14.6.2019 - Dingli Cliffs, 253m, Malta (UN Country High Point).
Information
Dingli cliffs are located off the village of Dingli, on Malta’s Western coast. They stage the highest point of the Maltese Islands at around 253 metres above sea-level.
Summary
Well getting to the high point of Malta is not exactly an altitude sapping affair being all of 253m but finding it in 32c heat with no summit marker is a bit of a chore. Just being in Malta makes up for it though.
There are many ways you can get to Dingli Cliffs from wherever your stay is on the island, you could even just get a bus there. We did want to make a bit of an amble of it however so we first made out way by bus to the walled fort of Mdina. This is simply a stunning place, the walled fort is impressive and the inner streets are just so cute. Straight after then we walked into nearby Rabat to see the Roman Villa there. Rabat is a nice place too. It was only then we started our amble!
The walk basically goes through the streets of Rabat to the outskirts and then onto reasonable narrow lanes towards the coast. I am not aware of any OS map ware in Malta so you can simply follow my gpx using Wikiloc or make your own way there using Maps.Me which is what I did. The latter is a great App that you can download country information from all over the world and use it off line. To an extent you can also use it on hills and mountains in some areas.
Basically we just headed towards the coast. We changed our mind as we went for no particular reason that we saw some things in the distance and went for a look see. Eventually we got to Dingli Cliffs and went to the Peakbaggers website high point and double checked it with my gps. It was a tad inland near some radio towers and ruins, noting exotic!
There is a radar dome nearby along with a cute small chapel (St Mary Magdalen). The views are okay from the cliffs but to be honest we are spoilt in the UK and I have seen far better many times, especially in Ireland. We had a nice walk though and right by the chapel was a food stall and bus stop. We jumped on the bus and went back to Rabat for lunch. Another country high point done.
Parking: Yes free street parking.
Route: Town streets and back country lanes, Beautiful medieval town and roman villa on the way with okay cliff views. We did it in June and it was in 32c heat…
Route Statistics: 10kms and 168m height gain done in 2hrs 16mins (actual walking).
Ascent Entry on Peakbagger: Dingli Cliffs Ascent Entry on Wikiloc: Dingli Cliffs
GPXfiles: For gpx files click on the below.
Interactive map from Peakbagger
Route overview using Wikiloc.
Drone shot from the web of Mdina.
Stunning fort.
Entrance to Mdina.
Eventually you will get onto back lanes like this.
St Mary Magdalene chapel on the cliffs.
Views down from the top of the cliffs. You can walk further down.
Dingli Cliffs high point, radio towers one side and....
....a little shed on the other side.
