2020-03-01_Wanderlust

wanderlust.co.ukMarch 2020111

Withanamethatliterally

meanswildandbeautiful,the

highvalleyofWildschönau

makesforafittinglocation

toenjoyarelaxingwalking

holidayintheheartofAustrian

Tirol.Strungalongthishigh

valleyintheKitzbühelAlpsare

fourvillages–Niederau,

Oberau,AuffachandThierbach

• with 260 workingfarms
  dottedthroughoutandahost
  ofthemedtrailstoenjoy.
  Morethan300kmofwell-
  tendedwalkingpathscross

anareathat,ratherthansteep

andcraggy,encompassfar

gentler,grass-coveredslopes

withwalksthroughforests,

meadowsandravines.Easy

walksarefoundmostlyinthe

valley,withvillagecircuits

orthosethattraipseintoKundl

Gorge.Intermediateroutesgo

tothealmsandhigherpastures

above1,500mandadvanced

hikesclimbontothehigher

peaksfoundabove2,000m,

wheretheGrosserBeil

mountaincanalsobefound.

ConnectingtheWildschönau

valleywiththevillageofKundl

(inInnValley)istheKundl

Gorge.Notonlyisitconsidered

tobeoneofthemostbeautiful

inAustria,butitcanonly

beaccessedinthewarmer

months(between 20 May–

14 September).Embarkonthe

3.5kmGorgeWalkandyou’ll

have200mcliffstoweringhigh

aboveyouwiththerushof

white-waterriverpounding

below.Thismajestyofnature

willundoubtedlyleavealasting

impression,somuchsothat

perhapsyou’llbelievethelocal

legendsthatitwassplitby

adragonmanyyearsago?

Thereareplentyofthemed

trailstotrytoo.TheHealing

HerbsTrailwasestablished

justlastyearandcanbefound

ontheAuenwegPathfrom

Niederau.Informationboards

bringthelocalflora’s

characteristicsandhealing

propertiestothefore,and

ifthisrouteleavesyoupining

formore,payavisittotheHerb

WILDSCHÖNAU

T ake a w al k on th e w i l d s i d e

Garden at Salcherhof Farm,

above the village of Auffach.

Wildschönau also has seven

‘Walking for Enjoyment’ routes,

each with a culinary theme and

giving prominence to Tirolean

specialties, made with local

ingredients fresh from farms.

Hospitality and tradition play

a big part in local life here and

in the summer, the cable cars,

farming museum, guided walks

and more are all free with the

Wildschönau Card. It all feeds

into the friendly atmosphere

of the valley, which will soon

have you cheerily saying Grias-

di (Good Day) with the locals.

Wild walks

(from top down)

Kundl Gorge in

Wildschönau; delicious

local cuisine in the local

huts; hiking in the

beautiful Wildschönau

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Find out more at wildschoenau.com/en

LHP: Alamy; Shutterstock RHP: Gorge: Wildschönau Tourismus, Alex Mayr; Other: Wildschönau Tourismus, Sautner