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January 2025

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Thursday, 2nd January

Bubaqra - Wied Fulija

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• Meeting Point :   We park in the slip road along the front of The Peace Laboratory in Hal Far.

• Meeting Time  :   1.45pm.

• Walk Starts      :   2.00pm.

• Buses             :  119 from Airport or Marsascala, every hour.   X4 from Valletta or Birzebbugia, every half hour.  Stop on bus stop PACI, close to The Peace Laboratory.

• Location: Google Maps  Co-ordinates: 35.824210, 14.502571

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We start by walking towards Luqa along the main road, but after only 300 metres we head southwards, passing the niche of Santa Katarina, and at Tal-Bakkari, we can see the remains of two medieval churches built on the remains of a Roman temple.  We take a lane that winds around fields for quite some time, until we reach Bubaqra.  We continue and head to the rehabilitated Wied Fulija landfill site where we walk round the grounds in an anticlockwise direction for the best sea views.  We continue along the coast road with sea views to our right and then we head inland and make our way back to our cars.

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Saturday, 11th January

Dingli Cliffs - Hal Tartarni

 

• Meeting Point  :  We park our cars close to the Bobbyland Restaurant on Dingli Cliffs.

• Meeting Time  :  2.15pm.

• Walk Starts      :  2.30pm.

• Buses               :   56 from Valletta,  201 from Airport or Rabat.

• Location: Google Maps  Co-ordinates: 35.85894718825008, 14.372540354902139

 

We start the walk in an easterly direction with sea views on our right, but soon turn inland towards the village of Dingli.  On our way we pass along a country road where the small village of Hal Tartarni is believed to have existed.  We skirt Villa Psaigon and Buskett and make our way back to Dingli Cliffs where we have a short break near the quaint St Mary Magdalene Chapel.  From here we can enjoy lovely panoramic cliff views.  After another short inland excursion, we return to the cliffs and pass the impressive radar station which played such an important role in the Second World War.  We continue along the cliffs all the way back to our cars.

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Saturday, 25th January

Armier - White Tower

 

• Meeting Point  :    To get to the starting point of our walk, pass the turning to the Mellieha Bay Hotel and at the top of the hill turn right. Park at the turning to Armier, close to Bus Stop XMAJJAR.

• Meeting Time  :    2.15pm

• Walk Starts      :    2.30pm

• Buses              :  41,42 from Valletta; 221 from Bugibba; 222 from Sliema Ferries; X1 from Airport. Stop on Bus Stop Qammieh.  Then a 10 minute walk to Bus Stop XMAJJAR, close to our meeting point. Note that Bus 49 stops from going to Armier in October.

• Location: Google Maps Co-ordinates: 35.981694, 14.358535

 

We walk down the long straight road towards Armier where we follow the coast in the direction of the White Tower passing the pretty bays of Armier and Little Armier.  We pass the recently developed campsite and make our way onto the headland where we see a small chapel and on the cliff edge a statue of the Madonna.  Next to the statue is a tablet to the memory of a young man who fell over the cliff edge in July 2000.  Here we can enjoy the wide panoramic view of Gozo and Comino to the left and St Paul’s Island with its statue straight ahead.  We follow a path along the cliff edge until we reach a red and white post where we turn inland and make our way back to our cars.

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Advice for Walkers

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This section provides advice for anyone taking part in a walk organised by the Malta Geographical Society.

Most walks involve using paths around and occasionally across fields; they can be uneven and muddy. In spring and summer you may have to cope with vegetation on and next to the paths.

Our walks are led by experienced walk leaders.

Here there is advice on clothing, what to bring on walks and good practice for group walks.

       All walkers

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• Note that walks start at the time given on the walk program. Anyone who wants to join the walk after it has started or who decides to leave before it has finished should make sure the leader knows.

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    Parking

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• The Society  encourages car sharing to get to walks – partly to reduce our carbon footprint and partly to ensure we all can park.

      Clothing/Footwear  

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• Anyone coming on a Society walk should be suitably clothed. A list of essential items includes:

• a pair of walking boots or shoes,also a spare pair of shoes in the car

• a waterproof jacket, outdoor trousers; a hat of some sort depending on the weather, something to eat and drink. Water is important to keep you hydrated.

• A walking pole is useful and a whistle for emergencies and for wet weather a pair of over trousers.

• Something to sit on to protect against the damp and the cold is important.

• Some may wish to bring a first aid-kit, a change of clothing and sun-glasses and sun cream. 
   

      Food and drink

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• Bring food and drink  for the refreshment breaks. 

 

      Accidents/incidents

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• Alert the walk leader immediately if you feel unwell or need medical attention.

In the event of an incident/accident occurring report it to the Secretary or Chairman as soon as possible after the walk.

•    Leaders do carry First Aid kits and have basic First Aid training.

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    On the walk

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     The walk coordinator is in charge and responsible for ensuring the safety of the group and follow all instructions when directed. Do not move ahead of the walk coordinator.

     It is important that we all play a part in keeping walkers in touch on a walk. If you need to go into the bushes please tell someone so that they can tell the leader. Please let someone know if you are stopping – for whatever reason. Be aware of the walkers behind you at path junctions and ensure they have seen you turn off onto a sometimes hidden path.

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     We ask all walkers to respect protected plants and vegetation and to leave no trace of food/fruit as it will take months to decompose. Take any rubbish that you have accumulated on the walk home with you.

    Particular care should be taken when walking along a road without a pavement. You are advised to walk single file and face the oncoming traffic unless blind bends make this dangerous. Please take care when crossing a road and when walking on quiet, narrow lanes and try to keep to one side, normally the right hand side.

    When using gates make sure that any gate is left as found, and not left open when it should be closed. When walking across a field and through crops keep as close as you can to any obvious route but sometimes the leader has to rely on a map to guide the way. Please walk in single file where the pathway is narrow and keep together and walk briskly when using the public footpaths which go through private gardens close to houses.

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    A farmer/land manager may have posted notices with instructions for walkers; look out for these. Similarly there may be notices from local councils saying that a path is obstructed for some reason and advising an alternative route.

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