SUMMER ADVENTURES IN THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES

The ‘Queen of the Dolomites’, as Cortina is affectionately known, has many secrets.

Romans and Barbarians battled through her strategically important valleys, the Venetian Republic claimed ownership, before 400 years of Austro- Hungarian rule, coming to an end only after 3 years of bitter and ultimately futile battles in the Great War wasting the lives of a generation on a frozen front-line in the mountains high above the town. The Ampezzo valley was eventually ceded to Italy in 1920, but it remains today a fascinating melting pot; rooted in the Ladino culture of the early-middle ages, combined with the noble heritage of Habsburgs and Emperor Maximillian, mixed with the Mediterranean warmth of the Italians.

Fast forward to today and Cortina is preparing to host the 2026 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics with Milan. It’s a town undergoing nothing short of a revolution, as investment pours in, hotels enjoy face-lifts, new lift systems are launched and the doors are swung open again to the world to showcase the extraordinary beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Cortina is again the place to be and be seen.

Via Ferrata

— An Unexpected Family Adventure

The surrounding trails, lakes and peaks of the Ampezzo valley offer anyone looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a seemingly never-ending choice. Take any path from the centre of the town and within a couple of minutes you’ll be winding through meadows, taking in beautiful mountain scenery from every angle. There’s amazing hiking, biking, horse riding, bouldering and climbing all on the doorstep and the infrastructure is in place to access all these pursuits with guides and equipment all co- ordinated by Powder Byrne locally. And because the town and surrounding villages are all linked by cycling paths, it is incredibly easy to get around without the intrusion of cars, allowing you to really slow down. For families looking for a healthy and active escape we don’t think it can be beaten!

We believe the most unexpected adventure awaits for families who join us for a via ferrata tour during their stay. The slopes around the area are criss-crossed by dozens of iron cable ways which, accompanied by a local guide, can be navigated to give you a totally different connection and perspective of these stunning mountains. Each via ferrata route is different, some quite short and others much longer, some more of a gentle walk, others requiring skill and nerves of steel! We’ll design your experience to incorporate lunch at a beautiful mountain hut along the way, or even an overnight in a summer farm or Refugio if you want something truly memorable.

Anyone who is reasonably fit and active can enjoy via ferrata, even people who are scared of heights. It’s great for active children and we’d recommend 8 years upwards as they do need to be able to take responsibility for their own safety as they move along the route, which are all graded by difficulty so we can design your experience accordingly. You will always be accompanied by an experienced local mountain guide who will help you and share all their local knowledge and stories.

The equipment is very simple and easy to use for adults and children and we work with a great rental partner who will provide you with everything you need: helmet, gloves and harness and can advise on the best clothing and footwear. You are connected to the cable-way the entire time and it is amazing how safe and secure you feel on terrain that you might otherwise never have dreamed of attempting!

We recommend building your confidence on one of the more gentle routes, for example a half day’s adventure to the Fanes waterfalls. You can approach the waterfalls by e-bike (more on these later) with a gentle 1 hour ride from your hotel with your guide. You’ll then get into your harness and clip onto the via ferrata cable and follow the path for around an hour through beautiful scenery, eventually arriving at the waterfalls. On your return there are various options for lunch at one of the local mountain huts, or you can return to your hotel for an afternoon of relaxing in the spa.

Once you have gained your confidence, you can embark on a full day programme. We recommend our local team drive you 20 minutes up the pass to Pass Val Parola, location of the largest open air museum from the First World War. The route starts with a walk up through a tunnel blown out of the mountain during the war, with the via ferrata taking you up through the Austrian army trenches, which brings the challenges of mountain warfare to stark reality. The ascent takes 2 hours and you are rewarded with sensational views across Cortina and the surrounding peaks. After a one hour walk back down your guide can arrange lunch in a local Refugio, access to the museum, or you can head back to Cortina to celebrate your achievements. If the kids still have energy to burn and want to brush up on their climbing skills, we can arrange a session at the enormous indoor climbing centre.

Via Ferrata

— A short history

The year 1843 saw the creation of the very first iron path - a route on the Dachstein in the Austrian Alps. As the birthplace of via ferrata, Austria still has the most number of routes today, with an astonishing 741 in total. Coming a close second is Italy with over 400 paths to choose from. More than half of these (we think the best of all) are located in the beautiful Dolomites region. The Italian via ferrata was born during the First World War, over half a decade later than Austria. They were created to help move soldiers and equipment into strategic positions in the mountains by traversing along the craggy peaks using the steel cables and ropes. Today the routes have been transformed into a fun and popular holiday activity for active families and adventurous individuals. The routes unlock the mountains of the UNESCO world heritage park around Cortina and you can experience a connection with the mountains that you would otherwise never have.

Each route is different, some quite short and others much longer with varying levels of difficulty. You can build your confidence on the gentle routes and progress at your own speed. Some of the via ferrata routes work really well in combination with e-bikes, you can ride out from your hotel enjoying the spectacular scenery. We will design your day to suit you, incorporating lunch at a beautiful mountain hut along the way - you won’t want to miss the celebrated gourmet food that the Dolomites region is so well known for. We have rounded up a selection of our favorite via ferrata routes from the gentle introductory climbs to the more challenging ascents.

Giovanna Barrati, Fanes Waterfalls

EASY - HALF DAY WITH E-BIKE

As a gentle introduction to via ferrata we recommend starting on one of the less challenging routes. Our favourite is a half day adventure to Fanes waterfall. To reach the starting point you can enjoy a fun hour’s e-bike ride from your hotel with your guide. Once you are at Parcheggio Pian de Loa you will get into your harness and clip onto the via ferrata cable and follow the path - meandering along the gushing Rio di Fanes eventually arriving at the dramatic Fanes waterfalls.

One of the best parts of this route is going underneath the first cascade, with the water plummeting down around you, it’s an experience not to miss. Next is a gentle hike along an old military road and on through a forest into Valle di Fanes which opens out onto a deep gorge carved away by Rio di Fanes. A good point to take a break and take in the surrounding scenery is at the top of Croda Rossa. At 1,480m it is a fantastic viewpoint. On your return there are various options for lunch at one of the local mountain huts or you can return to your hotel for an afternoon relaxing in the spa.

BEST FOR: Families or your first time doing a via ferrata.

Tenente Fusetti on Sass de Stria & The WWI Museum

MEDIUM - FULL DAY

Another of our favourites and a slightly more challenging route takes you on a full day via ferrata climb. After a hearty breakfast, fuelling up for your active day ahead, one of our team will drive you up to the Pass Val Parola. This is where the largest open- air museum from the First World War is located. The route begins with a walk up through a tunnel blown out of the mountain during the war. Once you have reached the other side and turned the corner you can clip into the start of the via ferrata. The 2 hour ascent takes you through the old Austrian army trenches, a surreal experience seeing the harsh reality of the conditions experienced during the war. Once you have reached the top, a well-deserved break is in order. Sit back, relax and enjoy the sensational views across Cortina and the surrounding peaks. After a one hour walk back down you can enjoy a delicious Tyrolean lunch at one of the local Rifugios and try the regional delicacies, canelderi and spaetzle. If you are hungry to find out more about the historical site, the First World War museum is a great option to round off the day and your guide can organise access before heading back into Cortina.

BEST FOR: History fanatics and adventurous families

Maria & Andrea Ferrari

DIFFICULT

Added to the extensive list of via ferrata routes in 2015 the new Andrea e Maria Ferrari via ferrata is one of the shortest routes you can do. It is a great option if you are pushed for time but want to squeeze in a final exciting climb. Although short, this isn’t for the faint-hearted, it is a challenging climb and recommended for the super fit and more experienced. This route scales the right hand side of Torrione di Pomede with a 150m vertical climb of the rock face using 2 footbridges, steel cables and various steels and pegs. This is immediately followed by a 100m scramble along the ridge to reach the crest, Ra Bujela. Peaking at 1,875m, the views are fabulous and you are rewarded with a picturesque descent through the meadows beyond.

BEST FOR: Fitness enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies

Gianni Aglio

DIFFICULT - HALF DAY

This via ferrata leads up to the highest of the three Tofane mountains. Beginning with a long and difficult traverse, this route is another challenging one - recommended for the welltrained and more experienced climbers. Starting at 2,900m the views all the way along the route are spectacular and you really will feel on top of the world. After a couple of airy and difficult traverses along the East and North faces of the Torre you will reach the large Bus de Tofane window at 2,920m. Here there are links to Rifugio Giussani and Rifugio Dinona where you can have a pit stop if you fancy a refreshment before continuing up to the top. The final stretch to the summit involves tackling a couple of vertical drops using ladders and navigating a rocky path passing an avalanche barrier. Before descending to Rifugio Cima Tofana at 3,191m where you can enjoy a refreshing drink to celebrate your achievements and then jump in the cable car back down.

BEST FOR: Well trained and experienced climbers. Contact our expert team on 0208 246 5300 or enquire online to hear more about our exciting summer solutions in Cortina.