The Island of Comino - Malta 28 Sept 2017

The Island of Comino
Malta
Distance 10km Climb 190m
Thursday 28 September 2017

I had been looking forward to this walk since I saw the island on our first day, St Agatha's Tower. Where from the garigue we had seen the bright blue of the Blue Lagoon. On our walk the previous Saturday Cirkewwa to Mellieha we had looked onto the island and checked out the ferry times and prices.

Today was the day we were doing Walk 9 from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks. 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, 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.

We took the number 42 bus down the road from the hotel to the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal. Walking across the area where the cars wait to board the Gozo Ferry we reached the Comino Ferries Co-op ticket stall. where we purchased our tickets and waited for the ferry across to Comino.

The ferry crossing was very fast and exciting as we bounced across the waves. It did not take long to reach the ferry landing at the Blue Lagoon. Leaving the ferry landing we could see how the Blue Lagoon got its name up close. We decided that we would do the walk first and take the opportunity to have a swim in the Lagoon on our return.  

Walking to our right we started climbing away from the Blue Lagoon and after a short climb we crested a rise to see Santa Maria's Tower to our south.

In places we were walking over rough ground very similar to the garigue we had crossed on a couple of our previous walks mentioned above. This soon became a rough path that many visiting the Tower would have taken.

We passed beautiful bays where boats had tied up and people where enjoying swimming in the sea.

Soon the path becomes a track that leads to the Tower. To our left we pass an old army camp.

My booklet shows that the Tower is sometimes open to tourists, unfortunately the signs shows not today. Looking south, across to the mainland we could see St Agatha's Tower and radar station from our previous walks.

After walking around the Tower we turned down the track towards the old army camp.

Signs show it is dangerous to enter, we turned right along the track, after a few hundred meters this track turns east. We were walking above, looking down to the South Comino Channel on our right.

My booklet recommends taking a visit down a track to the right to a small beach. It was very quiet and peaceful along here.

Returning to the track we continued east until we reached Santa Maria's Battery. There were a number of boats coming to look at the caves along the coast. I took a few steps off the track to look down and get a photo of this stunning view.

We had a short rest at Santa Maria's Battery, looking south we could see The White Tower, we would walk to this tower on another day.  Leaving the Battery we turned north west to follow the track as it heads inland.

After a short climb we were walking beside a massive complex, an abandoned pig farm.

From the rise looking back south, I am sure we could see as far south as St Paul's Bay. We could also see Ahrax Tower (The White Tower) we would pass on another walk.

Looking north we could see the rough track we were following, broken telegraph poles lined the route.  In the distance was Gozo.

We passed an abandoned farm cottage. As always lizards scattered at our approach.

We were walking down hill towards the beach of Santa Maria. To our left we could see a small chapel.

We walked around Santa Maria Bay towards the hotel and thought about a shandy. Signs showing residents only and private put us off going any further.

We turned back and took the track from the Bay to the Chapel of the Sacred Family Upon its Return from Eqypt. Where we had a rest and a drink of water in the shade.

After our rest we continued up hill along the dusty track, A minibus came passed us a few times carrying passengers between the Blue Lagoon and Santa Maria's Bay. It looked a rough road, we did see some people walking it, I was glad I was walking.

At the road junction Anne turned right on the flat, whilst I continued up hill on the road to the left. After a few hundred meters the track levels and Santa Maria's Tower came into view. I turned right along a track that leads to the hilltop cemetery.

I imagined I could see nearly all of the island of Comino from up here, as well as large parts of Gozo and mainland Malta.

After taking a few photos I returned back to the track junction and I soon caught up with Anne.

Anne had spotted a sign showing there was a shop at the hotel in San Niklaw Bay, so that was where we now headed. Again we came across signs saying residents only and private, but Anne figured if they did not want us to call they would not have had a sign showing shop.

Having the access we stayed for a shandy, while Anne had a browse.

Returning back to our walk, after climbing the rise from San Niklaw Bay, Anne continued around the track towards the Blue Lagoon. Whilst I took the route recommended in the booklet to see the shoreline. A number of people were bathing in the area.

Returning back up to the track I met up with Anne just before we dropped down to the Blue Lagoon.

It was crowded with so many people we could not find a place to sit, or even leave our bag. Not a place to relax in, it was very noisy after the quite of the walk. There was no where at all on the beach and most of the rocks were taken. We should have had a swim when we arrived before all the crowds came. Should we stay or should we go? A little disappointed but not that much as we had such a good walk. We decided to head back, we knew where there was a beach where we could swim and relax.

There was a lot of pushing and shoving getting onto the ferry. Which took us around the coast to look at the caves and coves. Back at Cirkewwa we only had a few minutes to wait for the number 101 bus. 

We had covered 10km with 190m climb. Another good walk from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks. I would recommend checking out this link to anyone interested in doing any walking in Malta. 

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 my previous walk in Malta The Three Cities 27 Sept 2017.
Follow link to my next walk in Malta The Victoria Lines 30 Sept 2017.  

The Three Cities - Malta 27 Sept 2017

The Three Cities
Malta
Distance 7.5km Climb 75m
Wednesday 27 September 2017

Walk 2 from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks was our walk today. 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, it would be wrong of me to copy all of the information from the booklet. 

Another trip into Valletta on the number 42 from the bus stop down the road from the hotel. At Valletta Bus Concourse we were waiting for the first bus to take us to the start of the walk which was the number 1. The number 2 was waiting when a gentleman suggested we jump on this bus, as it would take us near to where we wanted to be.

On the bus we started looking for signs that related to information in the booklet where we would alight. We left the bus at a stop next to the footbridge that took us over Galley Creek, so this was where we started the walk.

Crossing the footbridge we took the steps up to the next street. 

This was where Walk 2 started in the booklet. We walked up the hill and through the City gates, The City of Senglea, also known as Isla. 

Through the City Gate we soon walked passed the Parish Church of Our Lady of Victories. The booklet provides lots of interesting information on the area.

While walking down the Main Street we saw the gentleman who had advised us to use the number 2 from Valletta Bus Concourse, walking towards us. He had waited for the number 1, I don't know why he did not get on the bus he had suggested to us? . He was pleased to see us and pointed out a few local features and suggested we walked down a few of the narrow streets, on the side of the Main Street.

Which is what we did.

After walking along a few of the narrow streets we returned to the Main Road and continued walking to the Church of St Philip Neri.

Following the directions in the booklet we turned left and then right, walking beside the Church.

Where we came to a small garden with stunning views across the Grand Harbour. When I say stunning, they were when the liners had moved out of the way. We were looking across to places we had seen on our walk the previous Friday The Battlements of Valletta.

To our left we could see Fort St Angelo.

After the liner had moved we could see across the Grand Harbour, the Upper Barrakka Garden, the Lower Barrakka Garden and The Siege Memorial.

From the garden we turned left and dropped down passed this shrine.

We walked the higher path parallel with Galley Creek down to our left.

Eventually dropping down to the promenade, which we followed passing many interesting features.

We walked along the quay until we reached the bridge we had crossed earlier after leaving the bus stop.

The booklet has details regarding walking the length of Galley Creek to reach the next city Birgu also known as Vittoriosa, on the opposite peninsula. This must have been before the bridge was in place as today you cannot walk any further along the quay.

Crossing over the bridge we turned left and walked a little beside Galley Creek on the opposite bank.

We followed the road as it curved up hill to the right, leaving Galley Creek down to our left. At a road junction we crossed and headed to the City Gate of Birgu.

From the walls we could see across Galley Creek to the City of Isla and where we had recently walked.

Leaving the Gates I misunderstood the directions and we crossed the road and turned right. This took us to the bus concourse, not where we were heading right now but knowing where it was would help us later at the end of our walk. There were a few splashes of rain and we were a little worried about being caught in a heavy downpour like we had the previous Sunday. Being in Birgu there is plenty of places to shelter. Fortunately the few splashes was all the rain there was.

We retraced our steps back, and continued passed the Gates. Where we found the turning we wanted and Anne found a shop to browse in.

Back on our route we were walking beside the battlements. There is a lot more information on this area in the booklet.

We were now looking down onto Kalkara Creek. Turning left we followed the walls beside the Creek as we climbed down steps to reach the lower level.

Beside the original hospital established by the knights we turned left. This led to a small square where it looked like old buildings are now used as offices by municipal authorities.

Turning left again we reached Victory Square, where we found a cafe and enjoyed a shandy and a piece of cake.

Again the booklet provides lots of interesting information on Victory Square and the area.

After our refreshments, we crossed the Square and walked downhill passing the parish church of St Lawrence.

This took us back beside Galley Creek. Turning right we continued beside the Creek, passing more interesting sights.

At the end is Fort St Angelo, just before the Fort there is a bridge. We turned right, just before the bridge to have a look up beside what is the moat of the fort.

Returning back to the bridge we crossed the moat and continued by Galley Creek to Fort St Angelo.

Again I was fascinated by the history blend of 16th century defences being used in the 20th century Second World War. The foresight of the knight being able to look ahead 400 years is amazing.

Standing at the Fort gate, looking straight across the Creek we could see where we had walked earlier in the day in the City of Isla. Looking right we could see The Battlements of Valletta where we had walked the previous Friday.

From St Angelo's Fort we returned back along Galley Creek. Stopping this time to take photos of the Freedom Monument.

Continuing for a short distance along by Galley Creek we turned left up the road that took us passed the City Gate of Birgu. At the road junction we crossed over and walked to the bus concourse we had seen earlier in the day.

We only waited a few minutes and the number 4 arrived which took us back into Valletta.

We had covered 7.5km with 75m climb. Arriving at the Valletta Bus Concourse we ran round to catch the number 41 that took us back to our hotel. 

Another good walk from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks. I would recommend checking out this link to anyone interested in doing any walking in Malta. 

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 my previous walk in Malta Around Sliema 26 Sept 2017.
Follow link to my next walk in Malta The Island of Comino - Malta 28 Sept 2017