Armed with metal sticks and a pair of sunglasses, Anna Blackaby takes to the North York Moors for a spot of Nordic walking.

Nordic walking instructor Peter says he gets some funny looks when he goes into Leeds on a Saturday afternoon.

Back straight, arms swinging, marching at a swift pace – such is his passion for Nordic walking that even when he goes out without his poles he can’t help but channel the spirit of the cross-country skiing enthusiasts who invented the activity in the 1990s.

Nordic walking originated in Finland, where skiers searching for ways to maintain their fitness and technique in the snowless summer months came up with the distinctive style of walking using two poles at an angle to propel themselves forward.

Hugely popular in Scandinavia and Germany, the activity is just starting to get a foothold in the UK.

My introduction to Nordic walking comes in the grounds of Rockliffe Hall in County Durham, the former residence of the Backhouses, a Quaker banking family who founded what went on to become Barclays Bank.

The hall’s new proprietor – Middlesbrough Football Club owner Steve Gibson – breathed new life into the place last year when he opened the North-east’s most prestigious golf, spa and hotel complex.

After a quick lesson in the basics of Nordic walking – it’s all in the angle of the poles and the swing of the arms – the next day we nip over the border into Yorkshire to explore the breathtaking scenery of the North York Moors. We cover six miles up hill and down dale in about two hours in a circular walk centred on the picturesque village of Osmotherly.

Anybody who has ever been on a cross-trainer at the gym will have a good understanding of the motion and the muscle groups needed for Nordic walking.

But the outdoor version is as far away from the monotony of the gym as you can get, and by the end of it I’m on a much bigger high than any indoor workout can ever give.

Birdsong, spring sunshine, fresh air and the ever-changing moorland backdrop accompanying our Nordic walking experience make it good for the soul, not just for the body.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that Nordic walking is a glorified stroll in the country with a couple of sticks thrown in – it’s serious stuff and I quickly work up a sweat. The activity requires you to stand up straight and work the muscles in your arms and chest as well as your legs, meaning you get a good all-over aerobic workout and sightseeing trip wrapped into one.

It’s popular with all age groups, but Peter says there are many 50-60 year olds who find it puts less impact on their joints that normal walking.

Possibly its only downside is the funny looks you get when you stride past none-pole-wielding walkers and bemused small children, but they quickly fade away behind as you power forward into the countryside.

Packing away the poles after a restoring lunch at The Three Tuns in Osmotherly, we head back to Rockliffe Hall, which conveniently has a luxury spa complex attached to it for aching Nordic walkers returning from the hills.