Touching the sky

Here, high enough to be close to the timber line, yet mild enough for mountain flowers to blossom into a sea of colour, the air is especially pure and the sky stretches away endlessly overhead. Fans of fresh mountain air will feel particularly at home at over 1,500 metres above sea level. The lower air pressure has a positive effect on the body’s immune system and natural defences.

In the morning, when the rest of the world is still fast asleep and the farm cockerel dutifully announces the arrival of a new day in South Tyrol, there are at least two good reasons for mountain walkers to get up early. The first is the mountains themselves. The second is a generous farm breakfast, served by your attentive farm family and featuring home-made jam along with eggs and cheese from the farm. This will set you up perfectly for a day’s walking and you’ll want to get going. Whether you’re more into hanging out on mountain pastures and taking it easy or conquering the heights, you can set off right from the farm. A walking paradise for all levels and abilities awaits right outside the door, which may lead you through the impressive Dolomite mountains, follow high altitude paths up the glaciers of the Vinschgau valley or pass above the lush green Etschtal valley.

If they’re not busy with the hay harvest, farmers will enjoy taking guests on guided walks. The hay harvest is one of the highlights of the agricultural year and getting involved can be a particularly fun experience for city dwellers. 300 days of sunshine a year in South Tyrol are not only great for holiday guests, but guarantee mountain farmers up to three hay harvests.

It’s also well worth taking a trip to the farm pasture. Lots of mountain farms in South Tyrol work their own meadows and grazing areas situated above the timber line. Farmers will welcome the company, while guests will enjoy the sunshine and unencumbered views amidst the clanking of cow bells.

The crystal clear, pollen-free mountain air of some of South Tyrol’s higher valleys is a godsend for allergy-sufferers. Farms for allergy sufferers lie between 1,600 and 1,700 metres above sea level.

> Farms for allergy sufferers
> Farms above 1,500