'Tis the season for country walks

As summer recedes and the milder weather sets in, the countryside has put on a new coat, full of colour and vibrancy that will, soon again, become naked in the colder months of winter.

The seasons become part and parcel of our environment and we adapt to them accordingly. In these cooler months we tend to better enjoy our countryside and what it has to offer by going on picnics and walks.

And the Ramblers' Association has launched its autumn programme of walks specially designed to take in not only the unique, natural characteristics of the Maltese islands but also its rich, cultural, archaeological and historical heritage scattered throughout the countryside. This may take the form of Bronze Age silo pits, corbelled huts, rock-cut tombs, watch towers and the vast array of mediaeval wayside chapels and folk art in remote pathways.

This season ramblers will focus on lesser-known sites like Wied Liemu, Ta' Baldu, Ras ir-Raħeb and others off the beaten track according to association president Lino Bugeja.

Those interested in joining these walks should write to the association on PO Box 108, Sliema SLM1000, or call 2134 2121 or 2163 3126 or visit ramblersmalta.jointcomms.com.