Forest bathing at Saltwells Nature Reserve

Saltwells, near Dudley, covers about 247 acres and is described by Dudley Council as one of the largest urban nature reserves in the UK. This was one of the most intensely mined parts of the Black Country, and the woods now grow over old coal bell pits and tramway cuttings. Doulton's Claypit, a former coal and clay quarry, is a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Dudley No. 2 Canal runs along one side.

The car park is off Coppice Lane, next to the Saltwells Inn. From there, paths lead through the woods and along the canal, and there are seating areas in the woodland and meadows that suit a long pause. It is big enough that you can leave the town behind within a few minutes. There is no visitor centre, café or toilets on site; the pub's toilets are usually open from lunchtime. Keep back from the rock faces and loose scree in the claypit.