For many people walking is the ideal way to enjoy the great outdoors while keeping fitness levels topped up. But did you know that Nordic walking burns 46% more calories than ordinary walking? This was news to Club member Andrew Ditton until he decided to give it a try during a stay at Clumber Park Club site in Nottinghamshire.
By Andrew Ditton | 27 Dec 2018 
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.
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.
