Forest bathing at Gisburn Forest

Gisburn Forest covers about 1,200 hectares in the Forest of Bowland, on land around Stocks Reservoir that is largely owned by United Utilities and has been leased to the Forestry Commission since 1949. Most of it is Sitka spruce grown for timber, but there are mixed woods too, and Park Wood is a small patch of ancient semi-natural woodland. It is a long way from any town, and after dark it is a Dark Sky Discovery Site.

Gisburn is best known for its mountain bike trails, which start from the Gisburn Forest Hub, so walkers do better from Stocks car park, where most of the four waymarked walks begin. The Birch Hills walk is the easy choice: a level path through mixed woodland with views of the reservoir, past an old vicarage garden and two wildlife hides, and suitable for off-road mobility scooters. Storms bring trees down here from time to time, so follow any diversion signs.