Catch up on our Austria event

The Austria event was a rather relaxing evening, where we came together to really think about the benefits of spending time in nature and how nature makes us feel. Adventurer and motivational speaker Sophie Radcliffe got us started by sharing with us what nature means to her, how it makes her feel and sharing some highlights of her time spent outdoors in Austria. When Sophie asked us how nature made us feel, it seemed like we were all in agreement. Alive, uplifted, calm, content and rejuvenated were just some of the feelings posted into the chat box.

After Sophie, it was time for Michael Hatch from Rock Forest Rivers to take the stage who armed us with some incredible advice on where to hike in Austria along with some hiking tips.

The evening ended with a Q&A for which we were joined by Hannah from the Austrian National Tourist Board before we all took a deep breath and relaxed to enjoy a mindfulness video of the sights and sounds of Austria.

If you missed the event or had to leave early, you can catch up on the full recording and highlights and read some of the inspirational quotes shared by Sophie here.

Watch the full webinar

Your questions answered

What hotel did Sophie stay in during her time in Austria?
The Forsthofalm in Leogang

How can I go on a tour with Michael?
You can book a tour with Michael on his website Rock Forest Rivers.

Michael also recommends booking a group holiday with Ramblers Walking Holidays, which offers tours for all levels of walkers.

What’s the average age of Rock Forest Rivers women-only trips?
The company only started during lockdown, so no trips have run yet. They are looking at people in their 40s and 50s, but it is open to pretty much anyone of any age.

– John Muir

How easy is it for a 60+ year-old to walk in the mountains and what easy routes would you recommend?
When I was staying at the Achentalerhof hotel there was a group staying there that was doing very easy walks. They would take a coach to the cable car, then they would go up to the cable car and walk half an hour to an hour to a mountain cafe. If you were in the Austrian Lake District you would find lots of easy walks around there, too. You can take a bus up the mountain road and walk from there and you can walk around a lake. Just because these are big mountains, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t some very easy walks. Take a look at adagio.co.uk to find some easy-going walking holidays along easy trails where you can slow down and enjoy nature.

Many regions offer easy access to the mountains with cable cars open during the summer season. Suggestions include the popular and rather easy Zirbenweg Trail close to Innsbruck. The trail is lined by Europe’s largest and oldest stone pine population and offers great views over the Inntal valley. The region Altenmarkt Zauchensee also offers beautiful lift-assisted hikes to include all levels

How dog-friendly is Austria?
There are many dog friendly accommodations and huts. Please check with them or the local tourist board beforehand. Here are some recommendations. Do make sure you are careful when walking in the mountains with dogs and keep them on a lead, especially around other people. You also need to be careful with dogs around cows and you will see sign posts giving details of how to behave around cows. 

What is the current situation with travel in Austria due to Covid-19?
You can find out all the updates on the Covid-19 situation in Austria here.

Have you got any recommendations for a really tough day walk in Austria or a particular challenge to join?
The Achensee region has quite a lot of black routes. These routes have a good degree of exposure at times so you need to be not only fit but have a good head for heights. Normally those trails are marked in German to say they are only for people with experience. Sometimes there are fixed ropes but when I was in the Achensee I saw people coming around the mountain and they all had slings and carabiners and helmets on. A walking guide I know who was a real serious mountain man said that the Achensee was the best place he had been in the Alps for really hard mountain walking.

The longest side valley in Tirol, the Ötztal valley, with 250 peaks over 3,000 km high also offers a fantastic challenge. The summer card is also included with your stay at partnered hotels. If you are looking for a hut to hut trek, try the Karwendel Höhenweg High Altitude Trail.

There are also lots of trans-alpine routes where you are staying in mountain huts which are good. The website bergfex.com is a great place to find hikes and contact tourist offices who can give you information. GPS Visualiser is also a great site to find really good maps with contour lines marked on it. You can also find great maps for hiking here and you can also use this app to download maps onto your phone which can be used on and offline. 

Can you recommend any areas for photography?

There are plenty of beautiful places to take pictures in Austria. Head to the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena which is famous for its crystal-clear blue lake or the nature preserve lake Weissensee for fantastic lake and mountains motives. Consider May and June for beautiful flower shots.

– Maya Angelou

Are there many klettersteig (via ferrata)? 

In most mountain regions you can also try a via ferrata. There is something for different levels. Beginners and families could try their first climbing experiences in Lower Austria, close to Vienna. For a demanding but rewarding tour, head to St. Anton am Arlberg which is not only fantastic in winter but offers great mountain experiences in summer as well.

What is your favourite cake?
The raspberry slices are very nice. The Black Forest cake I have fantasies about they are so good! And you can never go wrong with an apple strudel.

What is the one place in Austria that you would really recommend?
(Michael) The village I would go to is Altaussee. There is a lovely hotel called the Seevilla which is right on the lake where the River Traun flows out of it, Vacation in Austria: Hotel Seevilla in Altaussee | 4 Star Superior. The James Bond crew and caste stayed there briefly during the filming of Skyfall. In the nineteenth century Johannes Brahms stayed there and there is a room named after him. The food is excellent by all accounts... unfortunately it remains an unrealised ambition for me to stay there.

(Hannah) I’m going to be biased and say my home town Innsbruck. It is such a great place, you have nature all around you and the city as well. Another place that is so great is Graz. You have a lovely town, the Styrian wine routes and lots of easy hiking routes. Here are a few suggestions for walks around Graz. The Styrian wine country is a fantastic destination for gentle walking and prize-winning regional wine.

(Sophie) After Michael’s talk I would love to go to the Dolomites! The Lake District also look amazing.  I have very special memories from Leogang and from Saalbach which are both fantastic places for adventure lovers.

What did you have to say? 

Loved the presentations, love Austria, my second heimat!

Thank you for a very inspiring evening!

Thank you all for a great presentation: inspirational with lots of info. Has really made me think about visiting Austria in the future.

Thank you for a wonderful evening - I can't wait to plan a trip!

Thank you very much everyone. Very interesting and inspiring. I have done many skiing trips in Austria with one summer trip to Innsbruck so I must go again. Lovely country with very welcoming people.

Looks a fantastic country to visit. Love the lakes and mountains. I hope to visit one day!

Thanks everybody. Burning to be back in the mountains!

A look inside the evening

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