You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My wife and I are looking at going to the alps in September for a bit of easy going walking using the lifts (assuming that’s how it works).
l have skied in the alps, both Italian and Austrian, not really bothered where we go, just want some nice walking and use of the infrastructure (pools, bars etc) on the hills).
Anyone got any tips? We are thinking of looking a bit last minute to try and grab a bargain.
I prefer the Pyrenees or Apennines for that sort of walking - summits much easier to reach and climbs are less
Do the Pyrenees and apennines have plenty of easy going trails with lifts etc?
No, not in September. However many Pyrenean walks start from cols or ski resorts so you'll start at 1200-1800m for summits between 2500 and 3400m
Dolomites- spectacular scenery and probably the best time to go. Buy a guidebook and see what takes your fancy, good network of mountain huts to stay in, or day walks.
Plenty of easy trails and not that much climbing. Some lifts in the Pyrenees. ski areas do not generally IMO make for great walking - too much infrastructure on the mountains and erosion altho with careful route planning you can minimise this
Another bet for good not too difficult mountain walking is Slovenia. again summits are lower and a fabulous network of paths with great mountain huts to stay in - varying from WW1 bunkers to really posh stuff and a few lifts.
Thanks for the ideas, Dolomites appeals. <br /><br />
would be looking at staying a resort ideally and only doing day hikes from there. My wife is not that much into bigger stuff, so would be looking for easy and well guided.
Mont dore in central france has a fabulous mountain range with a lift in the middle - a good walk each way from the top of the lift and other nice walking in the area
Most European mountain routes are well marked on the ground
Dolomites appeals.
Canezai worth a look.
Lots of walks, some lifts and maybe the option for some biking 😉
You can stay in resort or somewhere less central.
https://www.canazei.com/en/walking-in-val-di-fassa
Slovakia is also really good for this. I got recommended there via this forum about 9 years ago. Dan who runs chalet Slovakia is a really good friend nowadays. He's a top bloke and there's access to loads of cool outdoors stuff there. Not a cheap as it was 8 years ago, but still a lot cheaper than the Alps.
September is a great month- walked in the Wilder Kaiser in Austria last year and off to Andorra this year. I would suggest you can’t go wrong booking last minute- in one of our huts was a honeymooning couple who’d booked the week before arriving. Cicerone make some excellent walking guides to most of the alps.
Brilliant! Sounds like we just need to wait until nearer the time and find something last minute.
anyone recommend who to book with? Or is it best to find accommodation and go straight to them?
I did the TMB late September/early October a few years back, most lifts if not all, were shut.. A few of the refuges stayed open but many were shut as were the campsites. I also stayed in a couple of Air BnBs, one of which stayed open an extra day to accommodate me as the owner was packing up until the ski season started.
There are plenty of options with a bit of planning/resourcefulness but I'd check with the local Tourist Info office before you go as I think stuff starts to close down mid-late Sept. Temps ranged from mid 20s C to snow and I had heavy rain on day 1 so delayed my start a day.
The upside is it was fantastically quiet compared with summer.
How about the pre-alpes and Ecrins area? so around Grenoble, south of Lyon? Lyon is alos a fnatastic city....The Vercors (the high limestone plateau nature reserve, the bouquetins, the wolves, the resistance), the Chartreuse (monks, manstries, ancient beech forests, lynxes, the liquer...), the Belledonne, the Ecrins? Away from the trodden path.
Less high summits upto 2500m upto 3000m if include the easier parts of the ecrins and Belledonne....further south than the northern alps like Chamonix and Morizine so generally drier more stable weather. Some lifts may be open. But as TJ said...lifts = mess. In September the main alps can be having its first snow fall. It can also be a lovely indian summer.
Would you fancy some guiding by an english but fully qualified and legal to be working in France accompagnateur en montagne to help discover for example the local culture, the local food and wine, the landscapes, the history, the geology? If so feel free to get in touch!!
ticking the follow up box..
Used to be able to get some amazing summer alps deals with Inghams. Had one to Wengen super cheap, posh hotel, trains from Geneva. Similar in Filzmoos flying to Salzburg, beautiful walking there.
Slovakia is also really good for this. I got recommended there via this forum about 9 years ago. Dan who runs chalet Slovakia is a really good friend nowadays. He’s a top bloke and there’s access to loads of cool outdoors stuff there. Not a cheap as it was 8 years ago, but still a lot cheaper than the Alps.
Went to visit a mater working out in Slovakia last year, fantastic place, we were mostly biking, but did a days hikingin the Tatrus mountains, fantastic hiking, and lots of easier via ferrata also, plus as you say, beer and eating out was far cheaper than Alps, and was really good too.
Fly to Salzburg, pick any resort 1 hr south.
We have a place there and it has everything you want. Lifts run until mid October. Check out my website for ideas.
https://www.apartmentamade.com/