"It’s the ultimate walker’s paradise, with immaculate trails, spectacular scenery, the world’s best mountain hut system, and friendly locals. Public transport is reliable, facilities in villages and resorts immaculate, and accommodation clean, comfortable and much cheaper than anything of a similar standard in Britain. And then there’s the variety, mountains that range from gentle rolling green ‘hills’ to abrupt limestone pinnacles; from glacier-clad snowpeaks to scree fans blazing with flowers. Flowers? Yes, the meadows, moraines, screes and rock faces all create habitats of sheer wonder. Who could possibly spend a summer’s day wandering in Austria without becoming mesmerized by the beauty of its mountain flowers? In fact there are so many reasons to go walking in Austria, a whole book could be devoted to the subject. Come to think of it…"

- Kev Reynolds, Britain’s leading walking guidebook writer and author of Walking in the Alps, 100 Hut Walks in the Alps, and a forthcoming guide to walking in Austria, all published by Cicerone.


"I couldn’t name my one definite favourite Austrian mountain because there are so many beautiful ones. But I do like the Dachstein very much; it’s a range of limestone peaks near my childhood home, and a great place to climb long alpine rock routes. Austria is all about diversity. There’s a lifetime’s worth of sport climbing, ice climbing, big scale alpine routes, canyoning, downhill skiing, alpine ski touring, and just plain hiking. Try walking in winter with snow shoes, which help you get closer to nature in hidden quiet places."

- Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Austrian high altitude mountaineer who has successfully summited 10 of the world’s 14,8000m peaks, a female record that she shares with just one fellow climber.