Peak performance

You can't beat the Dolomites for dramatic scenery and hiking adventures

- Mary Comber

Armed with hiking poles and day pack, I’m standing in an alpine meadow so picture-book pretty, I half expect Julie Andrews to bound into view singing ‘The hills are alive…’. Breathing in deep lungfuls of dizzyingly fresh air, I gaze out over flower-strewn pastures to the towering mountains beyond, their jagged, snow-capped summits glinting in the sunshine. High above, a golden eagle soars on thermals while cow bells ring in the distance, drifting in on the gentle breeze.

HIKERS’ PARADISE

The Dolomites might be best known for skiing but every spring, when the Alpine snows melt, this magnificent, mountainous region transforms into one of Mother Nature’s most spectacular outdoor playgrounds. At its heart, lies the beautiful valley, Val Gardena (comprising South Tyrolean villages Ortisei, Selva and Santa Cristina), a magnet for climbers, hikers and cyclists who use the region’s ski lifts and well-marked paths to explore its spectacular upper reaches. We’d arrived in pretty Ortisei the previous night for a few days’ hiking, and checked in to five-star hotel, Alpin Garden Luxury Mansion & Spa (alpingarden.com), just in time to wolf down delicious, homemade pizza before bed.

ALPINE BEAUTY