Forest bathing at Firestone Copse

Firestone Copse is a Forestry England wood of just under 100 hectares between Wootton Bridge and Ryde. It mixes native English oak and ash with tall conifers: grand fir, Douglas fir, cedar and Scots pine. That mix gives you deep shade under the firs and lighter, more open stretches under the broadleaves, all within a short walk. Red squirrels live here.

The car park holds about 40 cars and parking is free. A wheelchair-accessible trail starts here, and a wider network of walking paths runs off it through the wood; there is also a mountain bike route, so stick to the walking paths for quiet. The picnic area by the car park is the busy part. Further in, under the conifers, it is often still and sheltered on a windy day. The wood is open all day, every day.