Nordic Walking is an enhancement of ordinary walking. When trained in the right technique to use the poles effectively, it increases use of the upper body and enables you to work harder but it feels easier! The poles reduce the pressure on knees and joints, so it's an ideal physical activity if you have neck, shoulder and back problems and good for the heart and lungs.  

Nordic Walking activities

Get into Nordic Walking

With the support from a Nordic Walking instructor, these courses will help you master the basics and improve your Nordic Walking technique. You will learn something new and understand how to develop your technique, giving you the all-round benefits, this activity provides. 

Cost

Courses are £15 per person. 

Timetable of courses for 2025

Dates of courses at Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre, BH24 2ET:
Date Time
Monday 27 January  10am to 11:30am
Thursday 27 February  10am to 11:30am
Wednesday 14 May 10:30am to midday
Wednesday 18 June 6pm to 7:30pm
Monday 14 July 10am to 11:30am
Saturday 19 July 11:15am to 12:45pm
Saturday 27 September 11:15am to 12:45pm

 

 

Dates of courses at Kingston Lacy House, Wimborne, BH21 4EA:
Date Time
Tuesday 4 February  11:30am to 1pm
Tuesday 18 March  11:30am to 1pm
Tuesday 27 May 11:30am to 1pm
Tuesday 30 September 11:30am to 1pm

 

Dates of courses at Charmouth Recreation Field, Charmouth, DT6 6PS:

Date Time
Wednesday 12 February 1pm to 2:30pm
Monday 7 April  5:30pm to 7pm
Wednesday 11 June 1pm to 2:30pm
Friday 19 September 1pm to 2:30pm
Thursday 13 November 9:30am to 11am

 

Dates of courses at Bridport Football Club Car Park, Bridport, DT6 5LA:

Date Time
Thursday 16 January  9:30am to 11am
Friday 21 March  1pm to 2:30pm
Tuesday 13 May 5:30pm to 7pm
Thursday 10 July 9:30am to 11am
Wednesday 22 October 1pm to 2:30pm
Tuesday 9 December 1pm to 2:30pm

 

Dates of courses at Sika Trail car park, Wareham Forest, BH20 7PE:

Date Time
Sunday 2 February  9:30am to 11am
Sunday 16 March  10:45am to 12:15pm
Sunday 1 June 10:45am to 12:15pm
Sunday 21 September 10:45am to 12:15pm

 

Dates of courses at Stour Meadows car park, Blandford Forum, DT11 9LS:

Date Time
Wednesday 7 May 6pm to 7:30pm
Saturday 10 May 9:30am to 11am

 

Complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

To attend a Get into Nordic session please complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.

1:1 Get into Nordic Courses

If you would rather a 1 to 1 session with a qualified Nordic Walking instructor then we can offer these on a bespoke basis. Please email your interest and we will be in touch to arrange a time and day to suit. 1 to 1 courses are charged at £30 per person for an hour session. 

Free Nordic Walking tasters

With a qualified instructor, these free tasters offering the chance to experience walking with poles and to see if this would be an activity for you.

Timetable for Nordic tasters for 2025; 

Dates of tasters at Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre, BH24 2ET:

Date Time
Thursday 23 January  10am to 10:45am
Tuesday 25 March  1:30pm to 2:15pm
Wednesday 11 June  6pm to 6:45pm
Wednesday 10 September 10am to 10:45am

 

Dates of tasters at Potterne Park, Verwood, BH21 6RS:

Date Time
Monday 20 January  10am to 10:45am
Thursday 13 February  10am to 10:45am
Thursday 18 September 10am to 10:45am

 

Dates of tasters at Kingston Lacy House, Wimborne, BH21 4EA:

Date Time
Tuesday 28 January  11:30am to 12:15pm
Tuesday 11 March  11:30am to 12:15pm
Tuesday 20 May 10am to 10:45am
Tuesday 23 September 10am to 10:45am

 

Dates of taster at Bridport Football Club car park, Bridport, DT6 5LA:

Date Time
Wednesday 19 March  12pm to 12:45pm
Wednesday 25 June 12pm to 12:45pm
Wednesday 1 October 12pm to 12:45pm

 

Dates of tasters at Sika Trail car park, Wareham Forest, BH20 7PE:

Date Time
Sunday 26 January  9:30am to 10:15am
Tuesday 11 March  2pm to 2:45pm

 

Dates of tasters at Fryers Field Recreation Ground, West Moors, BH22 0LJ:

Date Time
Wednesday 7 May 2pm to 2:45pm
Friday 11 July 10am to 10:45am

 

Poles are provided for the duration of the session and free car parking at all locations. To book a free place, call 01425 480811.

Complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

To attend a Nordic taster session please complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.

 

Back to Health Nordic Walks - starting from January 2025

A weekly Nordic Walk to help improve your wellbeing, combining gentle walking with poles, balance and exercises. The session will incorporate a warm up. and cool down with a 30 minute walk around the forest or lake.

Cost

Back to Health Nordic walks are £4.75 per person.

You must have completed a Get into Nordic Walking course prior to attending the walks. Please note sessions do not go ahead during Dorset School holidays.

Timetable of Back to Health Walks

Location Day Time
Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre Wednesdays (exclude Dorset School holidays) 10am to 10:45am

To book call Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre on 01425 480811. 

Complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

To attend a Back to Health Walk please complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire.

Nordic Wellness Walks 

A gentle Nordic Walk incorporating mobility exercises to help with flexibility, balance and strength whilst using your poles to improve your general fitness. These sessions are suitable for those who are starting at a lower level of fitness, so perfect for beginners. 

Cost

Weekly wellness walks are £5 per person.

You must have completed a Get into Nordic Walking course prior to attending the wellness walks. 

Timetable of Wellness Walks

Dates of Wellness Walks:
Location Day Time
Moors Valley Country Park Mondays 10am to 11am
Kingston Lacy House  Tuesdays 10am to 11am
The Angel Inn, Ferndown Wednesdays 11am to midday

 

Nordic Workout Walks

These one hour walks are designed to help you improve your fitness levels and get noticeable results. Combining technique, gradients, terrain, and exercises, these sessions will help develop your fitness, endurance and speed.

Cost

Weekly workout walks are £5 per person or you can use a subscription. The Cranborne Nordic walk is £6 per person.

You must have completed a Get into Nordic Walking course prior to attending the workout walks.

Timetable of Workout Walks:
Location Day Time
Moors Valley Country Park Mondays 9:45am to 10:45am
Kingston Lacy House, Wimborne  Tuesdays 10am to 11am
Moors Valley Country Park Fridays 9:45am to 10:45am
Cranborne Garden Centre, Cranborne  Fridays 10am to 11:30am
Moors Valley Country Park Saturdays 10am to 11am

Nordic Explorer Walks  

These longer walks take between 2 to 2.5 hours and start in 3 different locations. They are more challenging and are between 8 and 11km in distance and can include more strenuous terrain.

Cost

Nordic explorer walks are £5.25 per person or you can use your subscription. 

You must have completed a Get into Nordic Walking course prior to attending the explorer walks. 

Timetable of Explorer Walks for 2025:

Location Date Time
Pamphill Green car park, Wimborne Thursday 20 March 10:30am to 12:30pm
Holt Heath Hayters Farm, Rowe Hill, BH21 7EB Thursday 24 April 10:30am to 12:30pm
Garston Wood, Sixpenny Handley, SP5 5PA Thursday 15 May 10:30am to 12:30pm
Hod and Hambledon Hill, Stourpaine, DT11 8TJ Thursday 19 June 10:30am to 12:30pm
Wimborne St Giles Village Hall, BH21 5LX Thursday 18 September 10:30am to 12:30pm
Kingston Lacy, Wimborne, BH21 4EA Thursday 23 October 10:30am to 12:30pm

To book call Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre on 01425 480811. 

Nordic Special Events

Offering something different to our regular walks, these walks will add interesting and fun additions to our programme. These walks are suitable for the competent Nordic walker and you must have completed a Get into Nordic course prior to attending.

Timetable of Nordic special events for 2025:

Early riser Nordic Walks at Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre. £5.25 per person or use your subscription

Date Time
Sunday 5 January 7:45am to 8:45am
Sunday 18 May 7:30am to 8.30am
Sunday 20 July  7:30am to 8.30am

 

Night Nordic Walks at Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre. £5.25 per person or use your subscription

Date Time
Thursday 6 February 6pm to 7pm
Thursday 11 September 7pm to 8pm
Thursday 6 November 6pm to 7pm

 

Winter Warmer Nordic Walk at Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre. £5.25 per person or use your subscription

Date Time
Sunday 7 December 7:45am to 8:45am

 

Sunrise Nordic Walk at Ferndown Forest Golf Club. £6.25 per person.

Date Time
Sunday 2 March 6:20am to 7.50am
Sunday 12 October  6:45am to 8:15am

 

Sunset Nordic Walk at Ferndown Forest Golf Club. £6.25 per person.

Date Time
Thursday 3 April 7pm to 8.30pm

 

Summer Evening Nordic Walk at Ferndown Forest Golf Club. £5.25 per person or use your subscription

Date Time
Thursday 26 June 7pm to 8pm

 

To book call Moors Valley Country Park, Golf and Activity Centre on 01425 480811. 

Make a booking

Booking is essential for all sessions listed below. 

You can book online for any of our Nordic Walking activities. 

Start now

You may also book by calling the Health and Activity Team on 01425 480811.

Costs

Costs vary for different activities and are listed below. 

Subscriptions

If you are going on regular walks, make it cheaper by purchasing our Nordic Walking subscription. Buy 11 sessions for the price of 10 for £50. This subscription can be used for any of the listed walks, except the Nordic Specials.

If you attend the Cranborne walk on Fridays then you can purchase a subscription for 10 sessions for £60.

Terms and conditions apply. 

Nordic Walking instructors

Our team are looking for experienced British Nordic Walking instructors to support and set up Nordic Walks across the Dorset Council area. 

To express your interest please email healthandactivity@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk with:

  • your full name
  • your qualification
  • a brief description of your experience
  • your availability

Other Nordic Walking opportunities

Nordic Walking Lyme Bay

Join a friendly group of walkers, with a Nordic flavour. Nordic Walking Lyme Bay provide training, poles, and offer walks for different abilities several times a week in the Lyme Bay region. For more information visit Lyme Bay Nordic Walking

Health and Activity general enquiries

Email: healthandactivity@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Tel: 01425 480811
Full contact details