Forest bathing in Northumberland

Northumberland's woodland is mostly working forest on a large scale. Kielder, in the far west, is the biggest man-made forest in England, spruce and pine around a reservoir, with birch and alder along the burns. Thrunton Wood near Alnwick is a smaller Forestry England block of pines on sandstone crags. The older, gentler woods are in the river valleys: Allen Banks and Staward Gorge near Haydon Bridge is the county's largest ancient woodland, National Trust oak and beech along the River Allen, and Plessey Woods Country Park near Bedlington follows the Blyth through mixed woodland.

Forest bathing is a slow, sensory couple of hours or a bit more, led by a guide in a small group, with much more sitting than walking. The invitations are simple and there is no right way to do them. In a county this open and windy, the gorge woods and denes hold their own climate and make good winter choices. Each guide's profile has their dates and prices.

Allen Banks is a sound first visit: a National Trust car park, riverside paths and Bardon Mill station about a mile and a half away. Plessey Woods has a visitor centre and is close to Cramlington.