Join me on an adventurous off-road mountain bike ride across Gozo, Malta, as I take on rough terrains and strong 35km/h wind gusts! 🚴♂️💨 This ride is unlike the usual sunny Gozo experience—it’s a wintery, overcast journey showcasing the island’s rugged beauty.
We start in Qala, where an unexpected sighting of a shepherd with his goats and sheep takes me back 25 years to when such scenes were common. From there, we ride past the Madonna tal-Blat Chapel, a historic 18th-century chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, before making our way down to Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay. Normally a beach lover’s paradise, today it’s nearly deserted, with waves crashing into the shore.
Determined to continue despite the challenging conditions, I follow a rocky coastal trail along Gozo’s south-east coast, offering breath-taking views of the Maltese channel, with Comino and Malta in the distance. The trail takes us past id-Daħla taċ-Ċawl, a scenic cove near Ħondoq Bay, with the rock formation il-Ġebel taċ-Ċawl in the background.
The adventure intensifies as we tackle off-road paths with rocky and clay terrain leading towards Mgarr Harbour, where we catch a glimpse of the Gozo Channel ferry. At certain points, the trail is so rugged that I have to carry my bike! After navigating past the marina and the well-known Gleneagles Bar, we prepare for one of my favourite downhill rides.
Starting from Fort Chambray, we descend the Xatt l-Aħmar (Red Bay) Downhill Trail—a thrilling, technical ride with spectacular views of Gozo’s southern coastline and waves crashing against the cliffs. This time of year makes the ride even more enjoyable, with softer terrain and lush greenery surrounding the path.
Our journey continues along the coast, where we ride past Mġarr ix-Xini Tower, a historic 1661 watchtower that still stands tall, guarding Gozo’s coastline.
This was an unforgettable off-road ride, showing a different side of Gozo—raw, rugged, and untamed. If you enjoyed the adventure, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more incredible cycling experiences around Gozo! 🚵♂️🌊🏝
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👉 @CharlieCyclingAroundGozo
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Bicycle – Trek Procaliber 9.7 (2021)
Camera – Insta360 x4
#MountainBiking #Gozo #CyclingAdventure #Malta #BikeLife #OffRoadCycling
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Qala
00:13 – Madonna tal-Blat Chapel
00:27 – Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay
01:13 – Id-Daħla taċ-Ċawl & Il-Ġebel taċ-Ċawl
01:39 – Off-road paths towards Mgarr Harbour
02:14 – Mgarr Marina, Gleneagles Bar and Mgarr Harbour
02:34 – Xatt l-Aħmar Downhill Trail
03:11 – Xatt l-Aħmar
03:59 – Mġarr ix-Xini Tower
2 Comments
Very nice cus keep it up
Wow…great write-up Charlie…well-written description…most people glance over these details – not me!….yep, so rugged 4th paragraph – you are carrying the bike….great to showcase this….showing how tough a ride it is….teeth are chattering still….