Monmouthshire

Forest bathing in Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire has the Wye Valley, and that is enough on its own: twenty miles of gorge woodland from Chepstow to Monmouth, beech, yew and lime on limestone, with Natural Resources Wales sites at Whitestone and the Wyndcliff and Woodland Trust woods at Cadora near Redbrook. West of the Usk, Wentwood is the largest ancient woodland in Wales, conifer slowly being returned to oak by the Woodland Trust and NRW. Around Abergavenny, the Punchbowl on the Blorenge is a Woodland Trust beech wood round a small lake, and St Mary's Vale below the Sugar Loaf is National Trust oak.

Forest bathing in these woods is slow and sheltered. A session runs two or three hours in a small group, walking a few hundred metres and spending most of the time still. Guides' profiles below list their dates, prices and meeting points.

Whitestone, above Tintern off the Catbrook road, is a good first wood: free parking, no crowds, and the Wonders of Whitestone trail is a mainly level 2 km circuit with benches at the viewpoints. The Punchbowl has a small car park on the lane above Llanfoist and a short walk down to the lake.

On the yellow waymarked trail - Gwydir Forest
On the yellow waymarked trail, Gwydir Forest. Photograph: Peter S, CC BY-SA 2.0

Guides in Monmouthshire

No guides listed in Monmouthshire yet

The nearest are in Gloucestershire and Bristol. Send a regional enquiry and we’ll ask guides who cover Monmouthshire to get in touch.

Send a regional enquiry

Are you a guide near Monmouthshire? List your practice. There’s nobody listed here yet, which means you’d be first.

Nearest guides

GuideFeatured or Pro

Common questions

Forest bathing in Monmouthshire: your questions

How much does forest bathing cost in Monmouthshire?

Public group sessions usually cost about £20 to £45 a person for two to three hours. Private sessions for a couple or small group start at around £120 and go up with group size and length. Prices are set by each guide and shown on their profile.

Do I need to book?

Yes. Groups are small and most sessions fill up in good weather. Book through the guide's own website or send them an enquiry from their profile.

What should I wear?

Layers, a waterproof, and shoes you're happy to stand still in on damp ground. Sessions are slow, so you'll feel the cold more than on a walk. In summer bring water and something for insects.

Is it suitable for children or people with limited mobility?

It depends on the guide and the wood. Some guides run family sessions in the school holidays, and many choose woods with level paths. Look for the Accessible sessions filter, or ask the guide directly.

Are there sessions in winter?

Fewer, but yes. Woods are quieter in winter and often more atmospheric, and some guides run sessions all year round. Check individual profiles for dates.

Not sure who to book?

Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll pass it to guides in Monmouthshire who offer it. No obligation.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By sending this you agree to our privacy notice. We pass your details to guides in the county you choose and to no one else.