When the summer season draws to a close, and the forests along the Val Gardena slopes shift from green to a riot of colour, the finest time of year at Stua Catores begins. The trails are clear. The mountain huts are open, but never crowded. In this light, the Dolomites look as though they have just been painted.

Autumn in Val Gardena is not a compromise. It is a well-kept secret — and one that is absolutely worth knowing.