Nordic walking in Nottinghamshire

A walk in the Park

Nordic walking – which originated in Finland in the 1930s – is far more popular with our European neighbours than it is with us here in the UK. However, there are many groups up and down the country meeting on a regular basis, adding a social element for those who prefer to exercise their jaws as well as their legs, tums, core and shoulders. 

Go to Clumber Park Club site

One such group meets at the National Trust’s Clumber Park every week but you can access a nationwide directory of groups and instructors at britishnordicwalking.org.uk. 

Walk this way

After booking a place in advance (a session costs £6, including pole hire and induction) I met the group in the main car park and was measured up for my poles.

My induction started with how to maintain the correct posture, and learning about a whole new kind of ‘A-frame’. Nothing to do with the drawbar on the front of your caravan and everything to do with using your body to mimic a capital ‘A’ as opposite pole and leg work together.

In a nutshell, you use the poles to propel you forward and assist with core stability. It’s a bit like being on a cross-trainer, only this ‘gym’ is the glorious outdoors.

Stepping out

Soon it was time for the walk to start – a two-mile circuit taking in Clumber Park’s beautiful lake. There were 17 of us altogether and, after a warm-up led by Christine, we set off. 

The next hour was spent exercising, enjoying the fresh air, drinking in the views, absorbing the woodland sounds and smells and swapping caravanning stories with new-found friends. I would recommend anyone who enjoys walking to give the Nordic version a go.