Over 50 people recently took part in a two-and-a-half-hour ramble led by walk leader Daniel D’Agostino at Mġiebah Bay, Mellieħa. This was the second walk held this season by the Malta Student Ramblers group.
Most participants were surprised to learn that the bay’s name is derived from a number of interesting ancient apiaries (imġiebaħ) in the area where bees used to be kept. Apart from these bee hives, one also finds fortification towers, beaches, clay slopes, and sand dunes in the area.
The walk started from in front of Selmun Palace. Along the path in the garigue leading to Għajn Żejtuna the ramblers saw what is possibly the oldest copse of holm oaks on the island, as well as the corbelled huts (ġiren) and wartime pillboxes, which are probably nowhere as numerous as in the Mellieħa area.
The group took the coastal path back to Mġiebah Bay via Ras il-Griebeġ. They proceeded to Għajn Ħadid and climbed the steep clay slopes up to the derelict De Redin Tower. Finally, they made their way back to the Selmun Palace along a very peaceful secondary road lined with fields.
The Malta Student Ramblers group was formed in February 2009 as a branch of the Ramblers’ Association of Malta. Its main purpose is to organise occasional walks to provide a recreational and fitness activity to students and youths in general. The walks are also aimed at creating awareness about the beauty of the Maltese rural environment.
A few senior members from the Ramblers’ Association of Malta usually attend the walks in order to ensure their smooth running and to explain the significance of various landmarks found in the Maltese countryside.
In the coming weeks, the group will be changing its name to Youth Ramblers Malta in order to better reflect the composition of its current members, as well as to widen the range of potential participants as it aims to attract all interested youths.
The next walk will take place in January or February. Anyone interested in joining the group can follow the blog at http://studentramblers.blogspot.com, or visit the Malta Student Ramblers Facebook page for more details.
Mr Montebello is a member of Youth Ramblers Malta.