 Me and my lovely lady are thinking of heading over to Italy for a couple of weeks next year (September-ish time).
No fixed ideas at present but quite happy doing DIY booking (ie cheap flights, book hotel direct or via a Expedia type site). Open to suggestions on location, although the Lakes (Garda etc) look to be very nice.
I'm just having a Google which is turning up a few results for both guided and self guided trips which I'm book marking for future inspection.
Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations?
We wouldn't be looking for anything too mad eg walking rather than climbing, maybe 10 miles to 15 miles a day or so. Be nice to have a lazy day at our choice (which self-guided obviously scores at). I'm happy with a map and compass.
Is there an Italian version of an OS map? :D
Vague I know, but getting ideas at present.
TIA,
Chris.
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 gran paradiso and lake maggorie are good,sorry just opening my 2nd vin blanc so will communicate when sober!!
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 You could try the Dolomites. Any region where via ferrata is popular will be fantastic for walking. Breathtaking views, great paths (clearly waymarked), frinedly locals, great food'n'wine.
There's great walking to be had around the town of Cortina a'Ampezzo. There's also the Alta Via which is worth investigating.
In the north of Italy you can get Kompass maps 1:25k and 1:50k.
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Thanks Justin.
Googling on via ferrata has turned up some more promising results for us to investigate. Had to look-up what it meant as well.
Food and wine is high up our list of priorities - has to be some reward for a days efforts in the hills!
Thanks again,
Chris.
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 I'd recommend Collett's Mountain Holidays if you've not been to the Dolomites before. Great accommodation and food, good social as well, as you stay in Ski style chalet accommodation so the evening meal is a great laugh. Lots of wine included as well! They can provide you with loads of information about walks and VF's in the area and have staff there who can give you first hand advice about your chosen route. We stayed with them earlier this year and went pre-armed with ideas about what we were going to do. We were self sufficient and did our own thing but it was great to have that kind of information if you want it. Also if you're feeling really lasy they do organised walks and VF's which you can go on. If you're not sure about VF's this is a great way to try them out with a group. Also, I think Cordee do some good books on walks in the Dolomites. Their VF books are really good.
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Looks like there is a problem with Collett's website at the moment. That is the right address so will just have to wait for the techie people to sort it out!
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Hi Giles,
I found Collett's web site earlier after I Googled for via ferrata and I'd bookmarked it. It certainly looked ideal to me, so it's excellent to hear from somebody who has already used them.
Will drop them a mail to find out when they'll be looking at the 2005 season.
Cheers,
Chris.
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 Another vote for Colletts. Absolutely Brilliant!
Used them twice - had a great time both years.
Si
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 Spent a 2/3 weeks in Italy for the last two summers. Between Garda or the Dolomites (North), I'd go North. Nothing wrong with Garda (we stayed in Arco) but just sooo much nicer in the mountains.
We stayed in Corvara/Colfosco. Really friendly place, amazing views, great food and wine etc. An excellent base for walking and VF too (We must have done every VF it's possible to do in the area). We just went independently so couldn't advise on a company but we did meet some people out there using High Point - they seemed happy enough and Colletts have a good reputation.
Maps are easy to get and the paths are really clearly waymarked. Also many of the ski lifts are open most of the year so you can gain access to the mountains without hours of (very steep) uphill.
Couldn't say what the weather would be like in September (we went July/August) but should be great.
I'd definitely go back to Corvara/Colfosco (the region's called Alta Badia) again.
PS Via Ferratta are amazing - you'll love it.
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We spent last summer round Cortina and had brill time, the walking and VF is brill. Huts are superb.
Sept is good, weather still hot & fine and its quieter too. August is Italian holiday and school break time. Also can be thundery & you dont wanna be on the hills then.
We hired a guide over there for the days when we wanted, so we built in our own schedule. Guide was amazing and more so coz he had just got back from climbing K2 for the anniversary.
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 From experience: certainly can get rain - heavy and steady - in Italian Alps in September. Thunderstorms can be violent. Can also get snow at moderate altitude (~1500m).
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Also check when the cable cars close - some do shut down in september but I think its towards the end.
Worth checking though.
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independent walking go for gran paradiso,good walking especiaally up around col de lauson wnich is right up there with the best and highest and scariest for us non climbers!
care to go further south(as the north seems to be well covered) some great belverdere paths around levante (east of genova) and some long high outstanding coastal paths just south of naples along the amalfi coast.
for hot sweaty med walking it truely takes some beating with great views and lovely swimming. It would be hot in september but theres plenty of beaches and things to do locally(naples,capri,volcanoes,) if the walking gets a little much!!!
the appenines(sp) inland from rome, my brother says are great as he goes there hunting(with his camera) for bear.
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We went mid september and weather was Ok. Can be hit and miss. The cable cars tend to start to shut around mid september. This isn't necessarily a bad thing as that means the place is less crowded, plus if you're prepared to walk into VF's as we did then you can have them all to yourself.
The risk of thunderstorms is massively reduced as well in September so you can start later and also avoid the crowds on the more popular routes, but still check the forecast.
As keith says, the paths are really well marked, which they need to be as the maps are always as accurate as OS maps. Not bad just sometimes not perfect. Any confident hill walker will have no problems. Plus you got a wide range of walks to choose from, from easy valley bambles to high altitude walks at 3000m. We stayed in Arabba which was nice, but would also recommend both Corvara and Cortina which also looked like good bases, all be it slightly larger.
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Wow - didn't think I'd get this much excellent information. Thanks everyone :)
Plenty to digest and ponder over as we plan.
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 Dolomites early September.Lifts tend to close towards the end of Sept. Maps? The Tabacco 25K are better than Kompass, though around Garda you're stuck with Kompass. Colletts are more costly than DIY. I've done 2 weeks self-catering including flights for less than one week with them. For pure walking try further sud around the Abruzzo area, wonderful!
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Excellent idea Mike, forgot about my pictures - god knows why as they took me ages to sort out. Anybody who's interested could have a butchers at these on my site: Dolomites mid to late September 2004.
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Collets brochure turned up at the weekend (with 2005 info).
I'm sold already, just need to persuade the other half. Cracking pictures Giles.
VF looks stunning but I'd need my brave head on!
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 I'd strongly recommend the Dolomites. I spent 4 days walking there at the very beginning of October, based in Arraba. Amazing walking and views (see the panaromanic view from Sella in the new panoramic photo article on this site!) An excellent place for a short break. I am definitely intending to go to the Dolomites again, next time for a longer, probably hut to hut trek. I am into wild camping normally (eg: in Pyrenees) but looks tricky in the Dolomites due to the rocky terrain and the fact that it is not allowed strictly speaking. There look to be some great longer distance treks on offer that allow you to stay high for much of the time. (We passed one hut at 3100 Metres!). Every time we rounded a corner we kept saying WOW! Only place I have been that promted that reaction almost continuously!
We didn't feel brave enough to do Via Ferrata but there was plently of good walking that avoided these if you are feeling similarly cautious.
The maps we used were from the Tabaco series. Very good maps which show all tyeh paths and distinguish the Via ferrata bit swith small crosses so you won't find your self over commiting by mistake (assuming you don't screw up on the map reading of course!)
Don't worry that not doing via ferrata will give you poorer views....the views are just as awesome without your brave head on. (Though not quite as exposed of course).
If you want to see a few photos just shout. Took hundreds!
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