AFTER experiencing a British military boot camp in the Brecon Beacons last October reporter I asks why should women have to travel out of North Wales to achieve the body of their dreams when we have all the facilities right here on our doorstep?
Women in the region could soon have the opportunity of dropping a dress size after two prominent local businesses are looking at developing a North Wales weight-loss boot camp.
Each week hundreds of women, including celebrities like singer Michelle Heaton and Jade Goody, travel as far as Devon and South Wales in a bid to lose weight and develop a new exercise and healthy eating regime. And after spending a week at the famed British military New You Boot Camp last year, I saw first hand how women of all ages and backgrounds were prepared to pay up to and over £1,000 each to be put through their paces military-style, but why travel out of North Wales for the experience when we have similar facilities right here on our door step.
So last weekend I invited some of the girls I met at boot camp to North Wales to sample what our green and pleasant land has to offer. I teamed up with three local businesses- Slaters Nissan, Abergele, Tree Top Adventures, Betws-y-Coed and the Quay Hotel and Spa, Deganwy, to provide my guests with an action-packed, luxury weekend.
The girls stayed at the Quay Hotel and Spa in Deganwy who supplied twin rooms at the five star location for £70 per night with 25% off spa treatments, which the girls took full advantage of soothing their aching limbs after each day of activity.
The Hotel's Operations Director Tony Riley commented: "The Quay Hotel and Spa has made it a priority to establish itself as a fantastic venue in which to enjoy a number of outdoor pursuits, such as sailing, hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, tree top walking etc.
"We are perfectly positioned to develop a boot camp package."
Local businessman Sean Taylor agrees saying there is a gap in the market for this kind of healthy holiday package.
"I will definitely be looking into working with the Quay Hotel to develop a package for women who want to lose weight," said Sean.
"At Tree Top Adventure its not just the rope walk, we do gouge walking, abseiling, hill walking, bush craft, anything goes.
"There is definitely a gap in the market for this kind of holiday here- we have all the facilities to provide women with a pound busting experience."
As well as taking the girls on a gruelling walk up Mount Snowdon they also enjoyed an afternoon grappling the Tree Top Adventure rope course in Betws-y-Coed and I ferried them around in the lap of luxury in a brand new seven seater Nissan Qashqai supplied by Slaters Nissan in Abergele.

Mother of two, Michele Curtis travelled from Suffolk for the reunion. She lost 5lbs at boot camp. "It was great seeing the girls again and to see everyone's kept up their fitness and healthy eating regimes since October," she said.
"I've loved it in North Wales, the rope walk was a real challenge but also a lot of fun and I don't think I would have ever contemplated walking up Snowdon before boot camp. It doesn't just change you physically but mentally too, for the better."
Businesswoman and mother of three Helen MacAndrews is from Berkshire. She said the hotel's spa was a godsend. "Thank goodness for the spa to help ease our aching limbs.
"It has been a great weekend, North Wales has so much to offer. Although my arms are now a few inches longer after the rope walk," said Helen, 48.
Sam Stanger, 31 from London has travelled all over the world. "I lost a whooping 7lbs at boot camp, I think these holidays are a great idea for women trying to lose weight."

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