Weight Loss Retreat at a Medieval Castle in County Limerick, Ireland

FitFarms Ireland is a residential weight loss retreat housed in a medieval castle in County Limerick, dating back to 1280 and recently listed among the top 10 castles in Ireland. The estate covers around 200 acres of countryside, woodland and manicured grounds, with a mile-long entrance road of lime trees running down to the building. Rooms are decorated in neutral colours but keep the castle's original features — large stone entrances, wide hallways and spacious drawing rooms — and look out over the woods and grounds.

A typical day combines guided outdoor exercise with walks and hikes on and around the estate. The countryside surrounding the castle is used for challenging scenic hikes that FitFarms says are manageable for all fitness levels, shapes and sizes, plus outdoor fitness sessions and wellness activities. Alongside the training there's a wide selection of massage therapies available, which matters when you're doing several days of back-to-back activity.

The food side is run as a nutrition programme delivered by a TV health chef, with a calorie-controlled menu designed to produce real fat loss while still being food you'd want to eat. FitFarms promotes a scientifically proven programme with guaranteed weight loss, and reports guests leaving with lower body fat, healthier BMI and lower blood pressure, plus better body confidence.

What separates this from a standard boot camp is the tone. FitFarms explicitly positions itself as a supportive alternative to harsh fat camps: no drill-sergeant routine, more focus on sustainable lifestyle change. That's backed by an optional aftercare programme delivered by an ITV Good Morning health guru, so you leave with a plan rather than just a week's results. FitFarms is the original FitFarms and has been featured on TV and in the press.

One thing to be clear about before booking: as of this listing there are no scheduled Ireland retreats. FitFarms says it looks forward to returning to the castle in future. In the meantime, guests from across Ireland are welcomed at the UK and Europe locations, with £150 offered towards travel costs. If you're specifically set on the castle, it's worth asking FitFarms directly when Ireland dates are coming back.

What's included

- Accommodation in the castle (double bed rooms or shared rooms) - Nutrition programme delivered by a TV health chef - Guided outdoor fitness sessions - Guided countryside hikes suitable for all fitness levels - Woodland walks on the castle estate - Free pickup from Charleville Station in Limerick - Free parking within the castle grounds - Optional aftercare programme - £150 towards travel costs for guests travelling from Ireland - £100 discount on courses booked before 26th September at 10pm (applied to the balance payment)

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional massage therapies - Transport to Charleville Station or Shannon International Airport