I swapped city runs for a countryside ‘run-cation’ — and I’m obsessed

After a great sleep, we woke up early(ish) and planned our first run of the weekend. We wanted to ease in gently, so drove to Ross-on-Wye – a small, picture-perfect town about ten minutes away, full of pastel houses, independent cafés and delis and a river that winds through the centre. I used Strava to map a 5k loop, and it came up with a route that was easy to follow and, thankfully, mostly flat. We jogged past local shops opening for the day, along the river and through quiet streets, chatting the whole way and stopping for photos (obviously). It was relaxed, scenic and the complete opposite of my usual stop-start runs in London – exactly what I’d been craving.

Our run meant we could fully explore the town and take plenty of pictures.

We stopped at a local deli for an post run sweet treat.

We finished at Truffles Delicatessen, which we spotted mid-run, for well-deserved coffee and pastries. Oh, and you can get your sweet treat for free if you either log a run in Strava or you’re staying in an Airbnb nearby – all you have to do is show the app at the counter, and tuck in.

After grabbing some lunch bits from another local deli – focaccia, sausage rolls, tapenade, the works – we headed back to the Airbnb to eat, watch a film, and drink rosé for the rest of the afternoon (the dream) before heading for dinner at The Moody Cow – a nearby pub serving the kind of comforting food that’s perfect for a chilled countryside evening.

After buying some ‘picky bits’ from the town’s local deli, we headed back to the Airbnb for lunch.

We then had a few too many glasses of rosé, watched a film and played board games before heading out for dinner.

On Sunday, while our friends opted for a lie-in, my husband and I planned one last 6k route on Strava straight from the Airbnb. It ended up being hillier than the day before (turns out country roads aren’t as flat as they look), but the views made it worth it. We ran along quiet lanes, past open fields and the little village church, with pheasants darting out in front of us and even a random peacock making an appearance. It was such a change from running in London – no traffic or crowds, just space to actually breathe and connect with nature.

The next day myself and my husband headed out on a 6K which looped around our Airbnb.

It was the perfect way to explore the surrounding area and really connect to nature.

That run reminded me why I ever liked running in the first place – it’s just as good for my mind as it is for my body. I haven’t quite found my routine in London yet, but creators like @marymmccarthy, @misha_grimes and @lucyge0rgia definitely keep me inspired to try harder and find my community. For now, though, escaping to the countryside for a weekend of fresh air, a few miles, and good times with friends feels like exactly what I needed – I’m already looking up where to go next.

Looking to up your running game? You can purchase annual strava subscription for £54.99, however if you’re a student, you can currently get 50% off making it just £27.49 per year.