This route is a lap of the island of Malta. Malta is an archipelago consisting of 3 islands. Malta is the largest island and has the shape of a fish. this route tried to hug the coast as much as possible but in some instances, it moves a bit inwards until it resumes the coast. obstacles included private land mostly. The permits 15m from foreshore but in some cases the foreshore was closed off. There are some ongoing court cases and until these are decided by the court I chose alternative, similar but public routes. In other cases, the hunters make it impossible for people to pass through. I would advice to skip these parts, as I did on this route for one's own saftey. I also made changes in Smart city where an area used in the Malta circumnavigation is now a big construction site with security. Rinella film facility was heavily guarded since they are filming Gladiator 2. Access was denied. Doc no 7 is now closed so I rerouted this part as well. The Malta freeport was also closed and guarded. Parts of Sliema and St. Julians have new apartments built on the foreshore so I improvised. This route is very similar to the Malta circumnavigation but is tweaked a bit as over the last 3 years there were the aforementioned changes which required rerouting.
The Northen part and the West coast are mostly trail although there is also trail in the southern part around Marsascala and Marsaxlokk. then it also consists of running through Medival cities called the three cities and Valletta, the capital. Malta boasts the most beautiful port in Europe and you'll get the opportunity to run through it.
I chose to start from Xemxija. The promenade towards xemxija church and the fire station, on the side of the fire station and down to mistra bay through trail.this leads towards the paths on the clay cliffs all the way to ghadira bay. Then comes the fish tail which leads to park tal-majistrall. Then towards Gnejna, then up to a plateau leading to Fomm ir rih, where one finds a big wind vane with a cat on top. Then rerouted through Bahrija Village. Past the school, down to a small valley where you have to pass through reeds, the natural habitat of qaghbru, an enemic fresh water crab. Then up a small hill. After this run all the way to Migra l -ferha, and Dingli Cliffs. then head towards Bir Zebbuga. from here the route takes you to the fishing village, Marsaxlokk and after that Marsascala. After Marsascala it's all road. smart city, Rinella, Kalkara, isla, birgu and bormla. very old cities and unique. then through a very busy area to Valletta, the capital, built by grandmaster La Vallette, 'A city built by gentleman for gentlemen'. it's a UNESCO city built on a hill but we run on the foreshore. observe the most beautiful port in Europe. AAfter this to the entertainment hubs passing from msida to sliema and st julians. after st julian's run to Pembroke. i rerouted part of the route here due to saftey but still maintained the same distance. then its coastroad, Bugibba and Xemxija.
