Forest bathing in South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire's woods are tucked between its towns, and Sheffield in particular has more than most cities. Ecclesall Woods in the south-west of the city is the largest ancient semi-natural woodland in the county, oak and birch over old charcoal-burning ground. North of Sheffield, Wharncliffe Woods and Greno Woods are oak and birch on the gritstone edge above the Don. Doncaster has Sandall Beat Wood beside the racecourse, oak and birch on a bus route, and Rotherham has Anston Stones Wood, ancient woodland in a limestone gorge. Near Barnsley, Wentworth Castle Gardens has estate woodland and parkland.

A session runs two to three hours and asks very little physically. A guide leads a small group slowly in, offers a handful of invitations to use your senses, and leaves generous silences between them. The city woods make a weekday session before or after work realistic without a car. Dates and prices are on each guide's profile.

Ecclesall Woods is the natural start: the J G Graves Woodland Discovery Centre has a cafe, toilets and a car park off Abbey Lane, and buses from the city centre stop nearby. Sandall Beat Wood is Doncaster's equivalent, flat and close to town.