Around twenty people gathered for this first "limited numbers" event where participation was set at 20 ramblers mainly due to the very rough terrain covered and the ecological sensitivity of the area. Before the walk started Alex Vella made a brief address about the geology of the Islands since this walk consisted mostly of rocks, rocks ...and more rocks.

Where's the trail?

The group then set off and cut across Xaghra l-Hamra to the edge of the cliff where an ancient rock-hewn set of steps leads conveniently down onto the boulder scree below. The weather also smiled on us today since the brisk Northeast wind, so prevalent on Xaghra l-Hamra, dropped to an innocuous breeze once we were down beneath the cliff face.

Now the real hard trekking started with the terrain varying between uneven garigue, clay slopes and some stony ground with some magnificently huge boulders thrown in for good measure. It is an area with a high level of natural erosion where from time to time huge chunks of upper coralline limestone fall onto the ground below - this naturally makes for a very dramatic and wild landscape - a corridor of wilderness between the cliff face above and the blue sea beneath.

Made in Heaven - A natural garden of
Shrubby Crown Vetch and Maltese Spurge

 
Don't try this at home.
The Hon.Secretary shows
off his mountaineering skills

Ramblers took all this in stride and the going was naturally not fast paced - in fact the varying landscape as well as the tricky ground necessitated we do so - as well as the need to stop and take it all in from time to time. Indeed it is a rich tapestry at this time of year especially when Ras il-Wahx was reached and one of the finest populations on the island of the rare Shrubby Crown Vetch (Coronilla valentina) came in full view with its intoxicatingly sweet smell. The area is also rich in other species - among them the Egyptian St.John's Wort (Hypericum Aegypticum), the very rare Fagonia (Fagonia Cretica) and the endemic Maltese Spurge (Euphorbia Melitensis), - all in full bloom at this time of year.

Rounding off Ras il-Wahx we had our second brief stop at a secluded sandy beach where ramblers could catch their breath then we went on past some "boathouses"
(yes - here too) and then on through a path through small cultivated fields uphill to reach Xaghra l-Hamra once more. From here on it was a short walk on surfaced roads back to our starting point.

A remote majestic seascape at Ras il-Wahx