Forest bathing in Swansea

Swansea has woods in two places: the valleys that run down to the bay, and Gower. Clyne Valley Country Park follows an old railway line up from Blackpill through oak and birch. Penllergare Valley Woods, by junction 47 of the M4, is a Victorian picturesque landscape restored by a trust, with a lake, waterfall and a cafe. Bishop's Wood at Caswell is a council nature reserve of ash and oak dropping to the beach, and on Gower the National Trust's Nicholaston Woods above Oxwich and Bishopston Valley hold ancient woodland on limestone.

A session in any of these is slow and short on distance: two or three hours in a small group, mostly standing or sitting, with a guide offering simple ways to pay attention. Clyne and Penllergare are reachable by bus from the city centre, which makes them practical for a weekday evening. Each guide's profile below gives their dates and prices.

Penllergare Valley Woods is the easiest start, with a car park, a coffee shop and a level path along the lake before the valley steepens. Clyne Valley is handy from the Mumbles cycle path, with parking at Blackpill and a tarmac route under the trees.