DON'T GOZO FAST!

WITH 300 DAYS OF SUNSHINE AND A SLOWER PACE OF LIFE, HOLLY CLARKE FINDS MALTA'S DELIGHTS HARD TO LEAVE BEHIND

- Holly Clarke

JETTING off to somewhere in Europe during winter, you can't expect too much when it comes to weather. I rolled the dice and took a trip to Malta. And not only did I land a six in climate terms, but the Mediterranean archipelago turned out to be an absolute gem.

From wandering around the streets of the silent city of Mdina and soaking up the hustle and bustle of the capital, Valletta, to the incredible nightlife in St Julian's and the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon, it was a dream. Plus there were enough churches on the island for every day of the year.

The holiday began with a flight from Manchester Airport at 7am. By noon, I was strolling around the stunning Balluta Bay. Flights are also readily available from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport and several others across the UK.

There are three islands that make up the Republic of Malta: Malta, Gozo and Comino. While Malta has the biggest population out of the three at around 574,000, Gozo has just 39,000, with only two residents calling the island of Comino home.

Before I knew it, I was heading off on a ferry to the island of Gozo, which is currently working on a new £2million airport that'll make trips from Malta much swifter.

For now, the ferry is direct and costs around €5 for a return ticket.

Within 20 minutes, I was on the beautiful, lesser-visited island. The 26-square-mile patch of land is known for its rugged landscape and stunning scenery - and it lived up to the hype.

It offers fantastic seafood, knock out views and bright blue waters that are perfect for swimming.

Gozo is an inviting spot for outdoorsy types, with its steep cliffs and deep valleys. Another perk is that it offers 300 days of sunshine - that was me sold!