The Brixental is a valley of gentle proportions, and set among its meadows traditional farming communities appear still to maintain a way of life unaffected by tourism, despite the close proximity of Kitzbühel to the east. It’s a lush green valley of woodland and pasture, and its string of villages are modest in size and ambition. On the northern side above Westendorf and Brixen a range of hills, rising to little more than 1800m, form an effective divide between the Brixental and the valley of the Weissache in which Ellmau, Söll and Scheffau are settled. A cable lift from Brixen gives access to a veritable wealth of footpaths criss-crossing those hills, while on the south side of the valley a cableway from Westendorf carries walkers onto the upper slopes of the wooded Nachsöllberg where numerous walks are accessed.
| Start | Westendorf (783m) |
| Distance | 11km |
| Height gain | 92m |
| Height loss | 92m |
| Grade | 1 |
| Time | 3hrs |
| Location | Northeast of Westendorf |
Gentle walking on paths and trackways through meadows and woodland of the Brixental, makes this circuit a good introduction to the soft country of the Kitzbüheler Alps. It’s a walk for all weathers and all the family. Refreshments may be had in Winkl, Brixen and Bichling.
Facing the tourist office in Westendorf, walk along the narrow road which cuts along its right-hand side, rising between houses towards the wooded slopes of Nachsöllberg. Once clear of the village open meadows spread to either side, and in 10mins or so you leave the road and take a footpath on the left along the forest edge. When it forks, take the lower option (direction Bichling) which soon becomes a woodland path. This forks again when you emerge from the trees. On this occasion ignore the Bichling branch and keep ahead across a small meadow and onto a rising stony track. Continue through a series of meadows to reach a group of farm buildings at Achenberg (40mins).
Westendorf
A few paces beyond these, bear left on a narrow farm drive. Shortly after, turn sharply to the right on a paved drive (direction Kandleralm and Brixen). Passing a few houses you will come to a large farm on the left. Now go alongside the farm on a path which takes you across a small meadow, then swings to the right to enter a patch of forest.
This becomes a delightful forest walk, joins a track and slopes downhill to the forest edge where there’s a picnic site, about 20mins from Achenberg. Immediately beyond this turn right along a track, and when it forks after crossing a bridge, take the upper branch rising steadily in the forest. About 10mins later ignore a path descending to Brixen. Shortly after, when the track makes a sharp right-hand hairpin, go ahead on a minor track.
At another junction, ignore the path slanting up to Kandleralm, and branch left a few paces later to head down the slope, across an open ski piste, and continue to the hamlet of Winkl (1½hrs refreshments). A narrow road now takes you down to Brixen’s railway station.
Cross both the railway line and the main road, and continue along a minor road opposite. This takes you over a stream where you then turn left and immediately right. Passing houses, rise steeply above a farm on the Schneckgasse which develops as a delightful path above first Lauterbach, then Brixen proper. On coming to an opening with a view down to Brixen’s impressive church, descend the grass slope, go through a gate and onto a metalled drive which eventually brings you into Brixen (2hrs, refreshments) a short distance from the church.
Directly opposite your entry into the village, cross the main road and walk down a narrow road signed to the Fischerstadl. The way crosses the railway line, and shortly afterwards you will reach the anglers’ lake of Erlensee (refreshments). Over a stream turn right onto a good path, and when this reaches a junction of tracks near the railway line, keep ahead for the walk via Bichling which leads back to Westendorf.