You can always count on local explorer Pierre Farrugia and his countless island adventures to learn more about what our tiny nation has to offer.

Pierre’s latest adventure took him to the Blata tal-Melh (loosely translates to ‘the salt rock’) area in Bahrija, which gets its name from the abundant salt pans found close by.

This lesser-known spot is home to a gorgeous viewpoint along a stretch of coast just off Fomm ir-Rih Bay.

Il-Blata tal-Melh can only be accessed through a 45-minute trek down a steep and uneven path, which gets even trickier towards the bottom.

It Is believed that an Italian businessman in the salt production industry had commissioned the carving of the salt pans and stairs in the area.

The stairs were particularly useful as they allowed workers to transport salt down to the boats waiting nearby.

Having said that, taking a boat to the nearest stretch of land oftentimes proved to be easier than walking up and down the stairs – even if workers had no salt sacks to carry.

While the water at Il-Blata tal-Melh may look welcoming, Pierre advises against swimming in said waters, especially when seas are rough. Apart from being a whopping 100 metres deep, it’s especially difficult to make your way back up to dry land when the waters get choppy.

It’s definitely a mission to get to this spot, but the cliff views and gorgeous sunset are well worth the effort.