Riding Gelmus Hill, Gozo | Wild Grass, Abandoned Farmhouse & Golden Calf Legend

Today’s ride is all about L-Għolja ta’ Gelmus (Gelmus Hill) – the flat-topped mesa opposite Victoria’s Ċittadella that’s tied to Gozo’s Golden Calf legend and an abandoned sloping-roof farmhouse used as a rebel lookout. We start at the base of the Citadel, looking across to Gelmus covered in a carpet of bright green, before turning off Triq Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II onto the cement path that climbs the hill.

Early in the ascent we pass a derelict farmhouse on the right – one of the last surviving dwellings in Gozo with a sloping roof. From there the ride quickly turns wild: no path, just tyres pushing through deep grass as we reach the top of Gelmus. Up here we do a full loop of the hilltop, with the Ċittadella straight ahead and a 360° panorama over Gozo’s hills, valleys and villages – from Victoria and Kerċem to the western hills around Għasri, Żebbuġ, Ta’ Ġurdan Lighthouse, Għammar and Ta’ Dbieġi. Gelmus is also tied to the Golden Calf legend of Gozo – a mysterious golden statue said to have been discovered and hidden again somewhere in these fields.

On the way back we drop down over rock and grass towards the farmhouse again, stopping behind it to take in the view. This simple rural dwelling is now abandoned and crumbling, but it’s a rare landmark; historic sources say it was used by Archpriest Saverio Cassar as an observation point during the Gozitan uprising against the French garrison in the Ċittadella. From there we roll back down the cement path with Ta’ Ġurdan Lighthouse on the horizon, and finish on Triq l-Imgħallem, framing Gelmus in late-afternoon light with the hill covered in grass from road to summit.

If you enjoy short Gozo MTB and hill-top view rides, this one shows a side of Victoria that’s usually only seen from the city – now filmed from the opposite hill.

📍 IG: @CharlieRidesGozo
👉 Strava:   / strava  
🎥 Camera: Insta360
🚴‍♂️ Bike: Trek Procaliber 9.7 MTB

🎬 Ride Highlights / Chapters
00:00 View from the Ċittadella base towards Gelmus
00:17 Turning off the main road and starting the climb
00:25 First pass by the abandoned sloping-roof farmhouse
00:47 Reaching the wild grass carpet on Gelmus summit
01:05 360° ridge ride over Victoria and western Gozo
02:34 Dropping back towards the farmhouse from above
02:56 Descent with Ta’ Ġurdan Lighthouse ahead
03:14 Final road shot & sunset framing Gelmus Hill

If you enjoyed this “destination ride” style, let me know and I’ll do more hidden Gozo spots like this.

🔔 Weekly(ish) Gozo rides & tours
I film rides around Gozo, Malta from a cyclist’s point of view – mostly by mountain bike – to show off the island’s cliffs, valleys, coast and countryside. If you enjoy POV rides and discovering Gozo by bike, feel free to subscribe and explore the rest of the channel.

#Gozo #Malta #MountainBiking