adventure

Wenesday 13th May 2026 – driving the Grossglockner High Alpine Road Part 2…

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Making the most of this wonderful afternoon up here high in the sky we work our way up and over the Hochter Pass – the highest point of this road being 2504m taking the opportunity to pull in just after the road tunnel at the top and capture the stunning scene in front of us and looking down on the road that we have climbed to get here….

Here the snow is banked up at the side of the road where the snow ploughs have kept the road clear and where they have started to pass through and clear fallen or collapsing snow banks – I have set myself a time limit of 5pm to start to make the return trip to ensure that I don’t get caught up in any freeze and I think the park closes around 6 anyway – since 4pm there has been an increase in the arrival of sports cars (the price goes down slightly at 4pm) and we played tag for awhile with these to soft top metallic Golfs….

A little further on, it wouldn’t be a proper road trip without at least one ‘Room with a View’….

By now we are three quarters of the way along this spectacular drive and it is now 5pm, I make the executive decision to turn around and start to make our way back because if we get caught at closing time at the far end the alternative route home is a massive detour….

Having found a nice wide parking area to turn in, we take a last wander and marvel at the sheer beauty of this snowy landscape and how amazing it is to be admiring all the 3000m + from such close quarters. One of my bucket list items is seeing a frozen waterfall now I know that this is not the trip for such a sight but I was still pretty impressed with these icicles clinging onto the rock face….

Of course there were a few more stops on the way down and just look at that road ahead….

What an amazing experience and day, I’m not sure what Tilly makes of the views or even appreciates them at all but she had plenty of opportunity to walk, have a little play in the snow and of course sniff out a couple of Marmots so a good day all round.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 85
  • Miles walked – 5
  • Entrance ticket – £40.46
  • O/N – £26.11

Wednesday 13th May 2026 – driving the Grossglockner High Alpine Road Part 1….

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As a fine sunny day dawned we suffered a little indecision, I am quite keen to drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road but after a long driving day yesterday had planned an easy day just wandering locally, however the weather forecast for the next few days is not good with snow likely on the higher ground which will inevitably mean that the Grossglocken road will be closed – so let’s go for it….

We drove the 20 or so miles from Lienz up to Heiligenblut and paid our entrance fee to drive the High Alpine Road to Grossglockner – starting with amazing views down the lush green valley before heading above the snow line…

The driving was challenging with multiple switchbacks constantly either climbing or dipping back down into the valleys but the road itself was good and plenty wide enough for two way traffic so not too daunting and fortunately plenty of lay-bys to pull off and really enjoy the views…

As we crept up higher and higher – reaching 2500m above sea level on several occasions – that is 2 and a half times the height of Snowdon! And still the 3000m + peaks soared above us. It certainly got colder, hovering around 1 or 2 degrees and the views more stunning as the snow deepened, with glimpses of frozen lakes….

At the top of Kaiser Franz Josefs Hohe (2369m) with views across to Grossglockner Peak only just visible – Austria’s highest mountain at 3798m and down onto the mostly frozen Sandersee.

Here we also spotted, well to be fair Tilly sniffed our their presence though she couldn’t see them, a couple of Marmots going about their business – I last saw these in the wild up in the mountains in Canada…

This section of the road ends here and we made our way back down to the main roadway and then continued our trip heading further north and higher still….

To be continued tomorrow….

Monday 4th May 2026 – Cinque Terre (Part 2)…..

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Continuing on from yesterday’s blog, we arrive at Vernazza, one of the smaller villages. It is by now mid afternoon and this small village, again centred around the harbour is very busy, as people continue to arrive – the trains continue well into the evening….

We quickly pass the crowds and head straight down to the harbour, where there is a nice little beach, too busy for us to linger….

A nice walk along the harbour wall, affords great views of this pretty village….

And we do manage to find a way through under a natural archway to a relatively secluded spot of beach (and I mean spot) for us to sit, catch our breath and cool down for a bit….

Going back to late morning, when we ended up at Montarosso, the closest village to Levanto, here we probably spent the most time, as unlike the other villages Montarosso is spread over a larger stretch of coastline with some pretty descent beaches and a combination of time and space meant that the crowds were much more dispersed….

Here we enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the sea front, firstly to Spiaggia di Gigante….

The beach was named after the (mostly) concrete statue of a Giant was sculpted as a feature to the adjoining Villa in 1910, ravaged by the sea and 2 World Wars the Giant was restored in 2021 and creates quite a feature….

Heading back along the promenade, looking down onto Fegina beach….

The far end of Fegina Beach is overlooked by a fortress of some kind (now a restaurant)….

And beyond the much quieter Spiaggia di Monterosso….

A very different experience to the other villages and nowhere near as isolated but a fine beach or two is always good in my experience.

An absolutely amazing day, a long one and both Tilly and I are shattered but enriched!

Thoughts of the day:

  • How amazing that these villages were only linked to civilisation with the building of the railway line in the late 1800’s but much more amazing and laudable is the fact that since then they haven’t been ruined by glassy new builds!

Today’s stats:

  • Miles walked – 8
  • Train – £2.33
  • Cinque Terre entrance – £19.01
  • Food – £6.42
  • O/N – £22

Sunday 3rd May 2026 – a lovely walk from Levanto to Framura….

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A very hot day yesterday and being a Saturday we decided there was no point trying to find a spot on the beach so we stayed put and got on with a few housekeeping bits and stayed in the relatively cool spot we have under the shade of the trees.

It is still a fine day today but with a little bit of cloud and breeze around we venture down to the station and catch the train the short distance to Levanto as there is a section of old railway line that has been converted into a cycle / pedestrian way linking the coastal villages of Levanto, Bonassola and Framura, most of which is through tunnels affording a nice bit of cool for walking in.

Arriving in the pleasant resort of Levanto, we take a stroll around the old town first….

Before joining the seafront for a stroll along the promenade and the beaches of Levanto – Spiaggia la Pietra and Spiaggia Levanto….

At the far end of the resort is Spiaggia Scapinera with it’s collection of colourful small boats….

Ready to cool down a bit we venture into our first tunnel….

In between sections of tunnel are little glimmers of light with amazing views across the aquamarine sea and Levanto’s secret beach – Spiaggia Valle Santa….

After a couple of miles we are in sight of Bonassola….

A small and not especially remarkable village….

Busy on this beautiful Sunday afternoon with plenty of folk enjoying either alfresco dining or the sunny, part pebbly beach….

After a short break we continue our way through more tunnels, in fact this stretch was nearly all tunnel with the odd delightful gap here and there…

After another mile or so we reach Framura with it’s pretty natural sheltered harbour…

And small stony beaches – Spiaggia Torsei near the harbour and Spiaggia la Valla, just beyond the village which mostly sits perched high above the sea….

Here we take a last look at the beautiful sea and catch the train back to Deiva Marina, as walking any further involves roadside walking up through the hills for a further 5 miles – not happening especially as we have a big day planned for tomorrow….

A beautiful walk, only really made possible in this heat because of the long stretches of tunnel.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles walked – 8.5
  • Beaches – 7
  • Train – £4.40
  • O/N – £22