The tester
Jane Dunford: 'My aim was to increase the range of my current exercise regime from yoga and the odd swim, to learn something new that doesn't involve being in a gym and to motivate myself for winter.'
The lowdown
'"Mind the rabbit holes," shouts personal trainer (and Natural Perspectives founder) Oliver Roberts, as we set off for our morning run. We've just warmed up in a beautiful meadow and the scenery is taking my mind off the fact that the longest jog I've managed in the past five years was a 12-minute lap of my local park. We're at Natural Retreats, an eco resort set in 54 acres of gorgeous Swaledale countryside, with chic, eco-friendly lodges, all glass fronted, grass roofed and cleverly designed to blend in with the surrounds. There are six of us, ranging in age from 20s to 50s, all of differing fitness levels.
'The weekend retreat kicks off late on Friday with a briefing and run around the site. Be warned — there are killer hills to tackle, but the views are great from the top (even if you can't breathe when you get there).
'I look at the itinerary for Saturday with trepidation. It's jam-packed with runs, a core strength session, an upper body training session, and outdoor activity trails — all rounded off with a two-and-a-half hour walk.
'Somehow, though, the day passes quickly (and not too painfully). The novelty of doing press-ups outdoors on a bench make them (almost) fun, and the walk through fields of sheep and along the river in the late afternoon sun is gorgeous.
'Besides all the exercise, we're given useful fitness and nutrition tips along the way. And the food's another big plus — our lodges come stocked with an organic goodie bag of eggs, cheeses, cereals and bread for making our own breakfast and evenings are spent eating wholesome nosh together (the odd glass of wine is allowed).
'It all comes to an end on Sunday after a morning session. Aching though I am, I'm sad to leave.'
The result
'I'm amazed to find that I actually quite like running — and despite the aching limbs, I do resolve to exercise in the fresh air more often. I come away with some great fitness tips (and laminated sheets of exercises to follow, too). The only downside is the retreat feels quite short.'
The cost
Weekends start from £419 per person including all personal training, food, drinks, T-shirt and accommodation. natural-perspectives.co.uk, naturalretreats.co.uk.
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