Sometimes it just feels to hot to exercise but you still want to keep fit, so here are my tips, tried and tested at the Olive Press in Greece where summer arrived early and temperatures have been consistently over 30C [86F].

If you’re escaping rain-sodden UK for two weeks in the sun, it’s all too tempting to just flop on the beach. But if you’re used to exercising you’ll feel more energised at the end of your holiday when you mix activity and relaxation.

1.  Just chill out for a couple of days while you acclimatise, over-indulge and catch up on some reading. Slap on the high factor sun cream more often than you think you need and sit under a shady beach umbrella.  

Why: pre-holiday stress will melt away, you’ll really feel like you’re on holiday, and avoid sunburn. Ease into more active days and let your body get used to a new environment.

2.  Get up earlier and go for a run or walk in the cool of the morning – I’m not too good at this but I always enjoy it when I do. It doesn’t have to be crack of dawn unless you’re a natural early bird, a 7.30 or 8.00 am start is fine. Give yourself extra shade by wearing a hat and sunglasses.

Why: not only will you feel a pleased with yourself but it will be cooler and you’ll enjoy your activity more. You could go for a longer walk, discover the area and finish in time for lunch.

The Sunflower series of books [http://sunflowerbooks.co.uk] are a great source of walks in popular holiday areas. There’s a good one for the southern Peloponnese which includes routes in the Mani.  It's due to be reprinted in 2008 but can still be found in some retailers, or buy as a CD online.

3.  Ok, you don’t do ‘early’ on holiday … so pick your route – go down tree-lined lanes, hug the shade of buildings, find a breezy coast or ridge path and rest under shady trees. This sounds obvious but it’s amazing how often I have to remind friends to do this. And take plenty of water or your favourite sports drink to sip along the way.

Why: make it easy on yourself; you’ll still get hot but taking opportunities to keep your temperature down will mean that you’ll tire less quickly and enjoy the scenery. Taking in fluids is essential – my preference is for sports drinks. By rehydrating and replacing the minerals you lose through sweat, they do seem to quench your thirst better. Find a powder one that suits you and bring it to dilute - choice can be limited or non-existant in holiday destinations.

4.  Take a pair of adjustable poles and try Nordic walking as an alternative to running or ordinary walking.

Why: you exerercise 90% of your muscles but it feels like a lot less effort, the poles will help you get up hills and I enjoy it more than running when it’s hot. You can Nordic walk for 1 hour and use up as many calories as you would in an 1.5 hours of normal walking. Click for more information on Nordic walking.

5.  Supplement swimming with running, walking or your favourite exercise routine in the sea; wear goggles and see the fish at the same time.

Why: water provides resistance so you get a refreshing, low impact workout that increases your heart rate and gently builds strength. I find exercising in the sea more fun but pool running is a good alternative, although you may need buoyancy aids to help you in deeper water.

If you’re short-sighted [or long-sighted or astigmatic], discover the underwater world with a pair of low-cost prescription goggles from http://www.gosportsspex.co.uk/ - the Gator goggles are one of my best buys ever.

Have fun and enjoy your holiday, and let me know if you have any good tips to share.