Climbing’s long-standing history with the archipelago dates back to the 1960s and has ties with the British Royal Air Force. It’s not difficult to see why both Malta and Gozo’s excellent grade limestone has proved popular for so many years; almost 1,500 routes of varying grades can now be found here. These are split 70%-30% between Malta and Gozo and cover different styles of climbing, from single and multi-pitch routes to the more daredevil approach of bouldering. The broad spectrum of difficulty makes it ideal whether you’re abseiling or z-clipping.
Of these locations, the Victoria Lines top the table with an impressive 234 routes, ranging from 10m to 20m. Buttresses can be found lining fortifications across the northern parts of the island which make for interesting climbs.
All of this rests in front of the staggering backdrop of open sea and sky, which reminds us that Malta isn’t just one of the most technically impressive locations for climbing, but also one of profound beauty. Perhaps, then, it comes as a shock then that the crags of both Malta and Gozo are often very quiet, as there are few local climbers. Routes are never overcrowded and you can generally find peace and quiet wherever you climb. This makes climbing in Malta feel like to going to an amusement park during term time, as waiting time is replaced with climbing time. That coupled with Malta’s superb southern Mediterranean weather, makes conditions perfect for climbing all year round.
