WINTER DISCOVERY IN LEUTASCH AND SEEFELD

It’s amazing that Leutasch isn’t better known. This high level plateau and tranquil valley is a cross country skier’s mecca (theWinter Olympics have been held here twice) and offers some of the finest and most extensive trails in Europe. As well as being a first class cross country ski centre, Leutasch also offers horse-drawn sleigh rides, tobogganing, curling, ice skating, snowshoeing, tennis and squash.

Resident Headwater rep, Steve Barrington, provides a daily cross country skiing programme aimed at first-timers, beginners or improvers, depending on your chosen week. There’s plenty of skiing here for all levels, with gentle plateau trails, peaceful valley runs, and more challenging routes on the wooded hillsides offering stunning valley views. If, at any time, you feel like “doing your own thing”, then there’s clear signposting and excellent free trail map available. There’s also excellent intermediate downhill skiing in Seefeld, just 10 minutes’ away.

You stay in the heart of the Leutasch Valley, with doorstep access to the very best skiing. Our luxury and family run **** Hotel Xander, the oldest inn in the valley, is tucked away next to the onion-domed village church, and has been sensitively modernised to incorporate all the luxuries you would expect of a high class hotel. The huge bedrooms feel more like apartments, with your own lounge area and tea/coffee-making facilities, and the bathrooms have both a bath and a shower.

There is a heated indoor swimming pool, two saunas, steam bath, whirlpool bath and solarium (pay locally), fitness studio, ski room and, if you want to spoil yourself, beauty treatments and massages at extra cost. For children, there’s an indoor play area and games room, with table tennis, pool, table football, darts and pinball.