Dingli Cliffs and Buskett - Malta 31 Aug 2018

Dingli Cliffs and Buskett
Malta
Distance 6k Climb 150m
Friday 31 August 2018

Today we were doing Walk 5 from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks. This was another 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.

The journey to the start of our walk took a bit of time getting there. We took the first bus to Bugibba from our hotel that we could. This was where we had a problem, we were after a bus to Mdina but the first bus after our arrival had been cancelled, which caused us a delay. Eventually we got a bus and on arriving in Mdina we ran to catch the bus to Buskett. Unfortunately we got on the one to Dingli, so we did the walk shown in the booklet in reverse.

The bus driver dropped us at the end of his route in Dingli Village and we turned the corner to head up towards the church.

Trying to identify the features in the booklet in reverse we were twisting and turning up and down streets and ended up on the shorter route.

The path we were on led us to the radar station and radar dome on the coast.  

At the main road we turned left and followed the road.

Passing the radar station and dome we were heading south east. We could also see the Island of Filfla out at sea.

Soon on our right we came to a chapel dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. There were a number of tourist busses here.

Looking down from the cliffs we could see a number of houses and farms below.

At the road junction we turned left heading towards Buskett. After a few hundred meters we took a dirt path on our right that led us towards a large quarry.

Following the path uphill over the garrigue, moving away from the quarry. At the top we came across Ghar il-Kbir. A part natural, part dug cave settlement. The booklet provides some interesting information on the area.

After a quick look around some of the caves we continued east across the garrigue. We could see Verdala Palace to our front.

We soon found ourselves in an area known as Clapham Junction, the accepted theory is they are a number of ancient cart ruts that cross the garrigue.

On reaching a path we continued towards Buskett.

The path joined a road.

Then a main road.

At the junction we turned right along a road that led us to the woodland of Buskett.

We took our time heading through the woodland, turning left and right as we wanted. Making our way eastwards, heading uphill.

Eventually we found ourselves beside a large gate. This was on a very tight bend and we saw a couple of coaches moving backwards and forwards manoeuvring round the bend.

We found a path beneath the trees that ran beside the road, which kept us away from the traffic, it was also in the shade.

Turning the corner we found a bus stop opposite the Verdala Palace. This was where we should have started the walk. Not to worry we still had a good day.

Checking the bus timetable we found we only had a few minutes to wait for a bus to take us back to Mdina. A quick look around Mdina, we had been here before, then it was back to Bugibba, followed by a bus back to our hotel.

We had covered 6km with 150m 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 our previous walk in Malta Qrendi and The Blue Grotto 29 August 2018.
Follow link to our next walk in Malta Marsakalla to Marsalokk 3 September 2018.

Qrendi and The Blue Grotto - Malta 29 Aug 2018

Qrendi and The Blue Grotto
Malta
Distance 16.3km Climb 390m
Wednesday 29 August 2018

Today we were doing Walk 4 from the booklet Malta 10 Great Walks. We did not get the chance to do this walk 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, 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 Qrendi.

Eventually arriving at Qrendi we got off the bus in the main square near the parish church, The Assumption of Our Lady. Once we were ready we followed the directions in the booklet.

We took the narrow street Triq il-Parrocca.

Diagonally crossing a small square we headed downhill slightly and came to an open area where on the left at the far end is a chapel to St Matthew.

The booklet recommends it is worth having a look at the Maqluba Doline which is down a narrow path and a flight of steps on the left of the chapel to St Matthew. So I went to have a look and it was interesting to see. My photo does not show the full height or width.

Returning back to the chapel of St Matthew we took the road on the right of the chapel leading away from the town.

The road passes through small fields with low sided walls, there was a little confusion as to which road we should follow.

Eventually we found the right road and were heading southwards towards the sea.

We could see the small island of Filfia.

Reaching the main road we crossed over, turned left slightly and took a flight of steps to a small garden where we could follow a path down to look over the Blue Grotto and see some stunning views.

Returning to the road, we heard and saw a number of fireworks being fired, back up towards the town of Zurrieq. After watching them for a short while we turned left and passed this small shrine set back a little bit on the other side of the road.

After nearly a hundred meters we took the road down to the left leading to the coast. We found the footpath described in the booklet that cut off a lot of the twist and turns in the road.

We had been here before. Near the bottom after we had had a glass of refreshment I left Anne at one of the café. While I had a quick wander about taking a few photos.

The Knights Tower.

The small cove where you can take a boat around to see the Blue Grotto.

We had a little more rest and refreshment on my return to the café. While sitting there we saw a number of locals buying and selling fish.

When we had finished our rest and refreshments we walked back up to the main road using the footpath. At the top we turned left.

And continued along the main road until we reached the turning to our left for Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples, they are both World Heritage Sites. We called in and had a look around the visitor centre before visiting the Temples. If you get the chance they are worth a visit.

While Anne was visiting the Mnajdra Temple, I walked along the garrigue to see the memorial dedicated to General Sir Walter Congreve a previous governor of Malta.

Also the Hamrija Tower built by the knights.

Then returning to Anne for the walk uphill back to the visitor centre. It was all very interesting but I will leave the details to my booklet. Returning to the visitor centre we stopped for a short rest and a drink.

This was where we could have returned to Qrendi, but we decided to walk on to Siggiewi. So returning to the main road we again turned left. We walked passed some quarries, in the distance we could see a radar station on the cliffs to our front. The start of The Dingli Cliffs.

At a roundabout we turned left and walked down the road towards Ghar Lapsi. The booklet advises walk down the road about 500m for a view of some spectacular cliffs, and we were not disappointed. Again the photo does not do them any justice.

After enjoying the view we returned back up the road to the roundabout and continued along the main road towards Siggiewi. On the way we passed a monster.

An aqueduct, with the Laferla Cross in the distance.

An offer for free wine tasting, unfortunately it was closed.

Then on our right we passed the Providenza Chapel, again the booklet suggests we visit, and so we did.

It was an interesting Chapel, sitting outside we had a short rest and drink of water in the shade, before walking on.

We soon reached the outskirts of Siggiewi.

It did not take us long to reach the town square.

As we arrived in the square the bus turned up, that would take us back to Valletta, so we jumped straight onto it.

Arriving in Valletta at the bus concourse we ran to catch our bus back to our hotel. It had been a good day walking.

We had covered 16.3km with 390m 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 our previous walk in Malta Around Sliema (in reverse) 27 August 2018. 

Follow link to my next walk in Malta Dingli Cliffs and Bushkett 31 August 2018.