Ramla Bay

Ramla il-Ħamra, the red sand, is the largest beach on Gozo and the colour is genuinely unusual: a broad stretch of orange-red sand at the mouth of a wide valley, backed by a dune system and farmland rather than by development. A statue of the Virgin stands in the middle of the beach. Calypso's Cave, traditionally linked to the Odyssey, looks down from the western headland, though the cave itself has been closed for years on safety grounds.

What you'll find

• The red sand - the distinctive orange-red colour of the beach.
• The dune system - protected dunes and their vegetation behind the sand.
• The Virgin statue - the figure standing in the middle of the beach.
• The undeveloped valley - farmland rather than hotels behind the shore.

When to go

May to October for swimming. Summer weekends and Maltese holidays fill it. Spring and autumn are quiet and the walk down is pleasant.

Before you go

Calypso's Cave has been closed for years and the viewpoint is fenced. Parking is limited and the road down is narrow. The dunes are fragile and walking on them causes damage.

Nearby

Xaghra is above, and San Blas is east.

Key facts