Forest bathing in Tyne and Wear

Tyne and Wear's woodland is in its denes and the Derwent valley. Jesmond Dene is the best known, a steep wooded valley of the Ouseburn running into Newcastle, planted by Lord Armstrong in the nineteenth century. In Gateshead, the Derwent Walk Country Park follows the old railway through ancient oak woodland at Thornley, Gibside is a National Trust landscape garden with woodland above the river, and Chopwell Wood is Forestry England conifer and broadleaf on the Durham border. Holywell Dene in North Tyneside does the same job on a smaller scale.

Forest bathing is two to three hours of slow, guided time in a small group, with more stillness than movement and a few plain invitations to notice what is around you. Nothing about it requires fitness. Most of these woods are reachable by Metro or bus, so an early or after-work session is realistic. Each guide's profile shows their dates and prices.

Jesmond Dene is the easy first visit, with a visitor centre and cafe at Millfield House and paths a short walk from West Jesmond Metro. Thornley Woodlands Centre in the Derwent Walk Country Park has parking and feels further from town than it is.