Designed to be a fun and relaxing holiday for those who would like to lose some weight but can’t get started or haven’t had much success, Devon Activity Holidays is based on our charming old cottages on a former dairy farm in the middle of the peaceful Devon countryside. The cottages were awarded 4 stars on a recent inspection by Visit Britain (formerly the English Tourist Board).

We put together groups of six or seven like-minded people who spend a week under the guidance of our qualified personal trainer Steve Smeeth learning our tried and tested weight-loss system and using the cottage kitchens each day to prepare healthy meals.

We’ll get you started on your way to getting to your optimum weight. We’ll guarantee that if you follow our programme for a week you’ll lose a minimum of 2lb towards your weight loss target. Then you’ll go home in the knowledge that you can lose weight - you know how to do it, having already made a giant step towards your goal. You’ll take home a 3-month plan to follow to achieve your ultimate goal.

Each client goes away with an individually designed programme that suits their needs taking into consideration current lifestyle, nutritional intake, working hours, body composition (height, weight, BMI and body fat) and flexibility. These are safe and effective programmes designed to be varied and interesting and taking into account the time you have available to exercise and your likes and dislikes. They are structured, progressive and monitored to suit your lifestyle, needs and ambitions.

As part of the programme we’ll be visiting local places of interest which the group can choose, such as Tintagel Castle, connected with the King Arthur legend, Boscastle, Clovelly (a preserved original fishing village), Lifton Gorge and Padstow (Cornish fishing village, home of Rick Stein). Guests can also choose to visit the Eden Project.

Walking will include the long sandy beach at Widemouth Bay, alongside the Tamar and Roadford lakes, on the edge of Dartmoor at Burrator, on Exmoor at Roughtor and in Cookworthy Forest.

Cycling will be along the estuary following the old (flat) railway line from Wadebridge to Padstow and along the Tarka Trail (another fairly flat railway line) from Torrington to Bideford.

None of the activities will be especially strenuous – the emphasis is on gentle exercise among beautiful scenery with stunning views.