Hillmotts Fitness Bootcamps

Negative experience: Emailed them a few weeks ago and had no reply. I attended a weekend in the Cotswolds (although you would know it because it’s in a village and the exercise is in a dance studio with zero time in the countryside). The programme includes classes which are the same as you get at a gym and equal standard (they are quite good, just a lot more expensive. My local gyms sell them for £5 or £40 for monthly membership). Saturday finished at 2.30 and then there is a “walk” which is along the pavement next to the road past the co-op (not scenic). Sunday exercise finished at 12.10 even though we had paid until 4.30. We were told me we could make our own way to Blenheim palace by car for a walk if we wanted to. The food is pretty good and Chloe does well to balance cooking and teaching classes. There was no nutrition talk. I did a Hillmotts weekend in the Peak District (which was excellent) ten years ago and that had 1 hour detailed nutrition talk led by a trained nutritionist and we got some info emailed to us afterwards. I wasn’t sent anything this time. And there was no talk. One of the girls just came in and asked if we had any questions. That is not a talk. Also there was no yoga or Pilates and the website said there would be. There is lots of downtime. Often the classes finish earlier than the schedule (commonly 20 mins early in my experience) so you get 1hour 20 min breaks. It depends what you want. If you don’t exercise currently and want to go for few weeks, go for it - you’ll lose weight. If you are thinking of a weekend - Don’t waste your money, you can get the same if you book 2-3 gym classes a day on a weekend and go for a walk. The reason for the 1 star review though is that they are charging for a 2.5 day exercise program which includes driving yourself to a location to go on a non-guided walk on your own on the Sunday (Ie you can do that for free!) and when I’ve emailed to ask about why we pay for that, the organisation didn’t care enough to reply.

Positive experience: The workouts were fantastic but the place itself needs a huge amount of work doing to it. The accommodation is hostel like so if you’re going purely for the fitness then you’ll love the stay! The girls working there are lovely as well.

Fantastic experience: Very nice place for the price. It's a healthy lifestyle perfect for those who like me want to make a change but not with the stress that other military bootcamps bring to your personal wellbeing. Very nice.

Fantastic experience: I have now attended three Hilmots Fitness Camps. My goals were to lose body fat, kick start a healthier routine, and have the funds to spend time on myself. When I went to my first camp, I was somewhat out of shape. Covid lockdowns had affected me mentally and Physically. I was very nervous going to my first camp as I thought everyone would be fit, and I would struggle. I've also had negative experiences with PT's at Gyms and the hardcore shouts a lot of types. However, as I pulled up and started to gather my bags from my car, I was greeted with a big warm 'Hello, welcome! It is great to have you here' Chloe, the fitness manager at Hilmots, was incredibly friendly and approachable. She is not only a fantastic host, but is very knowledgeable and full of really great actionable tips. She does make the experience feel like a home away from home. Chloe and the team make sure the meals are delicious and nutritious, and I have not yet had a bad meal. The food is enough to fuel you whilst ensuring a calorie deficit. The only tip I would give is that you may want to bring a couple of protein shakes, depending on your goals. I haven't so far, but I know my partner had one each day. The two trainers I have had at Hilmots were Meg and Sam. Meg is very athletic and does a lot of weight training, which was great for me as she has a wealth of knowledge. When Meg is leading a session, she does so with incredible energy. She is very clear and gives direction well. I particularly liked how she demonstrated multiple options for each exercise to suit the different fitness levels and experiences. This ensures everyone can work to their maximum in the session. Sam (Female) is an experienced trainer who can pass on realistic and actionable advice that can be utilized once you leave camp. She is incredibly knowledgeable about health and wellness as a whole (exercise, nutrition, etc.). As a trainer, Sam is inspiring. She utilizes her wealth of knowledge to adapt each session to the individuals in the group regardless of fitness level or injury. But beware, she takes no-nonsense, and you will for sure leave the session knowing you have put in your best effort. The Vibe in camp is always positive among guests, and I have been lucky enough to make friends each time I visit. If I could give some advice to anyone hesitant or nervous it would be just do it, don’t worry about where you are at fitness/ weight wise. Just think about where you want to be. My second tip would be when you are at camp be at camp. Take part in everything, follow the guidelines, take notes, make a plan for after camp, and make the most of it. This will give you maximum lasting results. Overall, I enjoyed the camp, and I am looking forward to my next opportunity to visit. I would 100% recommend this camp.

Fantastic experience: The trainers are amazing, Chloe, Bex, Sam and Met really worked us hard, will certainly be back once I've recovered

Fantastic experience: Just had 6 great days at hillmotts in the cotswolds. Great staff, good food, plenty of exercise and fun

Fantastic experience: Fitness instructors/chefs were simply amazing. So knowledgeable, supportive and enthusiastic. Loads of variety, great fun but really hard work. Great way to kick start a new regime. Building needs some investment to ensure everyone can shower at the same time but great facility and location. Nice evening walk to the shops to get bits you may have forgotten. Sports masseus was unreal! So funny!