Swap pistes for pathways on a summer trip to St Anton

Discover this peak-filled region of the Austrian Tirol, where 300km of hiking trails, plus cycle routes and family festivals, means you'll find something for everyone

(www.go-images.com/Wolfgang Ehn)

When summer comes to St Anton am Arlberg in the Austrian Tirol, pistes are transformed into 300km of hiking trails as the melted snow reveals lush green meadows, craggy peaks and rushing streams – all ready to be explored.

Heavenly hikes

St Anton’s cable cars don’t stop running once the snow has gone. Within minutes you’ll be on the mountains of Gampen, Rendl, Galzig and Kapall. Your only problem will be deciding where to hike. If you want to tackle part of one of Europe’s most remarkable long-distance walks, try the final stages of the 280km Eagle Trail, which climbs over the Rofan mountains to St Christoph am Arlberg. For those feeling really adventurous, there are 24 stages in total to complete.

(TVB St Anton am Arlberg/Christoph Schach

(TVB St Anton am Arlberg/Christoph Schach)

Culture fans of all ages can discover the Faith and History themed trail, which reveals stories of Arlberg farming life around Schnann im Stanzertal. For views that will leave you breathless, take the cable car up to 2,000m to the Galzig Panorama Trail. If you’re travelling with kids, let them loose in the play areas of

Erlebniswelt Adventure World.

Come in June or July to enjoy one of St Anton am Arlberg’s most spectacular displays of nature. Walk along the Alpenrosenweg – the Alpine Rose Trail – from the top of the Rendlbahn cable car and you’ll see a red sea of roses as the alpine flowers come into full bloom.

On your bike

If you prefer to get around on two wheels, there are plenty of marked trails to discover. There’s something for every level, from tough ascents to gentle valley rides. If you’re into road cycling, catch the Arlberg Giro on 29 July.

(TVB St Anton am Arlberg/Wolfgang Ehn

(TVB St Anton am Arlberg/Wolfgang Ehn)

Festival fever

Enjoy Tyrolean hospitality during St Anton’s Village Festival on 14 and 15 July, when you can taste delicious regional cuisine in a lively atmosphere. From 30 August to 2 September there’s a slower pace as the Mountain Yoga Festival takes over St Anton.

Pick up a free St Anton Summer Card and make use of offers including a complimentary visit to the swimming pool, a torchlight hike and a guided mountain walk.

My St Anton am Arlberg

Kurt Tschiderer, historian in Pettneu am Arlberg, who restored the old Nessler Taja hut

“We were able to refurbish the building just the way we had imagined. Of course we invested a lot of time, but with a project like this you don’t count the hours. We can give guests an authentic experience only if the locals also appreciate what we do. It wouldn’t have made sense to create a Heidi hut, a kind of Disneyland in the mountains.”

With daily scheduled flights to Innsbruck from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, as well as services from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool, it’s easy to discover the Austrian Tirol.

See stantonamarlberg.com, visittirol.co.uk and love.tirol

#loveTirol, @visitTirol