

Where we found Sea Pebbles a small roadside/seaside café and had a couple of cups of coffee and a rest.

As we sat dark clouds came over and we thought it would rain but it did not materialise. With the dark cloud the air turned a lot cooler. So after our rest we set off back the way we had come.

As we passed the Marine Park we could here people clapping and dolphins squeaking.

Back through the empty caravan site.  

Along the track by the broken road.

At the road we continued up towards the derelict buildings and turned left down a proper path across the garrigue.

Headed directly to the Martin Luther School.

Back onto the Pembroke Heritage Trail. Which we just followed back the way we had came.

A quick stop at the Military Foot Bridge, that had been restored as part of the project, for a photo.

I had to have a quick look at Range B for a Geocache, which I found. While Anne walked on to have a rest on the viewing seats, a little way along the route. 

Continuing on our way through the Pembroke Park and St Georges Bay we turned up through Paceville. 

Back through Spinola Park and down Triq San Gorg.

At the bottom we stopped at a bar near the Love Statue for a well deserved rest and relaxing drink or two, or three.

We were not too far from our hotel but it was dark when we left the bar. Unfortunately non of my photos have come out good enough to include here.

We had covered 19.5km with a 210m climb. It had been a good day and Anne had done really well, since fracturing here ankle a few weeks ago.

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 the link to our next walk in Malta Victoria Lines (in reverse) 23 Nov 2019.