ZILLERTAL IN TIROL A winter getaway in the heart of summer

If you want to enjoy winter sports at the height of summer, look no further than Zillertal in the Austrian Tirol – home to the Hintertux Glacier, Austria’s only year-round ski resort. Beyond the tempting piste, the region is spot on for a whole host of non-snow action and adventure too, from top notch hiking and biking, through to the delicious local cuisine.

Zillertal’s infrastructure has grown over the years to cater for today’s more demanding and discerning visitors. Much investment has gone in and you will find welcoming hotels and lifts that stay open right through summer, alongside over 150 mountain huts. A whopping network of 1,400km of walking trails have been forged and there are 25 all-round options for climbing. A typically dramatic adventure in the Zillertal Alps kicks off by steering your bike from the Durlassbodenstausee to the Alpengasthaus Finkau restaurant.

Switch to two feet for a five-hour hike to the vaulting Zittauer Hütte at 2,300m, through a landscape alive with waterfalls and glaciers. The hut awaits for an overnight with its taste bud-tingling cooking and homemade bread.

Biking is hugely popular in summer for good reason, with 1,200km of tracks, including over 3km of single track. You can enjoy a bike tour from Juns or Lanersbach to the cosy Höllensteinhütte and visit the mountain farmer museum too. You can push on to the traditional Grieralm, where you can dine and stay surrounded by a panorama of Alpine peaks.

The High Alps Nature Park Zillertal Alps tempts too with its biodiversity. Along with protected areas in North, South and East Tyrol, the park

Apres-après-constitutes the largest association of nature reserves in the Alps. Here you will encounter mountain sheep and chamois as you savour a hike or bike ride on what feels like the top of the world.

ski or summeractivity in those cosy mountain huts, which showcase the best of Zillertal cuisine. Kristallhütte has been named ski hut of the year; Gschösswandhaus impresses with its jaw-dropping views; and at Rösslalm, their experience and tradition fuse together on the hearty plate. wanderlust.co.uk March 2019

Whether hiking San Francisco’s trails, wandering the forests of the Ardennes (in Luxembourg!) or trying to break into travel writing, our maestros put you in the know

152 wanderlust.co.uk March 2019

Roam the coastal trails of Tsitsikamma National Park