The tester
Bryony Coleman: 'I was keen to take my exercise regime a little further and to have a luxury holiday that involved eating well without putting on weight.'
The lowdown
'Fitscape is the antidote to hardship. Its owners very clearly state that it's "no boot camp" and they're not wrong. The exercise is so seamlessly woven into the day that it becomes a pleasure, not a chore. It's a clever idea. You eat exceptionally well (albeit healthily) and then work it off with a manageable regime of hiking, circuit training, yoga, martial arts, running and cycling. And lots and lots of stretching.
'Fitscape hosts weeks in Italy and Spain, but my destination was Provence and a turreted fairy-tale castle, Château de Robernier, dating back to the 16th century. The five-star bedrooms and bathrooms are vast and regal (some bathrooms are shared and single occupiers pay a supplement), the public spaces opulent and plentiful. Joining a wonderfully eclectic group of men and women, some in couples, some single, some fit and young, some (OK, me) less so and older, everyone had their own agenda for coming away, but the general agreement was that it was a wonderful way to eat three delicious meals a day (and snacks in between) and still manage to tone, re-energise and boost fitness levels.
'The only danger for me was that the onus is on guests to manage their own portion control, which proved particularly challenging with the sumptuous buffet-style breakfasts and the plentiful supply of the Château's own delicious (and reasonably priced) rosé wine in the evenings.
'Three enthusiastic and dedicated trainers and an on-site masseuse joined us for meals in the orangery and held classes as well as a one-on-one training session to help us to work on particular weaknesses (triceps, abs and chocolate, in this case). It really was all good: fun group activities in the grounds, free time reading by the pool or, indeed, swimming in it, hiking amidst the vineyards, and everything suffused with the smells of thyme, pine and lavender.'
The result
'I left with a healthy glow and the knowledge that I'd never felt better — or better fed.'
The cost
Fitscape holidays cost from £1,495 per person including accommodation for seven nights, transfers for recommended flights, all meals and drinks and physical fitness activities. Massages extra. fitscape.co.uk
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