What Fomm ir-Rih actually is
The name translates as ‘mouth of the wind’ and that tells you most of what you need to know. This is a remote bay on Malta’s west coast, between Bahrija and Gnejna, with no road access to the beach itself, just a long walk down a goat path from the cliffs above. By boat it’s the same isolation but easier to reach.
The drama is the cliffs. Tall, fissured, layered, and almost no human development for miles. Settling into Fomm ir-Rih on a calm day feels like dropping out of the modern world for a few hours.
Anchoring
Sand bottom in 5 to 12 metres. Holding is good but the depth shelves quickly so picking the spot matters. The bay is open to the west and northwest, which means it’s only viable in light conditions. Anything over 10 to 12 knots from the wrong direction and the bay becomes untenable. Levanter easterlies are the magic combination here, when the dominant northwest pattern flips and the west coast becomes glassy.
Practical notes
No facilities at all. No kiosk, no road, no people most of the time. The swim is one of the best in Malta. The snorkelling along the rocky edges is excellent. This is a bay for boat owners who can read a forecast and pick their day, not for casual day trippers. Get the conditions right and it’s the best bay in Malta. Get them wrong and you’ll wish you’d gone elsewhere.