Forest bathing at Balgay Hill

Balgay Hill rises in the west end of Dundee and covers just over 60 acres. The town council bought it in 1870 for public recreation, and much of the hill is now mature mixed woodland of beech, oak, ash, sycamore and pine, with yew and wayfaring tree. Part of the hill is Balgay Cemetery, with historic monuments and gravestones, and the Mills Observatory sits near the top, with a Planet Trail through the woods beside it.

Balgay sits among the houses of the west end, so it is one of the easiest woods in Dundee to reach without a long journey. Paths lead up through the trees to the top of the hill, which gives a panoramic view over the city and the Tay. The Planet Trail is a gentle way to wander the woods by the observatory. It is not a big wood, so think of it as an hour or two of slow walking close to home rather than a long day out.