Just recently come back from an 11 day break hiking around the Dachstein in the Styria region of Austria. It was a fantastic break, some hard walks up and down hills but the views and apple strudels at the alpine huts were ample reward - actually, probably too much and undid all the good the walking had done!
We based ourselves in Schladming a former silver mining town but know well known in the sporting calendar for ski-ing, mountain biking and downhill golf. It has a pedestrianised centre with good selection of shops and cafes. They even have their own local brewery - Scladminger beer.
Since 2007 the area has a free summer card for guests staying more than 3 days in participating hotels. An incentive to draw in summer visitors , the card gives free access to hiking buses, gondolas, chairlifts, museums, swimming pools and bathing lakes....the list goes on. A whole host of activities for families too, from baking bread on a farm to guided glacier hikes, even childcare facilities. Can save a load of spending money.
Walking is mainly at intermediate to hard level with panorama loops for easier walks. The summer card enabled us to enjoy some wonderful walks up one valley, hiking over the top and dropping down to another valley where a hiking bus could be caught back to base. A great system. Best of all Schladming is still unspoilt , their approach to tourism is softly, softly. people come to enjoy the nature and sports, not to indulge is tacky touristic shops and long may it continue...so perhaps I'd better not shout too loud about its virtues....
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