The Environment Commission within the committee is always on the look-out for new venues that promise to offer our members not only scenic beauty but interesting anecdotes in history, archaeology or some other educational aspect. It organises expeditions with people who have subject-matter knowledge or interest on the site to be briefed on the various characteristics of the particular site with the sole aim of passing on that knowledge and interest to its members when the walk is finally decided upon.

The first of such discovery visits involved Gnien Ingrau in Mellieha, a location that promises very interesting archaeological and historical attributes besides the beautiful scenes. On Sunday 24th September Dr Louis Vella led the small group of seven scouts to the site, where he explained that up to the last century it was held that the goddess Calypso inhabited that site and not the (now infamous) Gozo cave. A copy of the lithograph from Lacroix drawn-up more than three hundred years ago indeed shows the hill overlooking Ghadira, described as the sacred shrine of Calypso. In truth the site offers much more than the stark simplicity of the Gozo cave, and the gradient of the hill from Ghadira to the Mellieha heights (today built-up) is smooth and impressive. Rock cuttings and multi-layered caves further intrigue the mind about the site.

Professor Frank Ventura kindly accepted the invitation to explain the Ptolemy co-ordinates in an attempt to find out whether the site could fit in with the location of an important prehistoric shrine, which the first century astronomer and geographer cites as one of the five important places in the Maltese Islands. According to the learned workings of the Professor it could well be that the site indicated by Ptolemy was in fact at Gnien Ingrau.

Satisfied with the significance of the venue it now remains to trace the trail that takes it all in entertainingly.

Alex Vella