19.06.2024 Explorer Holiday with the Aktiv Card

The Gateway to Tyrol. The Naturparkregion Reutte is not unfamiliar to me. In the past, my family and I would pass through on our way to a hiking holiday. More recently, I’ve been making the occasional day trip from the Allgäu to explore one of the natural gems around Reutte. But it’s definitely worth staying a little longer. Looking to try new activities on holiday and have plenty of fun at the same time? The Aktiv Card of the Naturparkregion Reutte is your perfect holiday companion. I spent a few days exploring the diverse activity programme myself – and I can already tell you this: I never expected to experience and discover so many new things!

The next day of my holiday takes me high up to the Schlosskopf Fortress. I have to admit: I, too, have driven past the castle ruins along the Fernpass road on my way toward the Fern Pass. The site is easy to recognize thanks to the suspension bridge – and it’s definitely time to stop here. Because high above the valley, centuries-old fortifications await. To get there, however, I use a very modern means of transport: the Top Liner. In just a few minutes, it takes me up to the Schlosskopf Fortress. Even during the ride – which climbs the mountain at gradients of up to 45 degrees – I enjoy fantastic views of the Ehrenberg castle ruins below, the Ehrenberg Klause, and the surrounding Alpine panorama. And the views only get better at the top.

The 1-kilometre, barrier-free panoramic trail offers more than spectacular scenery: it also provides fascinating insights into the history of the Schlosskopf fortress. In 1703, the recapture of Ehrenberg was initiated from here. Construction of the fortress itself began in 1733, built according to the most modern military standards of the time, and was completed in 1741. Despite its impressive design, the fortress was never truly put to use. Just 41 years later, it was abandoned along with other structures at the end of the 18th century and gradually fell into disrepair. Yet even today, the imposing remains still give a vivid impression of what this remarkable fortress once looked like.

The winding path leads me to the very end of the small village of Hinterbichl. This is where Layla Herb and her family run their farm. But instead of cows or sheep, you’ll find some very different woolly residents here: alpacas and llamas. At the beginning, Layla explains how to tell the two species apart, where they originally come from – and what they like and don’t like. The last part is especially important for what comes next: a walk with the animals. One rule is essential: the large llama always leads the way. My caramel-brown alpaca, named Itakai, follows right behind. “You wouldn’t think so because of their size difference, but they’re about the same age – and they’ve gotten along well from the very beginning,” Layla tells me. Together with our colourful group of people, llamas, and alpacas, we stroll leisurely through meadows and forests. The experience is wonderfully calming – we simply adapt to the animals’ relaxed pace. “But don’t be fooled,” Layla adds with a laugh. “They can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h when running.” That is, if they feel threatened. Today, that’s definitely not the case. After the walk, I reward Itakai with a few pieces of “llama chocolate” before saying goodbye to my new friend. And honestly, I’m not sure who feels more relaxed afterwards – him or me.

The first rays of sunshine crest the mountains and make the dewdrops on the meadows sparkle as I meet my bike guide, Verena Krenslehner-Schmid, in Höfen the next morning. The two-time mountain bike marathon winner is also a state-certified cycling performance instructor, and today she’s showing me the most beautiful spots around Reutte on a gravel bike. We start out towards the Burgenwelt Ehrenberg and the Fernpass road – but we leave the main roads behind. Verena knows the best gravel paths. After half an hour, mud splashes cover our faces, and a streak of dirt runs across our backs. Thanks to last week’s rain, the trails are quite muddy. “That’s all part of gravel biking, isn’t it?” Verena laughs. After tackling a climb, we ride along Heiterwanger See. “Wow, I rarely see it this calm,” Verena tells me as the snow-covered peaks reflect perfectly on the glassy surface. A bridge takes us over to Plansee, where we continue along a root-covered trail. Then it’s uphill towards Reutte and on to Urisee. Like a deep blue eye, it lies a few metres below us. We make a short detour through Pflach to Hüttenmühlsee and then continue to the Vogelturm. Our thighs are burning slightly as we climb the tower, but the panoramic view makes it all worthwhile. “So, what do you think?” Verena asks once we’re back down. “Shall we turn our gravel ride into a five-lake tour?” Absolutely! We push the pedals once more to conquer the climb up to Frauensee. As we take our final break on the shore of the crystal-clear lake, with a view of the Gehrenspitze, I know one thing for sure: this definitely won’t be my last gravel tour in the Naturparkregion Reutte. 

Tip: Find more gravel tour recommendations for the Naturparkregion Reutte – or book a guided gravel tour (free of charge with the Aktiv Card).

In the afternoon, I take part in my final activity in the Naturparkregion Reutte before heading home. At the Schollenwiesenlift in Höfen, I meet ranger Sabine Resch and the other guests joining the herb walk. The plant life of the Naturpark Tiroler Lech is famous for its extraordinary diversity of herbs – and today, she’s going to show us why. Our first task is simple: walk along the edge of the meadow and collect five herbs or plants that we already know or that catch our attention. Afterwards, we sort and identify our findings together. Sabine picks up long green stems with small white flowers. It’s yarrow, known as a natural all-round remedy. Among other things, it aids digestion, helps reduce bloating, and is also used to relieve menstrual cramps. One by one, we go through the plants we’ve gathered. What makes the experience especially enjoyable is that everyone can contribute their own knowledge and observations. The two-hour walk is shaped by the participants’ questions and interests. And me? For me, almost everything is new. By the end of the tour, I’m amazed at how many effective – and even tasty – plants can be found growing right along the path. Sabine’s advice: “Start small. On your next walk, simply collect two or three herbs and enjoy them on your evening snack. Teas, ointments, and everything else can come later.”

Written by:

Janna Kamphof