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Country Runs
Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, County Wicklow, IrelandThe 1740-vintage Palladian home of the then-Viscount Powerscourt comes with 1,000 acres of land. To start a three-mile run through the neighboring village of Enniskerry you head along the hotel's main drive, flanked by over 1,000 beech trees - even the roads on the way to the village are tree-lined. Afterwards, relax in the 65-foot indoor pool, its hot tub or the hammam with drench showers. www.powerscourt.ie |   |
A four-mile run from the hotel - set in a 500-acre rolling estate - takes you past Tundry pond, to pick up the Basingstoke Canal, dug in 1798 to be out of sight of what was then the Mildmay family home. After running back over Sprat's Hatch Bridge, perhaps swim in the hotel's Olympic-sized conservatory pool, and plan the rest of the day's activities (say riding, tennis, croquet, clay pigeon shooting or coarse fishing). www.fourseasons.com | |
No maps are needed for this 600-acre island - from your villa, which faces one of the east beaches, head down to the reception area and turn right to head through wooded gentle hills to West Beach. You may well pass one of the resort's renowned yard-long tortoises, said to be over a hundred years old. If you still feel energetic, climb Congement mini-mountain, ideally with a naturalist to explain the island's unique flora and fauna. www.north-island.com | |
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You are only ten minutes from a non-restored part of the Great Wall but as a guest of this unique 46-room Kempinski hotel, which has been designed by 12 different architects, you have access to 650 feet of it (though you will be doing more climbing steps than traditional running). After the exertion, you can recover with a relaxing treatment in the Anantara Spa. www.kempinski-thegreatwall.com | |
Our favorite run here is along the Waikato River, over the Huka Falls and into Wairakei National Park. The maximum recommended run is six miles one way, but you can turn back at any time (alternatively, borrow one of the 23-room resort's silver Avanti bicycles). Afterwards, enjoy breakfast family-style, prepared in the open-kitchen leading off the hallway of the main lodge. www.hukalodge.co.nz | |
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Westin Trillium House, Blue Mountain, Ontario, CanadaAt this year-round resort, take the boardwalk to the village but turn left towards Grand Central Lodge and up Trail C, which leads you to The Bruce Trail, which hugs the escarpment to give stunning views of Lake Huron's Georgian Bay (return by gondola if you are tired!). The 222-room resort has amazing heated outdoor pools - swim in the snow - and a great Oliver&Bonacini Grill. www.westinbluemountain.com | |
The favorite four-mile run here takes you through the Arnold Palmer golf course, past the fishing pond and meanders along a newly launched nature trail. Built in 1912, this Orient-Express hotel has 600 acres of rolling grounds, and offers a range of activities, including tennis, swimming in the Olympic-sized outdoor pool and Orbis fishing on James and Moorman's Rivers in Albemarle County. www.keswick.com | |
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