A Maltese Treat For Bowlers

01/10/2015 | Bowls

Bowling In Beautiful Melliha Bay

Published in Bowls International April 2012

Jonathan Plumridge of Personal Touch Holidays describes their exciting new overseas bowls destination

The Maltese islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino enjoy one of the very best climates in the Mediterranean and are absolutely unique and fascinating in a wide variety of ways. They are home to the world’s very oldest free-standing temples, pre-dating even those of Ancient Egypt by over one thousand years. For over two hundred and fifty years they were the island naval base and fortress of Europe’s wealthiest and most powerful combative religious order, the Knights of St. John. They are the only entire country ever to have been awarded the George Cross (for their gallantry in defending themselves from German invasion during World War II). They are the world’s only Arabic speaking Catholic country (Maltese is essentially an Arabic dialect that has for centuries charted its own path, incorporating a vast number of ‘loan’ words from French, Italian, and English). And now, they are the smallest independent nation (at only 122 square miles of land surface and housing a population of only 400,000) to which it is possible to travel on an overseas bowls holiday.

START OF BOWLS HOLIDAYS IN MALTA

The decision to begin operating bowls holidays to Malta was taken by Personal Touch Holidays earlier this year following a decision by the hotel that owns the islands’ only bowling green, the Mellieha Bay Hotel, to begin offering holiday packages on an all-inclusive basis that represents truly exceptional value. With the current popularity of all-inclusive holidays amongst regular Personal Touch Holidays guests, with the wonderful economy that all-inclusive holidays represent now that the Pound is relatively weak against the Euro, and with a number of highly pleasing refurbishments within the hotel having been undertaken recently, now seemed like the perfect moment to make all the necessary investments of time, energy and money to open up Malta as a new Personal Touch Holidays bowls destination.

LOCATION IDYLLIC

Whereas some areas of Malta have been under-planned and over-developed, the area in which the Mellieha Bay Hotel is located remains delightfully scenic, such that it is often referred to by locals as ‘the unspoilt North.’ The small, rural, and typically Maltese town of Mellieha sits high on a towering ridge that is dominated by the beautiful, baroque ‘Our Lady of Mellieha’ church. A second ridge that faces it, known as the Marfa ridge, offers some of the most splendid coastal vistas that the island has to offer, and also overlooks the picturesque neighbouring islands of Comino and Gozo. In between these two ridges lie a peaceful agricultural valley, a small lake nature reserve (dedicated to the protection of migratory bird species), and Mellieha Bay itself, featuring one of the islands' most beautiful stretches of white sand beach. The views from many of the bedrooms and public areas of the Mellieha Bay Hotel sweep right the way across the bay, with the imposing and elegant outline of ‘Our Lady Of Mellieha’ providing a distant enticing focal point. Other features that render the hotel a seductive prospect for a bowls holiday are the gardens that lie between the hotel and the sea and the beautiful views that can be enjoyed from the panoramic swimming pool and sun lounging areas.

WHERE THE GREEN IS SITUATED

As for the bowling green itself, it is one of the most delightfully located greens in the Mediterranean, offering wonderful views out over the bay towards Mellieha town itself.

LOCAL TOWNS

Just beyond the end of the drive that leads to the hotel’s main entrance, a mere ten minutes gentle stroll from the hotel’s lobby, stands a public bus stop, offering easy access to Mellieha town, Mosta, and the overwhelmingly beautiful historic fortified port of Valletta. Mellieha town offers a few small shops, some very good quality restaurants, an interesting pilgrimage shrine that was once visited by Pope John Paul II, and a rather curious World War II air raid shelter comprising a number of tunnels carved from the rock beneath the town. Mosta meanwhile is home to the most remarkable parish church in Malta and one of the most curious in Europe. Not only does it support Europe’s third largest dome, rivalling the grandeur of those of St Peter’s Cathedral in Rome and St. Sofia’s Mosque in Istanbul, but its overall design is almost entirely conceived in homage to Rome’s ancient Pantheon. Valletta, meanwhile, contains a wealth of riches, and due to its lengthy association with The Knights of St John, who originally constructed it, it can justifiably claim to be one of the most special port cities in the Mediterranean. Foremost amongst its treasures is the opulently decorated St John’s Cathedral, the interior of which is breathtakingly beautiful. Almost as fascinating however are the palaces built to accommodate the knights themselves. Totally singular, and unmatched by any other historic port city in the world, are the incredible sea defences that kept at bay both the mighty Ottoman Empire and the fearsome German-led Axis forces during World War II.

MALTESE WEATHER

Add to all this the fact that Malta enjoys one of the very best spring and autumn climates in the Mediterranean and the Mellieha Bay Hotel begins to look like an extremely attractive option for overseas bowls holidays.

INFORMATION AND CONTACT US

Packages including flights, transfers, 4 bowls matches, and all-inclusive accommodation are being offered by Personal Touch Holidays at prices leading in at £595 per person for 7-night stays in early November 2012 and mid to late April 2013. Enticingly, both single rooms at no supplement and complimentary upgrades to superior rooms for twin room bookings are offered as early booking incentives for all bookings received and deposited by 30 April 2012. For further details, a full colour flyer, or a booking form, please contact Personal Touch Holidays on 01403 786200 or at office@ thepersonaltouch.org.uk