Those wishing to workout in nature’s gym al fresco can take full advantage of the guided hikes and Nordic walking tours offered free of charge to guests on a weekly basis. With the complimentary Stubai Super Card in summer, you not only get access to the cable cars but also heavily discounted entry to a number of tourist hotspots. But I naturally gravitated towards the hiking. I especially enjoyed my guide, Stachi’s, enthusiasm for walking more miles on a weekly basis than I can count on my fingers. That and his absolute determination to explain points of interest in broken English – because sadly I speak no German – guaranteed a thoroughly pleasurable way to spend a few hours in the hills.

It’s not only the Jagdhof’s most spectacular location that fascinates but also the quiet hidden places which often turn out on closer inspection to be natural gems. Hidden in the Stubai Valley are many of these oases, but with Stachi by your side, you will be sure to discover some of them; as a local he has done a tremendous job hunting them out over the years.

Each day after I had my outdoor activities fix, I sought refuge at the hotel’s jSPA with its wonderful Vitality World and heavenly Spa Chalet. There are no less than 20 saunas and steam rooms, invigorating ice and water explorations, an Aqua Meditation Room, Tepidarium, Laconium, Cisterna, Finnish Sauna, Amethyst Steam Grotto, Salt Inhalation Grotto, Herbal Steam Room – with so much to choose from, I was like a kid in a sweet shop. Add to that the all-important relaxation areas, both indoor and out complete with swinging hammock loungers, and I was able to while away the afternoon in a state of complete bliss.

However, the real show-stopper for me was the REN signature treatment in the private Spa Suite in the Spa Chalet. Much like celebs Kate Moss, Uma Thurman and Sting – all big fans of the iconic British brand REN – for a few hours I too felt like a star.

The two-hour pampering session began with a relaxing glass of Champagne by the infinity pool for half an hour before my therapist went to work scrubbing my entire body with a Moroccan sugar exfoliating treatment. The soothing rhythm of my therapist’s hands made me so relaxed I had to be gently woken to detoxify in the steam cabin in preparation for the ensuing massage. It was the full body works using a combination of Japanese acupressure and Swedish massage. And just when I began to dread the end of the treatment, a head massage and a facial took me to another plane. An utter bonus!

The rural Alpine lifestyle characterises the Stubai kitchen. Aromas of cheese, tender fried young veal and spicy Alpine herbs waft through the Hubertus Stube Restaurant on a daily basis. Mealtimes here are really lavish and you can easily spend the whole evening polishing off every last morsel of the five-course dinner. I tried to save myself from raiding the complimentary afternoon tea and cake buffet to be able to savour all five. The extensive salad buffet which follows the starter and the soup is a meal in itself – with so much choice, it’s easy to forget there’s still more food to come. But saving yourself for the mains is well worth it. Expect to devour creative dishes like fillet of Iberico pork, grilled turbot or fillet and lamb. Gluten and lactose-free dishes are also available upon request.

For me, dining is always a special occasion but if you really want to ramp it up a gear then dinner in the gondola on the terrace is a must. The former cable car, made from reclaimed wood has been lovingly restored to a snug Tyrolean parlour with coffered ceiling and elegant carvings where it is tradition to try the hotel’s classic fondue. Culinary delights, in every sense of the word, are guaranteed and don’t get better than this.

SPA-HOTEL Jagdhof – Where and how

Where? SPA-HOTEL Jagdhof, Neustift, Austria: www.hotel-jagdhof.at

How? Fly to Innsbruck Airport (½-hour’s drive) or Munich Airport (2 hour’s drive)

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