Alpenhof Strenge

We were in the Lesachtal for a walking holiday as I had been told by an Austrian friend that the alpine flowers were pretty special. We didn't fancy staying in a town-centre hotel with all the noise that would entail, so ended up almost by accident at the Alpenhof Strenge. I must say at the outset that this is not the hotel for you if you need to be handy for the facilties to be found in a town - it is half-way up a mountain and about 20 minutes drive from Koetschach so taking the half-board option is pretty much essential, but the food is good, the service is efficient & friendly, and the rooms are comfortable. It also has a sauna if you need to get the aches out of your bones after a hard day on the hills or skiing. The restaurant offers a fixed menu with a choice of two main courses and a lavish salad bar. We were there for two nights and enjoyed the meal both evenings, the only down-side is that the mealtimes are fixed and (if you want a choice) you need to be in the restaurant soon after the doors open. We would have liked a bit more flexibility, but the package was very reasonably priced so we accepted the restriction. Breakfast, as in many Austrian hotels, is buffet-style, the food is very fresh and there is a good variety. The views over the valley are absolutely amazing, so get a room at the front if you possibly can. If you are into alpine flowers - which I am, in a big way - the hotel is a couple of hour's walk from 'Auf der Mussen', an alpine meadow on the top of the mountain directly behind the hotel. Access for cars is severely limited, but the hotel has a key to the gate half-way up the track and will hire it out to you for 5 euros. This will enable you to drive almost half way to the Mussen. The top of the mountain is capped with limestone so the flora is superb. The hotel is very popular and sees a lot of return custom, so you will need to book, but I look forward to going back again before too long and (fingers crossed) being able to botanise happily in the sunshine, for a change. By the way I don't think there is a lift.