Outdoor activities at Erddig

A group of four children run across a mown lawn towards the camera. They’re surrounded by formal hedge planting, with a red brick house in the background. — Children run through the garden at Erddig | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

With a formal garden and 1,200 acres of landscaped parkland to enjoy, Erddig has plenty of options for you to get outside and immerse yourself in nature. Try out free, friendly group activities including Nordic walking and parkrun, or find a route to explore at your own pace.

Free outdoor activities

Getting outdoors at Erddig can be a great way to de-stress and improve your wellbeing. And you don’t have to be breaking into a sweat to benefit.

‘It’s not just about taking exercise. Just relaxing and enjoying gardens and the countryside is better than sitting in front of the television or computer.’

– Glyn Smith, Head Gardener at Erddig

All our activities are free. There’s a donations bucket at Nordic walking and Muddy Trainers sessions to help buy new equipment, but there’s no requirement to contribute.

The restaurant at Erddig is open after all our scheduled morning activities, so you can treat yourself to a well-earned treat and get to know new friends.

Walking at Erddig

Whether you're looking for a short stroll past the Cup and Saucer, an 18th-century water feature, or a longer walk through woodland and meadows, there’s a trail to suit everyone in Erddig’s formal garden and landscaped parkland.

For people with reduced mobility, there’s a step-free route around the garden and some parkland trails are also accessible.

Three women in a grassy field step forward to lean on their walking poles, which they have in each hand. — Learn the simple techniques of Nordic walking | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Nordic walking

Nordic walking is the ultimate full-body workout for people of all fitness levels. Safe and sociable, it helps you tone up while being low-impact on your joints, and it could help ease neck, shoulder and back problems.

Join our volunteer walk leaders for these invigorating sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays. All abilities are welcome – we provide Nordic walking poles, or you can bring along your own.

Running at Erddig

Erddig parkrun

Organised and led by a dedicated team of volunteers, Erddig parkrun is a great way to start the weekend and take in the surroundings of the estate.

Parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events. They happen every Saturday morning at 9am in parks and open spaces around the world. It’s a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience where there’s no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.

The route starts and finishes outside the house, and includes the newly named ‘Erddig hill’ to challenge yourself along the way. Dogs on short leads are welcome at our parkrun.

If you don’t feel like doing the 5k, you’d be welcome to join us as a volunteer marshal.

Visit the Erddig parkrun webpage

A mother and her children crouch beside a manicured hedge and a display of tulips in the garden in front of the house at Erddig, Clwyd. — Visitors in the garden at Erddig | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Beginners’ running group

Erddig Muddy Trainers is a twice-weekly beginners’ running group that meet every Saturday morning and Wednesday evening. The group is very supportive and welcoming, suitable for all abilities, including complete beginners.