The scenic area around the village of Gharghur is the setting for this walk. Gharghur perched high on a ridge, is surrounded by various alleys and ravines which incise through the Great Fault, notably Wied Anglu and Wied Faham.

Setting out from in front of Gharghur Parish Church, work of the Maltese architect Tumas Dingli, walk down Triq San Bartilmew and as you pass the local primary school turn to your right along Triq San Gwann and after a few paces bear left down the steep lane of Triq Mons Luigi Catania.

At the bottom of the road forks and taking the right branch walk along Wied Anglu until you reach the Victoria Lines which comes along the edge of the ridge from Naxxar Gap, runs down and traverses Wied Anglu by a stone viaduct and climbs up to the Gharghur section of the Victoria Lines.

The Victoria Lines

This stretch of the Victoria Lines gives clear views of Bahar ic-Caghaq, the Maghtab plain up to St. Paul's Bay and the north-eastern coast of Malta and Gozo as well as of the pre-second World War acoustic mirror (called il-Widna) immediately below. This is today the site of Maltacom's principal satellite communications installation as is evident from the large antennas.

Reaching the other side of Gebel San Pietru escarpment and also the site of the proposed Gharghur right battery, look down into Wied il-Faham and notice how the stone parapet traverses the valley and rises again on the opposing side. Moreover from here you can enjoy views of Fort Madliena, built into the crest of Madliena, just opposite.

Skirting around the Victorian underground building (which was part of an Electric Light Emplacement), cross Wied il-Faham over the masonry bridge and climb up again along the parapet to the next high ground to reach San Giovanni Battery, constructed between 1884 and 1887, also intended to defend the entrance to Wied il-Faham and the plain below. Again the views here are superb especially the sheer sides of the ravine if Wied il-Faham.

The arched bridge over Wied id-DisTaking the lane running at the back of the battery, you will reach a crossroads which if taking the left fork will take you along the last stretch of the Victoria Lines. The one in the middle takes you up to Fort Madliena. Our road is the one on the right, leading back to Gharghur, over an arched bridge, which spans the valley of Wied id-Dis. Coming over the bridge the road starts to rise sharply uphill through cultivated terraced fields and a remarkable view of Wied il-Faham from the back of the valley.

Passing alongside a house with a long garden, midway up the hill, with an inscription over the doorway (in Italian) commemorating the housing of the Lieutenants of the village militia during the reign of George III just after the chapel, with appealing architecture, built in 1560 and dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady. (The area is known as taz-Zellieqa).

Strolling straight ahead, up the narrow Triq il-Gnien, turn left, at the crest, into Triq Ferdinandu and charmed by the fine typical Maltese village houses, turn left at the next junction which will take you back into the centre of Gharghur.