Image of death: a soul in flames.

Scenic routes through some of the finest and most exhilarating country and urban treks on the Maltese islands are part of the Ramblers’ Association’s Winter Walks Programme.

The dramatic change the Maltese archipelago makes after the autumn rains is impressive as the countryside reveals its true colours of green with swathes of red clover (silla) and the yellow cape sorrel (qares), enriched with the fragrance of the sweet-scented thyme, home of the Maltese honey-bee.

The majestic cliffs on the northwest coastline are pierced by beautiful secluded beaches that offer peace and quiet far from the madding crowds.

Some walks from the winter programme, which runs until March 31, focus on the intriguing and fascinating wayside chapels that dot the countryside with a history spanning more than six centuries. Among them are the underground chapels at Fort St Angelo, Mellieħa Sanctuary and San Anard in picturesque Wied Liemu, limits of Rabat.

Their history provides an intensive viewpoint for reflection being a tangible record of Malta’s re-Christianisation after the expulsion of the Arabs.

Even in remote areas ramblers come across evidence of fore­fathers’ unswerving faith as in a memorial of a lady holding on to a cross in a recess of the fertile Fawwara valley, a reminder of a severe storm a century ago.

This aspect of vernacular art, unknown to many, needs to be fostered and appreciated because most of these edifices are rapidly vanishing.

These features make the ramblers’ circular treks not only a pleasant walk but also an unforgettable experience

These tracks include notarial deeds etched in stone, such as near the iconic Ta’ Baldu zone, “soul in flames” at Siġġiewi and Mellieħa, the enigmatic cart ruts, remote medieval villages, aedicules and niches of all designs as well as unique towers and fortifications.

These features make the ramblers’ circular treks not only a pleasant walk but also an un­forgettable experience.

The Maltese and Gozitan landscapes beckon; with their rich texture of natural, historical and ecclesiastical interest they offer some of the most breathtaking walks in the central Mediterranean basin.

Lino Bugeja is the honorary president of the Ramblers’ Association.