Get in touch:
Hi, I’m Rebecca and I’m an instructor for Winchester Nordic Walking. We are a friendly and welcoming group of Nordic Walkers who love exercising outdoors in the beautiful Hampshire Countryside. I took up Nordic walking as an alternative to going to the gym and have been instructing since 2020.
Nordic walking is a great way to;
improve your fitness, tone your muscles, maintain mobility, and improve your posture,Not to mention the social and mental health benefits it brings.
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Take a peek at what you might get up to on one of our Nordic walks.
For more photos, visit our social media pages and see some of our member posts and stay up to date with everything Nordic walking!
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This was taken by John a few weeks ago from the top of Old Winchester Hill. We’re walking from the top of the hill again this weekend and fingers crossed the weather is looking like we could get some more views like this!
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Four it seems! We climbed through field after field of sheep on a balmy autumn day as we walked from Ropley up to Kitwood, and stopped at the Garthowen Garden Centre coffee shop for an alfresco brunch!
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Walking through beautiful golden fields in the Itchen valley.
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Hinton Ampner did not disappoint on Friday evening’s walk! There were blankets of Bluebells in the woods, Lambs in the fields and fish and chips at the Hinton Arms after the walk!
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Role: Nordic Walking instructor & Walk Leader
Rebecca discovered Nordic walking many years ago when she was looking for an alternative way of working out that didn’t involve going to a gym. Having spent several years in the travel and events industry Rebecca now runs the group. She became an accredited instructor in the summer of 2020 and leads some Saturday walks and beginners sessions.
Having now returned to the travel industry Rebecca continues to run the Winchester Nordic Walking group with the help of a great team!
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Role: Walk Leader
Stefan has been involved in the great outdoors for a long time, he spent 10 years as Group Scout Leader at the 11th Winchester Scouts. He has planned, led and been involved in many hikes both locally and in the Lake and Peak districts as well as Dartmoor. He holds a First Aid certificate and is also a training adviser for other leaders and adult roles in scouting.
Stefan has been Nordic walking for over 3 years since taking early retirement from a managing consultant role and is one of our accredited walk leaders. He lives in Winchester with his wife who is also a passionate Nordic walker.
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Role: Walk Leader
In Loving Memory of John Vaughan 1955 to 2025. John started Nordic walking when he retired. It gave him a new purpose in life and he enjoyed interacting and sharing with people all that is great and fun about Nordic walking. John became an accredited walk leader in the summer of 2020 and Nordic Walking become a hugely important part of his life. Sadly we lost John in July 2025. We will truly miss him and all the positive energy he brought to the group.
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Role: Walk Leader
Debbie lives in Winchester with her two cats Mia and Milo. She retired from a long career in the NHS and now works part time for the National Trust. She’s been Nordic walking since 2020 and is also a qualified Yoga teacher. She loves the countryside and appreciates the benefits of exercising outside. In 2025 Debbie qualified as an accredited walk leader and leads shorter walks on some Wednesday & Sunday mornings.
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Role: Walk Leader
Maggie has been Nordic Walking for many years. She discovered the activity when Age UK were offering lessons and she signed her mother up to attend. Her mother refused to go so Maggie took her place! Since then Maggie has never looked back and has walked with groups in Brussels and here in the UK. She keeps fit by attending Stefan’s Faster Paced walks every Wednesday. When she is not walking she tries to keep her garden in order and is working on developing her sculpting skills.
In 2025 Maggie offered to become an accredited walk leader for the group. She now covers for Stefan when he is away and also leads her own walks some Saturdays.
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Role: Instructor & Walk Leader
Hannah discovered Nordic Walking during a personal training session. Intrigued to find out more she attended a Power of the Poles Beginners session with Winchester Nordic Walking and quickly became hooked. She has since qualified as an instructor.
In April 2025 Hannah underwent hip replacement surgery and found the use of her poles was key to her rehab and successful recovery. She now leads walks on some Saturdays as well as Power of the Poles beginners courses.
Hannah is also a qualified Pilates Teacher. She works across central Hampshire. If you are interested in Pilates her website can be viewed following this link; www.pilateswithaplomb.com
from members of Winchester Nordic Walking
Dear Rebecca,On behalf of Carolyn and myself, I am writing to thank you for the inspiring course you led yesterday. We both thoroughly enjoyed trying out a new activity on such a lovely, bright Hampshire day. We thought the location of the venue was perfect and offered so much variety in terms of trying out our new skills.We greatly appreciated your professional approach and patience, especially when we both couldn't quite co-ordinate our legs and arms! However with determination and your encouragement, we achieved our goal and mastered, at a basic level, this new sport.We both agreed this is something we would like to continue and it really felt as if it made a difference to our posture and core strength.With grateful thanks, Penn and Carolyn
I've been with the Winchester group for several years and have really noticed the improvement in my general fitness level. They're a friendly bunch of people and always fun to be with. Getting out in the fresh air and being guided around our lovely countryside with new found friends is a great way to spend time. Even better when we stop for coffee! Its easy to book and I like the challenge of the fast paced walks some days and the slower paced walks on other days.
Varied walks in the locality and new discoveries, even after having lived in the area for many years. Always a pleasure walking, whether its sunny or tipping down with rain. Undoubtedly an excellent way of keeping fit in the 'outside gym'. A sociable group of people who know where to find the best coffee at the end of a walk!
I joined the group after moving to Hampshire from Henley on Thames where I had belonged to another Nordic walking group for the past 5 years, since retiring. I found the Winchester group very friendly and there is a good selection of walks to choose from each week. In fact travelling to the different places helped me to learn the geography of the new area much faster than I would otherwise have done. The group is very well organised, with some splendid walks of differing lengths, and coffee or lunch (optional) afterwards is often arranged which I also enjoy. All of the walk leaders are knowledgeable and helpful. I walk regularly with the group and am very pleased that I have found such a friendly and enthusiastic group with whom to continue my Nordic walking.
I joined the Winchester Nordic walking group in Feb 2020, did my training and was all fit to go when Covid hit! What can I say? I met everyone via Zoom, we did workouts and coffee mornings online, it was friendly and fun. By the time I did my first walk I was comfortable with my new friends. We tend to walk come rain or shine it's a great way to socialise and keep fit! For anyone thinking of joining, go for it you won't regret it!
The group does everything it 'says on the tin'. I've met a fascinating bunch of people - learning something new on every walk! - whilst discovering the beauty of my new surroundings. The flexibility of the walks - timings, focus and locations - fits perfectly with my other commitments especially as those have no pattern. I wholeheartedly encourage others to join.
I started Nordic walking during 2020 between lockdowns. I was a very keen solo walker and had been on a number of challenging trekking holidays. I prefer off-road, remote and preferably woodland. Lockdown prevented travel and solo everything was becoming boring! I had seen nordic walking online and it looked a bit more of a workout than straightforward walking. I signed up for Rebecca's Power of the Poles class to be able to join a group of people who enjoyed being in nature whilst exercising rather than being in a gym. I had to push myself the first few times to go along on my own and join in with a group of people I had not met. However, Rebecca, Sally and John were extremely welcoming and inclusive and the participants friendly without being intrusive. The make up of the group has changed regularly depending on who is available when, but without exception, everyone I met in the Winchester group has been good company, fun, interesting and interested.
I joined Winchester NW group because I wanted to meet new people and get fitter. The group is very friendly and I am enjoying walking with them twice a week. The walks are great value, easy to book and very well guided and I find them most enjoyable.
The Winchester Nordic walking group really helps me stay positive. John is so welcoming and always makes sure you feel included. There are a range of characters in the group and it's great to meet new people. No walk is ever the same! From a well-being perspective, I always feel better after a walk, especially if there is a pub with refreshments at the end!
