Route: Kriegerhorn
Area: Austrian Alps
Date of walk: 29th June 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 10.6 miles
Weather: Quite cloudy with plenty of sunny spells, warm
We were staying at the Burg Hotel Oberlech in the Arlberg region of the Austrian Alps – in the winter it’s a paradise for skiers but the area is perfect for hiking in summer. We can recommend the hotel to anyone staying in this area – it’s superb
We walked out of the hotel and down a woodland track into the small town of Lech, not having yet planned our eventual route. Having reached Lech we studied the maps and decided to follow the Kriegerhorn circuit, initially along the bank of the River Lech to the village of Zug
Just before Zug we crossed over the river and followed a waymarked track steadily uphill to the highest point of the walk, the Kriegeralpe Restaurant, where we had a pit stop
The route back to Oberlech was mostly along quiet tracks and mountain roads, with amazing views in all directions. The alpine meadows were a major feature of this walk with hundreds of species growing in profusion all along the way
It was a great day and we’re full of anticipation as to what may lay ahead in the days to come in this beautiful region
Click on the icon below for the route map
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We set off from our hotel in Oberlech and walk down through the woods into Lech
Geranium and Bladder Campion - the wild flowers growing along our route would prove to be a major feature of this holiday
Lech
We cross the River Lech and will follow its course up the valley as far as Zug
Looking back to Lech
An alpine barn above the town
Walking towards Zug beside the River Lech
Gilly studies the map
Further along The Lech
We leave the river bank to walk up to Zug
Walking through Zug
We leave the road to climb uphill along a track called the Zuger Tobel
Further along the Zuger Tobel
Looking back along the track as we ascend further…
An alpine hut as we walk through the meadow
Looking back down the valley
Wild orchid
Globeflower
Looking back down the Zuger Tobel
We stop at the Kriegeralpe for refreshments
View from the Kriegeralpe - we are about 6,500 feet above sea level
Wild Azalea
Start of the descent back to Oberlech
We pass by, but not through, a nature reserve full of gypsum holes which is renowned for its many species of orchids
Looking towards the Widderstein
Wild orchids in the meadow
Walking down into Oberlech
A 5 star bug hotel - in an old Puligny Montrachet wine case
and back to our 5 star human hotel - the Hotel Burg
