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A NEW walking craze is blazing a trail across North Wales, and getting people out and about in our areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Nordic Walking is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities to reach the UK in the last decade.

Originating in Scandinavia it offers a full body workout with specially designed walking poles, exercising more parts of the body than regular hiking or walking.

Wrexham is home to a growing walking group, supported by the National Trust which allows members to walk around the grounds of its properties such as Erddig and Chirk Castle every week.

Leader reporter Rory Sheehan visited Chirk Castle to catch up with one of the group leaders, retired teacher Gareth Lloyd, 62, from Rhos, who took up the activity a few years ago after recovering from illness.

He said: "It originally started at Erddig, once a week on a Saturday morning.

"We've since added another Erddig one on a Wednesday afternoon, a Monday morning walk at Alyn Waters, one at the Trevor Basin and other various locations, and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

"There are four walks a week now, we've got three technique coaches and a dozen leaders. We can walk anywhere and take someone who has never done it before as long as it is risk assessed and we have a first aider.

"We walk in all weathers. If it's raining we just put on the waterproofs and the only time we will cancel is if the National Trust close the venue. We provide all the equipment, but as we say, once you've been once, you're hooked and people then tend to buy their own equipment."

From the start of June to the end of August, 933 people took part in the groups' walks. Each walk averages 35 to 55 people taking part.

Walkers use a pole, similar to a hiking stick, but which are angled at the bottom so using them generates and improves the power in your upper body through the propulsion.

As well as the fresh air, the breathtaking views, and the chance to make new friends, Gareth said the mental and physical benefits of Nordic Walking are vast for people of all ages.

He said: "You use 90 per cent of your body muscles and it is 40 per cent more beneficial per kilometre than walking or other forms of exercise.

"There are people joining us who are recovering from serious illness, looking after their physical wellbeing and weight loss, but there are mindfulness and mental health benefits too.

"It's great if people want to develop their technique but at the very least you are out in the open air instead of being inside a gym, and can have a chat while you walk.

"The Saturday walk is a chance for those who have been stuck in an office all week with people they might not have anything in common with, to meet and talk to like-minded people."

Gareth said that members of the group ranged from 14 to 85 years of age.

"Sometimes people don't realise how much they improve in terms of speed in a short space of time", he added.

"A walk that would have taken them three-and-a-half hours previously can become a one hour and 10 minutes walk.

"We've done a few 10 mile walks this year, including Barmouth to Dolgellau, the Mawddach Trail.

"We have developed links with the National Trust, because what we do fits in with their values and I must say a huge thank you to Sue Jones (volunteer and community involvement manager at Erddig) and Laurel Smith (volunteer organiser). For example we promote the Erddig brand, and also help bring in revenue for them through sales at the cafe.

"It's not a race or competition, the most competitive it gets is to see who is first back at the cafe for a coffee and cake if they want to reward themselves after.

"We've developed more than just the walking group. Next week we are doing a Halloween walk through Wrexham town centre which will be more of a social event.

"There is also a calendar of the group in various locations coming out for 2019."

For anyone interested in going on a walk or becoming a member can approach the group under their banners at each location before a walk.

More information about the Erddig walks, dates and times, can be found at - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/3aa19817-081e-482c-8ee5-25280b97bc16/pages/details

It is £1 to take part in a walk, and the money is reinvested in equipment and training for the group.