Rachel Dixon 

Best foot forward: running holidays in Britain and Europe

Pounding pavements is dull. Be inspired on a trip that takes you running in beautiful scenery
  
  

Running spain
Try a running holiday in the Spanish countryside. Photograph: Anthony West/Corbis Photograph: Anthony West/Corbis

Run Snowdonia, Wales

Runners and mountaineers Sarah and Iain Ridgway offer guided fell-running weekends in Snowdonia. Forget dull pavement-pounding; the Welsh mountain air will breathe new life into your training, and you'll learn navigation and route-planning, too. You can even take your dog: there's a "cani-cross" weekend in June.

• £140pp including two nights' bunkhouse accommodation, classroom sessions and guided runs; 01286 872641, runsnowdonia.co.uk

Running the Highlands, Scotland

Run Across Scotland is a guided tour from Inverness to the Isle of Skye through beautiful scenery. Your luggage is transported each day, leaving you free to run unencumbered.

• £750pp including five nights' full-board at three-star hotels; 08451 577422, runningthehighlands.com

Tri-Topia, France

Tri-Topia runs triathlon training holidays that teach you to "swim efficient, bike hard, and run tough", albeit in a bucolic setting near Poitiers with an emphasis on holiday, rather than hardcore bootcamp.

• From around £534pp for an uncoached week to £668pp for a structured training week, including full board in a renovated farmhouse; +33 254 286731, tri-topia.com

La Chantellerie, France

Casual runners may prefer a break in this luxury gîte in the Dordogne. The owners provide detailed maps of runs in the rolling countryside. You can also keep fit in the gym and salt-water pool, or explore by bike.

• Gîte sleeping six from £350 a week; +33 553 551845, lachantellerie.com.

Running Challenge, Algarve

The Algarve Challenge holiday on 3 September involves five races on consecutive days: a 16km woodland trail, a 5km beach run, a 10km coastal run, a one-mile boardwalk run and a half-marathon on road. There are prizes for stage and overall winners.

• £580pp for seven nights' full-board accommodation (except two dinners); 07970 189785, embracesports.co.uk

Trail Run Spain

Prepare for an ultra-marathon on a trail running break in Andalucia, through mountain, forest and desert, learning to cope with altitude and heat.

• From around £350pp for four nights, including half-board at a rural hotel; +34 958 36 3766, trailrunspain.com

 

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