Villas in Harz

Braunlage or St. Andreasberg for skiing and high walks, Goslar or Wernigerode for a town with things to see, Thale or Quedlinburg for the Bode gorge and old towns. The southern Harz around Bad Sachsa and Walkenried is the cheapest.

On foot, by bike or on the steam train from Wernigerode, Drei Annen Hohne or Schierke. The summit road is closed to private cars. Popular walks start at Torfhaus and Schierke, and take around two hours each way.

Yes, when there is snow. The Wurmberg at Braunlage has the longest runs, and there are smaller slopes at St. Andreasberg and Hahnenklee plus cross-country trails across the high plateau. Snow is less reliable than in the Alps.

It makes life much easier. The towns are linked by buses and the narrow-gauge railway, but services are infrequent in the evenings and most houses are outside the centres.

Hannover for the western Harz, about an hour from Goslar and an hour and a half from Braunlage. Leipzig/Halle is better for Thale, Quedlinburg and the eastern side.

The steam train to the Brocken, the Hexentanzplatz cable car at Thale, the suspension bridge at the Rappbode dam, the show caves at Rübeland, summer toboggan runs and the tree-top walk at Bad Harzburg.

Very few. Most homes are holiday flats and wooden or half-timbered houses. Several towns have indoor pools and thermal baths, such as the spa complexes in Altenau and Bad Harzburg.