photo by RezaG

Malta Rock Climbing

Being a rocky island, Malta lends itself beautifully to hiking and bouldering. Climbing is a well-known outdoor exercise, especially outside of the incredibly hot, dry summer months, and there are about 1300 climbs throughout 30 distinct regions.

By far and away the location with essentially the most climbs would be the South-West coastline along side Dingli Cliffs. Having a real range to select from, Trad Climbing, Bouldering, Deep Water Soloing and Single/Multi-pitch Climbs can be found according to locale. Dedicated Sport Climbing is restricted for the area surrounding Wied Bibu, however some smaller crags are generally suitable for this in other places.

The Most Notable Rock Climbing Locations in Malta are listed below:

• The Victoria Lines, limits of Gharghur. 230+ routes with Trad Climbing and Bouldering obtainable.
• Wied Babu, limits of Zurrieq. 130+ routes allowing for Trad and Sport Climbing, Bouldering and Deep Water Soloing.
• Ghar Lapsi, limits of Siggiewi. 100+ climbs, primarily Trad Climbing and Bouldering, together with minimal Sport Climbing possibilities.
• Fomm ir-Rih, limits of Bahrija. 70+ routes which includes Trad Climbing, Bouldering and Deep Water Soloing.
• Wied il-Ghasel, limits of Mosta/Naxxar. 60+ climbs, primarily Trad Climbing and Bouldering.
• Hamrija Tower Slabs, limits of Siggiewi. 60+ climbs limited to Trad Climbing and Deep Water Soloing.
• Ix-Xaqqa, limits of Siggiewi. 60+ routes composed of Trad Climbs and Deep Water Soloing.
• Mellieha area. 40+ climbs, limited to Trad Climbing in this region.
• Ghar Hasan and nearby Wied il-Bassasa, restrictions of Birzebbugia. An array of Trad Climbs and Bouldering. Several breathtaking Deep Water Soloing tracks.
• Weid Qirda, a little way from Luqa/Qormi having a number of Trad Climbs and minimal sport facilities.
• Malta’s sibling island of Gozo can also be worth checking out, and possesses several magnificent climbs in Weid in Ghasri, Mgarr ix-Xini and Dwejra.

A couple of Malta’s most favored climbing clubs are MCC and MRCC.

MCC (Malta Climbing Club) has over 100 members from more than 10 different countries. The club caters for climbers of all standards.  Among the actual members are climbers who formed the main Maltese Everest team which attained the peak of that mountain in 2010. For more details, you can contact MCC via their website at www.maltaclimbingclub.com.

The MRCC (Malta Rock Climbing Club) is the longest established climbing club on the islands and also caters for climbers of all abilities. Equipment can be hired. The MRCC website can be found here www.climbmalta.com.

The book ‘Malta Rock Climbing, The Comprehensive Guide’, published by Moonstone Publishing and authored by Richard Abela, John Coding and Andrew Warrington contains over 1200 climbs in Malta and Gozo.

(article amended 21 June 2012 to reflect the information contained in the comment below)