Forest bathing at Wyre Forest

The Wyre Forest straddles the border between Worcestershire and Shropshire, west of Bewdley, and Forestry England describes it as the largest woodland National Nature Reserve in the country. It is ancient woodland that has been here for more than a thousand years, and the rare whitty pear grows in it. Forestry England works with Natural England to look after it, and the scale means you can walk a long way under trees.

Most visitors start at the visitor centre at Callow Hill, on the A456 about three miles west of Bewdley, where there is a café, toilets and parking. Three trails start there. The Wren Trail is just over a kilometre, suits all abilities and has plenty of benches; the Woodpecker Trail is about three and a half kilometres with steep, rooty sections; the Buzzard Trail, the longest at five kilometres, passes forest pools and an arboretum. Expect mud after rain on the longer routes. Early mornings are the quietest time near the centre.