Forest Bathing

Come to the Lake District, Cumbria and indulge in the restorative practice of forest bathing, which for those of you unfamiliar with the practice is the simple act of spending time in a forest and embracing the therapeutic energy of trees. It’s about breathing in the calming scent of nature while walking through the woods – much as the early Romantics did when they first discovered how wonderfully soothing it was for the mind and body to commune with the beauty of the natural world.

There are plenty of places to engage in a spot of forest bathing. There’s Whinlater Forest, England’s only mountain forest. On the eastern edge of Bassenthwaite Lake is Dodd Forest, which also includes a viewing area for nesting Ospreys and, from the top, some stunning views of both Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater. And if you want to add the roar of water to the sounds of the forest, climb through the ferns and conifers on Gowbarrow to get to Aira Force. The views of Ullswater from here are pretty gorgeous too.