Nordic Walking

Beginners Workshops & Weekly Nordic Walks

Ayrshire, south-west Scotland

Nordic Walking is an enhanced walking technique that uses poles to work your upper body as well as your legs. It gives you a highly effective all over workout that doesn’t feel like one! Nordic Walking is a fun and social activity that can be enjoyed all year round. Here are some of the benefits:

Burn around 20% more calories compared to walking without poles.
Release tension in your neck and shoulders.
Improve your posture and gait.
Strengthen your back and abdominal muscles.
Reduce the impact on your joints.

Gillian is a certified Nordic Walking Instructor through British Nordic Walking, a member of the International Nordic Walking Federation (INWA). Operating in Ayrshire, south-west Scotland. Beginners Workshops and weekly Nordic Walks are available.

"Great introduction by Gillian to Nordic Walking. Got me engaged with her excellent teaching techniques. Has got me hooked." Bill Sheppard

NORDIC FRIDAYS

Weekly Nordic Walking Group

⚠️ Not suitable for complete beginners — please attend a beginners session first (see below).

Already learned the basics? This is where it all comes together.

Nordic Fridays are friendly, social walking sessions designed to help you improve your fitness, technique and confidence — while enjoying the outdoors with like-minded people.

What to expect:

Gentle warm-up
A walk of a few miles (with optional challenge elements)
Technique tips and coaching along the way
Stretch to finish
Optional café visit afterwards ☕

Everything can be adapted to suit different fitness levels. You don’t need perfect technique — that develops with practice.

When: Fridays, 10.30am – 12pm
Where: Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock
Price: Nordic Fridays Unlimited membership £25/month, or PAYG £12 per session
Poles: Provided or bring your own

Set up Nordic Fridays Unlimlited here

For PAYG see Tickets section below.

NEW TO NORDIC WALKING?

Learn what to do with Gillian’s Walks, through the internationally recognised INWA 10-Step Teaching Method.

Choose the learning format that suits you best from the options below.

2-Week Beginners Course (Fridays)

Learn + Walk with the Group

This option is ideal if you’d like a gradual introduction with lots of practice time and the chance to walk with the Nordic Fridays group as part of your learning.

Over two consecutive Fridays, you’ll receive focused coaching before joining the group walk each week.

How it works:

9.15am–10.15am: Small group instruction
Short break
10.30am: Join Nordic Fridays for a 3km walk to practise what you’ve learned

Week 1:

Posture, pole handling, and coordinated walking technique.

Week 2:

Propulsion, muscle engagement, hill technique and building intensity.

By the end of the course, you’ll feel confident joining Nordic Fridays regularly.

When: Two consecutive Fridays, 9.15am – 12pm
Where: Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock
Price: £25 – includes all instruction and the first two Nordic Fridays walks
Equipment: All provided
Experience needed: None

2-Hour Beginners Workshop

Learn in One Session

Prefer to learn everything in one go? This standalone 2-hour workshop covers the same content as the 2-week course. Ideal if you can’t commit to two Fridays.

What we cover:

Benefits of Nordic Walking
Understanding the poles (and how they differ from hiking poles)
Posture and coordination
Propulsion and full-body engagement
Adapting technique for hills
How to increase intensity safely

You’ll learn through demonstration, coaching, group practice and fun drills designed to build confidence quickly.

By the end, you’ll be ready to join a group or walk independently.

Duration: 2 hours
Where: Kay Park, Kilmarnock
Price: £25 includes all instruction plus one free Nordic Fridays walk
Equipment: All provided
Experience needed: None

1:1 Beginners Session

Ideal if none of the group session dates work for you, and/or you’d appreciate individually tailored coaching.

At a 1:1 workshop it will be just you and the Instructor (or why not bring a friend?).

When: Can be arranged at a time that suits you. Sessions last 60-90 minutes depending on your individual needs.
Where: Dean Castle Country Park, Kilmarnock
Price: £40
Poles: Provided or bring your own

To book a 1:1 beginners Nordic Walk session, email [email protected]