If you are lucky enough to go to Austria for your holidays, and lucky enough to stay in Zell-am-Ziller, here's a pleasant little bimble to get you out walking

• Distance - 8 kilometres
• Terrain -made path, open road and the odd field
• Refreshments - the Jausendstation (snack bar) Waidachhof in Hainzenberg and various cafes in Ramsau
• Map - the free village plan fron the tourist office in Zell is as good as any. Also Freytag & Berndt WK151 or 152 (both cover Zell, or the 1:25000 Spezial Wanderkarte on sale in the town

The Maria Rast is a small chapel overlooking the village of Zell.

Interestingly (!), as a result of a landslide, the chapel actually overhangs the rock face and you can look out of one window and see nothing but air below

From Dorfplatz in the centre of Zell, walk up Gerlosstrasse to the Gasthof Waldheim, and take the tarmac path to the right of the Waldheim. From here, you can take the 1st path to the left, which will take you (steeply) straight up to the Maria Rast. Alternatively, carry on along the tarmac track, past the goldmine, past the cafe, and take the path that doubles back more gently up the hillside to the chapel

Take the path between the church buildings, joining the road at a hairpin, and take the signnposted path at the far side of the wooden hut, which takes you up to the road again. Cross the road, going up the tarmac track, which doubles back and brings you once again to the road by the Jausendstation Waidachhof. Go 20m up the main road and take the lane to the left. After the houses, where the lane hairpins to the left, take the track to the right signposted Ramsau (7)

This track hairpins down and then goes between two small buildings. Carry on between them and into fields which slope steeply left to right - take care if it is at all damp underfoot. Carry on through the woods, then out into the open, passing to the left of the houses. Follow this road down to Ramsau - avoid turnings to the left or right - once you have gone under the chairlift, the road bends round to the right. Take the lane to the left before the bandstand and cross the main road at the traffic lights - from here you can see the bridge over the river, and nice level footpaths on either side of the river will take you back to Zell

I can't recommend Zell-am-Ziller enough - I've been about five or six times since 1987. Let me recommend some places to stay -

Camping Hofer - camping, caravans & Bed & Breakfast. Mintz & Sylvie speak perfect english, and one day they will get the web site translated

Gastehaus Geisler - bed & breakfast plain and simple. with a view down the valley