The Pond of Holay Natural Reserve

A short distance over Pont-Saint-Martin, in a collected basin, you will find the small Pond of Holay. The protected area is of particular interest because it preserves plants of great value, such as the Water Purslane and the Scorpion grass Forget-me-not, a true rarity at regional level. The pond of Holay was established in 1993 as a Natural Reserve for its great naturalistic richness. Particularly fascinating is the panoramic view over Pont-Saint-Martin.

Activites

  • Hiking

    You can reach the Pond on foot in just a few minutes from the parking lot at the entrance of the site.
    All itineraries are described in the TRAILS section.

Discover the site

The best seasons to visit the Reserve are spring and autumn. The Reserve can be reached by car or on foot, starting from Ivery or Pont-Saint-Martin. The site can be visited exclusively on foot, and it is recommended to stay within the marked trails in order to discover the natural richness and respect the environment. Due to the very modest dimensions of the site, it is recommended to limit the number of visitors to a maximum of 20 persons, and to enjoy the guided tour given by our qualified personnel.


Behavioural conduct rules

We remind you that you can contribute to the preservation of these sites by following these simple rules:

visit the natural reserve on foot, avoid using motorized vehicles, boating equipment, hang-gliders, para-gliders or similar; mountain bikes and horseback riding are permitted only in specific authorized areas (external to the site): please respect hikers;

please stay within the marked trails, as trampling can ruin the fragile grass and undergrowth areas;

osserva da lontano gli animali selvaticiplease observe wild animals from a distance, do not capture them, do not disturb them nor feed them, and do not photograph occupied nests;

keep your dog on a leash and on the marked trails;

do not pick minerals or flowers;

do not make fires;

please bring your garbage, where you will find many recyclable waste-collection points.

How to get there

By car

From Pont-Saint-Martin, take the regional road towards Gressoney for about 2 km, then turn right following directions to Ivery. It is possible to park at Holay in a very small lot (max. 2 cars), where you will find the entrance panel to the Reserve.

By bus

There is 1 stop in the hamlet of Ivery, which runs only once a day. If you do not have a car, it is best to use public transportation to get to Pont - Saint-Martin, and from there reach the site on foot.

Accessibility codification of sites

VIVA has chosen to supply everyone – youngsters, adults, the elderly and the disabled – with all the sites’ information so as to allow the visitor to choose a destination in an autonomous way.
An “Accessibility Codification”has thus been defined.


The Pond of Holay Natural Reserve

Information to reach the site 0
Accessibility from main roads 1
Parking for the disabled 0
Accessible restrooms 0
Information panels 2
Slopes (max 8%) 0
Trail width (min 90cm) 0
Road surface 0
Resting areas approx every 10 m 0
Safety and protection of trails 1
Periodic maintenance 1

GENERAL INDICATIONS – ASSESSMENT VALUES (0 ÷ 3):
0 corresponds to ABSENCE of the indicated parameter;
3 corresponds to the PRESENCE of the indicated parameter, in optimal condition;
1 – 2 are INTERMEDIATE VALUES: in general, they indicate the presence of the parameter which must however be improved (1 = sufficient, 2 = close to optimal)

Paths

More paths :

VIVA suggests:

Average path

Pont Saint Martin - Stagno Holay

  • Elevation gain : 445 m
  • Travel time: 1h circa
  • Signposting: 2

What to see:

Period:

Easy trails: routes that present no major technical difficulties or too challenging slopes. They can be covered in full or in small sections, allowing in both cases to come into contact with unspoilt nature, discovering its pace and balance …

Medium difficult trails: routes that can be covered in a day, varying considerably in terms of height differences and technical difficulty; the benefit is in being able to reach wildlife destinations of great impact.

Long trails: excursions lasting several days which provide for stopover places and catering along the route.

cartina The Pond of Holay Natural Reserve

SIC SIC IT1203060

Municipality: Pont-Saint-Martin

Surface: 3 ha

Altitude: 767 ÷ 775 m s.l.m.

Responsible forest station:
Pont-Saint-Martin

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