This presentation is centred on the village of Arabba situated at the foot of the Sella Massif in the heart of the Italian Dolomites. Although Arabba is 5000 feet above sea level, it sits on the valley floor and is surrounded on all sides by the spectacular mountain scenery which is the hallmark of the Dolomites. This is a great centre from which to explore challenging mountain trails, exhilarating via ferratas, beautiful alpine wildflower meadows and a fascinating World War One history.

The Dolomites are part of the European Alpine chain and cover an area in northern Italy of over 5,000 square miles, almost half the size of Wales. Formed 60 million years ago when Africa collided with Europe, they have been weathered by rain and ice into a spectacular series of jagged peaks and contain 14 major massifs, each rising to around 10,000 feet. The highest peak is the Marmolada which reaches 11,032 feet.

They present a formidable barrier between Italy and the rest of Europe and, historically, this was a relatively undisturbed region. In fact the Dolomites were largely untoubled by the outside world right up to 1915 when, almost overnight, the high mountains and passes became the front line battleground between Italian and Austrian troops. Today it is still possible to see remains of the conflict through extensive tunnels, trenches, look-out posts and gun emplacements on the high mountain ridges, and it's easy to see why there were more casualties on both sides as a result of the extreme winter weather than the actual fighting. In more recent times, the Dolomites have become home to some of Europe's best winter skiing resorts whilst, in the summer, they are a paradise for walkers.

Although awesome in appearance, access to even the highest peaks is not difficult thanks to cable cars and chair lifts. The views are absolutely breathtaking. For those who prefer to walk the mountains, there are many short and long distance trails at both low, medium and high levels. If you are looking for something a little more challenging, try either the Alta Via 1 or Alta Via 2 which are two of Europe's most spectactular long distance mountain treks. Both routes run roughly 150kms north/south through the heart of the Dolomites, passing through a wide variety of landscape, and take two weeks to complete. The mountain hut system (rifugio) is perhaps the finest in the Alps, so accommodation is plentiful.

Via Ferrata or VF (literally "iron way") is a term synonymous with the Dolomites. It relates to the system of metal ladders, cables and gorge-spanning bridges which help hikers to negotiate some of the more difficult trails and scrambles. Many of these date back to World War One and were established in order to move troops and supplies to high mountain positions. VFs are now an established and growing mountain sport and offer those who do not necessarily have mountaineering skills the opportunity to experience the thrill of climbing exposed rock faces in relative safety. Fitness, sure-footedness and a good head for heights are the only essentials!

The Dolomites attract road cyclists and mountain bikers from all over Europe and, whilst road biking enjoys a higher profile with the renowned Dolomites Marathon attracting 7000 cyclists in early July and the Men’s and Women’s Giro d’Italia passing through each year, mountain bike enthusiasts can enjoy some superb itineraries in overwhelming scenery.

No description of the Dolomites would be complete without mention of the profusion of wild flowers which are at their peak during June and July. Having a different geology to the main alpine chain, Dolomitic limestone supports thousands of species, many of which are rare alpine gems. In a matter of hours, it is possible to walk from valley floor to mountain peak and pass through four distinct vegetation zones, each with its own unique plants and habitats. You don't have to be a botanist to quickly become absorbed in the natural beauty and vivid colour that surrounds you.

Today, despite being part of a modern Italy, the Dolomites has a Tyrolean feel to it which is not surprising when you remember that, until 90 years ago, the area was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In fact, you will find a fusion of cultures that has developed over many centuries. Three languages are spoken, Italian, German and Ladin. With a population of only around 40,000, the Ladin speakers are the indigenous people of the Dolomites and mainly inhabit the valleys radiating out from the Sella Massif. They now represent less than 5% of the population of the Dolomites and are one of Europe's smallest ethnic groups. Their history and traditions are fascinating subjects in themselves.

The Dolomites are scattered with attractive villages and small towns such as Cortina, famed for its association with winter sports and Bolzano, now the home of the 5,300 year old Neolithic hunter found in a glacier in 1991 and nicknamed 'Otzi'. If you want an alternative to stunning natural beauty, the man-made equivalent can be found in the nearby culturally-rich cities of Innsbruck, Verona and, of course, Venice.

For more information on the Dolomites, see Collett's Mountain Holidays or read Henry Steadman's excellent guide "Trekking in the Dolomites" by Trailblazer Guides