A KMC return to the Dolomites

Overall plan: Going there to do inclusive Via Ferrata (meaning "iron path") & sport climbing. Timing is to include the England late August Bank Holiday (before the school go back after the summer), and be slightly earlier in the year (there was unexpected heavy snow closing refuges ~10^th Sept’24). 

The Dolomites (UNESCO world heritage site is a beautiful stretch of mountains in the North East of Italy and one of the best vacation places in Italy for families with kids. Part of the Alps, they are and area of unique natural beauty. The area has stunning mountains, picture-perfect villages with flowery balconies and many hiking, through-hiking, via ferrata, swimming & climbing options for all abilities. Here is some information about via ferrata: https://honister.com/a-complete-guide-to-via-ferrata/

Location: 

Camping Seiser Alm is 30mins drive ENE of Bolzano airport https://www.camping.info/en/campsite/camping-seiser-alm

The village of Fiè allo Sciliar/Völs am Schlern is located on a high plateau above Val d'Isarco/Eisacktal, at the foot of the Sciliar/Schlern mountain range. At the foot of the legendary Schlern, lies the "nature park health resort". The municipality of the 11 fractions extends over a huge difference in altitude, from 315 to 2,564 m

Has a sauna. It has great views of the dolomites, is not far from the wilderness. The campsite has a ski and drying room, a children's playground with a petting zoo and an area with a dog run. There is also a mini market with a wide range of products, a pampering restaurant ‘Zur Quelle’ with home-made delicacies and other specialities from the show kitchen. Heated saltwater swimming pool.
The bus stop is 200 metres away and runs every 30 minutes to Bozen-Bolzano and the villages of Fiè, Siusi, Castelrotto and Val Gardena. The panoramic cable car - SEISER ALM (3 min. away) takes connoisseurs up to an altitude of 1900 m. So well connected if no car.

SIte map: 

https://www.camping-seiseralm.com/fileadmin/_processed_/d/b/csm_piantina-sommer-2024_a76133a137.png

Bookings:

They do not accept reservations for tents. Lodges/trailers/appartments can be booked. https://www.camping-seiseralm.com/en/

Campsite offers you the opportunity to camp with small tents & cars on an open mountain meadow (hill). This area is available from May until around mid-October and is ideal for small tents. Please note that the meadow is not divided into parcels and is not completely level, which is why reservations are not possible. You are only a few meters away from our saltwater pool and the exclusive hygiene area "Dolomiten Bad."

Travel:

- Possible to drive (~19h).

- Fly. Bozen - Bolzano (airport) is the nearest airport to the campsite (30mins) with direct flights from London but not Manchester. There are direct Manchester flights to Innsbruck (Austria) which is 1h43 drive away from the campsite. There is also a 2h train between Innisbruck & Bolzano.

- Cycle. I believe Emma Timmis & a friend from the club cycled there one year with a tent & full trad rack. ETA 100h, 1106 miles.

Activities:

- via ferrata; guides could be booked if desired. 

    - - local (Voels-am-schlern) via ferrata https://www.outdooractive.com/en/via-ferratas/voels-am-schlern/via-ferratas-in-voels-am-schlern/8245190/

     - - easy via ferrata https://via-ferrata-dolomites.com/via-ferrata-family-dolomites/

    - - https://mamalovesitaly.com/italian-dolomites-with-kids/ 

     - - https://inafarawayland.com/via-ferratas-near-cortina-dampezzo/ (Beginner Via Ferratas Around Cortina D’Ampezzo)

    - - increasingly "alpine" routes

- sport climbing; a huge number of venues e.g. Citta dei Sassi (City of Rocks) https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/citta_dei_sassi_city_of_rocks-10601/#maps with 338 routes

- trail hiking with routes straight from the camp site. For the more abitious, huts could be booked for through-hiking 

- various swimming venues

- biking; road & mountain bike options

- excursion to Prösel Castle

Other regions:

Harry went a couple of years ago for a long weekend in a venue to the East (Cortina) where the Marmolada is . Said some very popular routes should be started as early as possible to avoid queues and limits on numbers (e.g. Marmolada) - which might mean having a hire car.

- Val Gardena (35mins drive)

- - Via ferrata https://www.val-gardena.com/en/insider-tips/detail/the-most-beautiful-via-ferratas-in-val-gardena-dolomites/

 - - Sport climbing  https://www.val-gardena.com/en/summer/climbing-val-gardena-dolomites/sport-climbing/

- -  slab limestone and dolomite

- - area for beginners & kids

- - alpine routes

- Cortina d'Ampezzo (2h drive)

- - via ferrata 

         https://inafarawayland.com/via-ferratas-near-cortina-dampezzo/

         waterfall route

         https://via-ferrata-dolomites.com/via-ferrata-cortina/

- - sport climbing (70-80m ropes) https://www.guidedolomiti.com/en/sport-climbing-cortina-dolomites/

Am happy to coordinate where possible with folk & there is a setup a KMC WhatsApp group. I'll be bringing my 12yo daughter, so will likely need to gradually work up the grades & excitement - and will be going for 11 days. 

All the best,

Mark

P.S. Am going to Honister Slate mine on the morning of Sunday 25th May for the "Classic" via ferrata route. Note there is a minimum age limit. https://honister.com/product/via-ferrata-classic/