Forest bathing in North Lanarkshire

North Lanarkshire's woods are squeezed between its towns, and some are older than the towns. Cumbernauld Glen is a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve of ancient oak woodland running through the middle of Cumbernauld, carpeted with bluebells in May. Palacerigg Country Park on the town's south-east edge has mixed woodland and open ground. Drumpellier Country Park at Coatbridge has old oak and birch around Lochend Loch with a visitor centre, and Strathclyde Country Park at Motherwell has woodland along the Clyde and around its loch. The RSPB's Baron's Haugh and the Dalzell estate woods beside it follow the river below Motherwell.

A session takes two to three hours in a small group, covers a few hundred metres at most and spends most of its time still, which suits a glen hemmed in by housing as well as any forest. Winter sessions favour the sheltered oaks. Each guide's profile lists dates, venues and prices.

Drumpellier is the easy start: car parks, a visitor centre with a cafe, and a level path round the loch, a mile from Coatbridge town centre. Cumbernauld Glen is walkable from the town centre and railway station.