There are four significant elevation gains along the way, with the climb at the beginning reaching double-digit percentages.

To be precise, we start in San Gwann in the greater Valletta area. This is the only bike shop on the island that also rents out bikes. This lower mid-range bike is the best you can get these days. It is perfectly adequate for our purposes (if only it weren't for the ugly spoke reflectors).

First of all, you have to find your way through the maze of roads.

Malta is not very cycle-friendly. Double-lane roundabouts with high kerbs are unpleasant. And then there's the left-hand traffic. It takes me almost an hour to leave the city for the first few kilometres

But then the first sign of the Blue Grotto appears. Malta is the only Christian country where an Arabic dialect is the national language.

However, we soon reach the sea on the west coast in the sweltering heat.

The official start of our ascent is down here, just above sea level.

The Blue Grotto is one of the island's most famous sights.

Little traffic, but barely bearable heat on the road towards Dingli Cliffs.

Halfway along the road, I turn off onto a footpath that initially runs quite idyllically above the coastline...

...and very rarely offers some shade...

...but then unexpectedly becomes quite stony.

The radar installation on the Dingli Cliffs can be seen in the background. This is to be our destination today.

Temperatures of over 40 degrees make the trip a challenge.

And the path also becomes increasingly problematic.

But then you reach the tarmac coastal road again.

There is a small chapel on the summit, which is obviously used for weddings.

We have reached our destination for today. But the Malta High Alpine Road in the Alps remains more interesting :-)