A brilliant way to get into fantastic situations amongst some of the most dramatic, spectacular and beautiful mountains in the Alps.

The via ferratas are protected routes, or climbs, with fixed cables and some ladders and bridges which allow you to get to places normally reserved for rock climbers.

Even so some experience and mountain sense is needed, as well as the correct equipment that can be easily hired.

Arabba is one centre that gives access to a range of routes.

They are graded to degrees of difficulty.

Others are Cortina and Corvara.

One way to get there is to fly to Venice/Treviso followed by a relatively short drive north.

Essential reading are Volumes 1 and 2 of 'Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites' by John Smith and Graham Fletcher and published by Cicerone.

Arabba Tourist Office, Via Boè 3, Arabba, I 32020, Italy.
Tel: 39 0 436 791 30

Cortina d'Ampezzo Tourist Office, P.tta San Francesco 8, Cortina dAmpezzo, I-32043, Italy. Tel: 39 0436 3231/2/3/4/5.

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Colletts is a company that specialises in activity holidays to the Dolomites, they operate in Arabba near Ortisei and also in Pedraces. You can go in summer for walking and now in winter for skiing, snowshoeing and other activities. The best thing about this company is the quality of the front line staff - most are young and enthusiastic and nothing is too much trouble. We arrived at 2.30am after a horrendous journey over the mountain passes, and not only was a member of staff waiting to greet us, he had a wonderful cold platter of food, and hot drinks waiting for us, all with a smile. This is a chalet type of holiday where you can dip in and out of activities as you like. Have a look at their website, the photos alone will make you want to go.

www.colletts.co.uk

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