Riding with the cowboys on a Mexico ranch
A stay at a ranch 50 miles south of the US border in Mexico offers Vicky Baker an exciting and active holiday, at a lot less than the cost of an American dude ranch
Gruel to be kind: a hardcore detox break in Austria
Harriet Green checks into a detox clinic in Austria. A week later, she's lost only half a pound and been really bored – but she's truly sorry to leave
A yoga retreat in the Scottish Highlands
A routine of yoga, outdoor bathing and siestas at a new Scottish eco-lodge leaves Isabel Choat blissfully relaxed – even with a two-year-old in tow
Test yourself … new cycling, running and swimming challenges
Tough challenges – from an ultra-run along Hadrian's Wall to a quadrathlon in Poland
Tri, and try again – the Lake District’s toughest triathlon
The Ullswater area of the Lake District is Kevin Rushby's favourite place in the world. But will he still love it after tackling the notoriously gruelling Helvellyn Triathlon?
Ireland’s seaweed spa
Spa retreats don't have to cost a fortune. At a century-old seaweed bathhouse in north-west Ireland, Nick Fisher dunks for a day for €25
Snowboarding and spa treatments in Tuscany
An indulgent snowboarding and spa break in Tuscany lets Catherine Nelson and her sister hit the slopes before recovering and 'taking the waters'
The rise of the ultramarathon
Thought Olympians were tough? Susan Greenwood meets a growing band of runners whose idea of a holiday is tackling ultramarathons and other extreme races
Top 10 activity holidays in Europe
Surf, swim, bike or hike your way across some of Europe's finest coast and countryside with Susan Greenwood's pick of activity holidays