Methodology · Transparency
Data Sources & Methodology
How ImaginaMalta collects and presents outdoor routes data for Malta and Gozo — sources, quality gates, limitations and what we do not publish.
Primary source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoor routes data on this site is derived from OpenStreetMap (OSM) — a free, open geographic database maintained by a global community of volunteers. OSM data is licensed under the Open Database Licence (ODbL 1.0).
OSM routes reflect what contributors have mapped at a point in time. Routes may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurately tagged. Route condition, difficulty, distance and duration are NOT verified. We show OSM data as a location guide only with strong safety caveats.
Attribution: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Last data snapshot: 2026-06-20
Datasets
Source: OpenStreetMap (route=hiking)
Difficulty, duration and surface conditions are NOT verified. Always check conditions before heading out.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route=bicycle)
Traffic laws, road surfaces and safety vary. Always verify route conditions and wear a helmet.
Locality assignment
Each OSM route is assigned to one of the 68 canonical Malta/Gozo locality slugs used across ImaginaMalta. Assignment uses the route's primary start point locality or first locality in the route segment. Routes that cannot be reliably assigned are excluded from locality pages.
Geometry handling
Route geometry (GPX waypoints) is not bundled with route lists. This minimizes page size and load times. Individual route detail pages may include geometry in the future, but GPX downloads are not provided.
Indexation policy
Locality outdoor routes pages are only published where there is at least one high-quality route (quality score ≥ 7). Only named routes with valid localities are shown. Generic names like "Unnamed Mtb Route" are filtered out.
What we do not publish
- Difficulty ratings or safety levels (unverified)
- Duration estimates or distance claims (unverified)
- Elevation profiles or ascent/descent (incomplete data)
- GPX files or downloadable route files
- Maintenance status or current trail conditions
- Parking or access point information
- Reviews or user-generated content
- Ratings, reviews or crowd difficulty assessments
- Data scraped from Strava or other proprietary sources
Critical limitations
- Location guide only: Routes are presented as location references, not detailed trail guides.
- No condition verification: Route condition, difficulty and distance are never verified by ImaginaMalta.
- Verify before heading out: Always check local conditions, weather and equipment before attempting any route.
- Safety responsibility: You are responsible for your own safety. Carry water, sun protection and a charged phone.
- Emergency: In an emergency, call 112 (all of Europe).
Corrections & updates
If you spot an error, the best fix is to update the original OpenStreetMap record — corrections there will flow through to all OSM-derived directories including this one. Last data snapshot: 2026-06-20.