Forest bathing at Ardress House

Ardress is a National Trust farmhouse estate of about 100 acres in the orchard country north of Portadown, roughly a fifth of it apple orchards. The Ensor family planted a belt of woodland here in the 1800s. Oak dominates, with ash, beech, lime, horse chestnut, sycamore and Scots pine, and there's an old oak said to be nearly 400 years old and an Irish yew of at least 200.

The Lady's Mile walk takes you round the woodland belt from the main car park. It's only a mile, about 20 minutes at walking pace, so it suits a short, slow visit where you stop often rather than cover ground. Paths are rough in places with exposed roots, gentle climbs, a stile and some steps, and the ground by the bent pine gets wet after rain. Come in spring for apple blossom in the orchards. Dogs are welcome on leads, except in the farmyard.