Spring in the Maltese islands is short-lived and the more so precious - winter sees many of our indigenous plants coming to life - patient bulbous plants flourishing after the long summer drought and life starts sprouting in every crack and corner of our landscape.
But springtime is definitely flower time, so if you have long been reflecting on taking to the outdoors, what better time and place to start than at Il-Majjistral nature and heritage park.
The protected area forms part of the special area of conservation of international importance, known as Rdumijiet ta' Malta (coastal cliffs), extending from Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) to Il-Prajjet (Anchor Bay). The sea in the vicinities has also been declared a marine protected area.
The park has been created through the collaboration of the Government and three NGOs, namely Gaia Foundation, Din l-Art Ħelwa and Nature Trust. Through this initiative Maltese families and their children will have many more opportunities to enjoy the natural environment.
Guided nature walks will be taking place regularly on site by pre-booking. The guided walk (6 km length, ca 2.5 hrs), will be held on Sundays (and other days subject to request). Initially, these walks will be offered free of charge as part of the management's commitment to increase awareness and enjoyment of our heritage while also promoting exercise in the fresh air - always in respect of nature.
For the keen rambler, the North West of Malta does not need much in way of introduction. It offers unique sea and landscapes, a sense of wilderness and some truly inspiring walks.
The area is set to gain from its protected status in its first stages of being set up as a park for present and future generations, as well as for the benefit of its natural and historical heritage.
Exploring the whole area well would take over two hours, so the walk aims to take in some of the highlights of this area: an area that is predominantly natural but which has, however, its share of man-made features including those of historical value.
Starting from Il-Kamp ta' Għajn Tuffieħa - used in the past as military training grounds for the territorials - one can get a good view of the inland ridges, the Knights' coastal towers and the unique features of the area - queen among which is the clayey headland of Il-Karraba, stubbornly resisting millennia of restlessly pounding waves while surrounding bays have given in to erosion and are now some of the most popular sandy beaches on the islands. These include the protected area of Għajn Tuffieħa, managed by Gaia Foundation ( www.projectgaia.org ) and Golden Bay with its rare sand dune remnants.
Proceeding up the limestone plateau of Ix-Xagħra tal-Majjiesa, with its windswept and sun-bleached rocky outcrops, one can appreciate some of the hardiest plants making up the garigue - an infinite array of natural miniature 'rock gardens'. It is here, in this most undervalued of habitats, that many medicinal and also endemic plants grow mostly in the form of small, low-lying evergreen shrubs or bulbous plants.
At the uppermost tip of this plateau an unexpected rock-cut room stands guard over the western horizon in a privileged position witnessing the most amazing sunsets. It overlooks the mysterious Ras il-Waħx beneath, which consists of the most unique of our landscapes - the rdum (precipice) - favourite haunt of our national bird, the Blue Rock Thrush, and of many plants. The wild backdrop of this coast is heavily sprinkled with huge boulders.
Do not be deceived by the apparent strength of the harsh limestone - it is the underlying Blue Clay layer, which has the last word here, as it causes the definite separation of the Upper Coralline Limestone, forcing it away from its dominant position to come tumbling down towards the sea.
The two extremities of the park, in fact, hold between them this most secretive and inaccessible of all Maltese landscapes - the wild, labyrinthine rdum - the last place where one would expect to find any human impact. But yet, tiny patches of land were also worked down here with complex dry stone wall systems for sheltering vines and fruit trees. At various spots hidden in the cliff one can encounter a minżel - old rock-cut stairways leading down into the boulder scree.
An eroded path leads downwards, now in full view of the rest of the coast leading to Rdum id-Delli, capped by Il-Qammieħ as the last of Malta's ridges and the majestic Ta' Ċenċ cliffs in Gozo as a backdrop. Walking towards Għajn Żnuber and turning inland next to a wartime military structure, one is instantly transported to a different context captured best within the spirit of the Maltese corbelled stone hut (girna) - a glimpse back to traditional rural Malta with patchworks of cultivated land with their backs to the Mistral (north west) wind and facing the more sheltered, fertile Pwales valley. Here one cannot help but heave a sigh of relief at the shelved projects, which were to see the arching back of Ix-Xagħra l-Ħamra developed as a golf course.
An old farmhouse, which was once used for the production of wine from vines harvested at Rdum Majjiesa, earmarked for restoration, stands to prove that this area has long been cultivated despite the harshness of the elements and limited resources. From here one can retrace one's steps to Golden Bay or opt for a more interesting route by walking towards Manikata and walking through the old hamlet of Ir-Razzett tal-Qasam - another restoration project is in the pipeline here, spearheaded by the Manikata Rural Co-operative and Mellieħa council.
Details of the walk
Duration: ca 2.5 hours, starting at 10 a.m.
Approximate length: 6 kilometres.
Starting and finishing at: Golden Bay bus stop.
Terrain: mostly rocky paths and walking close to cliffs, dirt tracks.
Bookings: walks@majjistral.org, ideally two weeks prior to date.
All tours will be based on e-mail bookings and subject to a minimum number of persons. All participants are to be responsible for their own safety and for that of any accompanying children. Suitable walking shoes are a must.
Public Transport: Check timetable at www.atp.com.mt to Golden Bay from Valletta: Route 47.
Ms Falzon is a guide at Il-Majjistral park. For more information, visit www.majjistral.org.