Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
WILDSCHÖNAU
Take a walk on the wild side
With a name that literally means wild and beautiful, the high valley of Wildschönau makes for a fitting location to enjoy a relaxing walking holiday in the heart of Austrian Tirol. Strung along this high valley in the Kitzbühel Alps are four villages – Niederau, Oberau, Auffach and Thierbach – with 260 working farms dotted throughout and a host of themed trails to enjoy.
More than 300km of welltended walking paths cross an area that, rather than steep and craggy, encompass far gentler, grass-covered slopes with walks through forests, meadows and ravines. Easy walks are found mostly in the valley, with village circuits or those that traipse into Kundl Gorge. Intermediate routes go to the alms and higher pastures above 1,500m and advanced hikes climb on to the higher peaks found above 2,000m, where the Grosser Beil mountain can also be found.
Connecting the Wildschönau valley with the village of Kundl (in Inn Valley) is the Kundl Gorge. Not only is it considered to be one of the most beautiful in Austria, but it can only be accessed in the warmer months (between 20 May – 14 September). Embark on the 3.5km Gorge Walk and you’ll have 200m cliffs towering high above you with the rush of white-water river pounding below. This majesty of nature will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression, so much so that perhaps you’ll believe the local legends that it was split by a dragon many years ago?
There are plenty of themed trails to try too. The Healing Herbs Trail was established just last year and can be found on the Auenweg Path from Niederau. Information boards bring the local flora’s characteristics and healing properties to the fore, and if this route leaves you pining for more, pay a visit to the Herb
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 Griasdi (Good Day) with the locals.