Forest bathing in County Durham

County Durham's trees follow the rivers. Hamsterley Forest in Weardale is Forestry England's largest wood in the North East, two thousand hectares of conifer and broadleaf running up the Bedburn Beck. On the coast, Castle Eden Dene near Peterlee is a steep limestone ravine of yew, oak and ash, one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in the region. Low Barns near Witton-le-Wear is a Durham Wildlife Trust reserve of riverside alder and willow, and Durham city has the wooded riverbanks below the cathedral.

A forest bathing session here is slow and quiet, two to three hours spent mostly standing or sitting among the trees, with simple invitations from the guide to notice what is around you and tea at the finish. Hamsterley's deep valley is sheltered in all weathers, and the Dene's yews make it a good winter choice. Each guide's profile gives their own dates, venues and prices.

Hamsterley Forest is the easy first choice, with a visitor centre, cafe, pay and display parking and level trails along the beck. Castle Eden Dene has a car park at Oakerside Dene Lodge in Peterlee, though the paths down into the dene are steep in places.