North Malta

Foresta 2000

Foresta 2000 is a public nature reserve of about 104 hectares, planted as woodland on the slopes above Għadira Bay near Mellieħa. BirdLife Malta says hikers, tourists, Mellieħa residents and school groups use it often.

Mornings
Shade
No hunting

Illustration from real terrain data, not a photograph. Terrain: Planning Authority Malta, Digital Terrain Model 2012, CC BY 4.0. Paths and coast: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Why practise here

BirdLife Malta says hunting and trapping are not permitted here, so it suits a morning session during the hunting months. The young planted trees give some shade, and one walk guide names the woodland as the sheltered part of the ridge walk. The slope falls east, and from map data a sea sunrise is possible only near the equinoxes.

Getting there

Start: Bus stop Riserva on Triq il-Marfa, then into the reserve on foot. Distance is one way, from map data.

The walk: 0.44 km, Rated average by Birding Places. BirdLife Malta says the trails are steep and mostly unsuitable for wheelchairs..

Surface: Earth tracks and footways, with some concrete near the road, from map data. The trails are hilly and narrow and can be slippery.

Transport: Bus routes 37, 41, 42, 221, 222 and X1 stop at Riserva. Drivers park on the road outside the reserve.

Directions

What to watch for

Steep, hilly trails that can be slippery.

Rules

Open all year, 24 hours, and free.
Keep to the footpaths, and do not block a trail with a mat.
No fires or barbecues, and take care when smoking in the dry season.
Do not pick flowers or berries, and take your litter away.
Park outside the reserve and enter on foot.
Contact ERA ([email protected]) before running any organised or paid class here, because this is a Natura 2000 site. Do not assume small groups are exempt.
ERA's current page asks for at least one month's notice for groups under 50 and an environmental permit for 50 or more. Its published figures vary, so confirm with ERA.

Public nature reserve within a Natura 2000 site and a bird sanctuary, managed by BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa and Ambjent Malta.

Sunrise and sunset through the year

Mid-month	Sunrise	Sunset
January	07:13	17:12
February	06:51	17:44
March	06:15	18:10
April	06:31	19:36
May	05:58	20:02
June	05:46	20:21
July	05:58	20:20
August	06:22	19:54
September	06:46	19:12
October	07:10	18:29
November	06:40	16:57
December	07:06	16:50

Calculated for this location, in Malta time. Cliffs and hills can hide the sun for a little longer.

What we haven't confirmed

We haven't confirmed flat ground for a mat here. The map point is a path junction, not a known clearing, and the reserve asks visitors to keep to the footpaths.
BirdLife Malta's page gives no contact for group use.
We haven't confirmed phone signal here.

Sources

Sunrise today: 06:27, to the east
Sunset today: 17:06, to the west
Faces: east
Ground: Earth tracks and footpaths, with some grassland in the reserve. The trails are hilly.
Shade: Planted woodland, but young, with scattered trees and bushes. The trees are still growing to cast more shade.
Wind: One walk guide names the woodland as the sheltered part of the ridge walk.

Studios near here

Classes indoors or run by these studios at their own venues, not at this spot.

More places in North Malta

Rdum Majjiesa

A cliff-top viewpoint inside Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park, reached on foot from Golden Bay. The park's habitats include garrigue, maquis, boulder scree and coastal cliffs.

All 10 places to practise in nature Our outdoor yoga guide The Malta yoga year, month by month