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Comments from Tony Sammut

I was warned that walking around the coast of Gozo was going to be a tough one but it didn’t sink in until I was on another walk in Malta when Gozo was in good sight and my friend James told me now have a look and tell me how many roads can you see along the coast.

After a close examination, I was surprised that I couldn’t see any but noticed some leading down to the coast this is when it hit me, if there are no roads then we have to walk over rough terrain. It was also mentioned that there are some challenging valleys such as wied il-Ghasri, wied ir-Raheb and Mgarr ix-Xini. that we have to cross and not to forget the area known as Mistra Rocks.

James estimated that the walk would take us around 20 hours. So a several weeks before we did a long walk lasting around that time to test our stamina. Our coordinator told me we have to prepare ourselves for walking on rocky terrain so we decided to train running up and down stairs for a couple of weeks this helped to strengthen our legs.

Walking around Gozo was worthwhile and challenging experience. We were on the very coast most of the time if anything a bit too close for comfort.  The view was spectacular; I had to keep stopping, to look back at the view from where we had come to make sure I didn’t miss any of it. 

The countryside was already dry, but flowering native plants gave it character, it makes you wonder what it would be like during winter when the countryside is at it’s best. While walking I asked James if it was possible to organize such an expedition in the winter bearing in mind that this is hunting and trapping season, his immediate response was, we have to plan for one.

Walking Gozo wasn’t easy, at times it was dangerous, As for myself I lost my footing while walking on a loose edge and lost my balance injuring my knee after a bit of first aid I was up and away and didn’t think anything of it except at times when I hit it or had to use force to climb, but when we finished the walk I noticed that the knee was swollen and after visiting the doctor he told me that it was infected and recommended I have a tetanus injection.

The walk is recommended to all those that crave adventure, and if you want to see what little is left of our islands wild countryside then this is a walk that you can’t let pass you by.