Forest bathing at Beacon Hill (Beacons View)

Beacon Hill is about six miles south of Monmouth, near Trellech, in the Wye Valley. From the Beacons View car park, two waymarked trails lead through quiet woodland and open heath to viewpoints across the Wye Valley and towards Bannau Brycheiniog. On the way back you walk through an avenue of beech, and the longer route also follows the Wye Valley Walk under an avenue of huge Scots pines.

Both trails are easy and mainly level, with a few gates. The Beacon Bimble is about 1.4 miles, on a wide woodland path and loose gravel across the heath; the Duchess Ride Ramble is about three miles and adds woodland tracks. There is a picnic bench at the first viewpoint, 250 metres from the car park, which makes a good place to sit early on. Cattle graze parts of the site, so check the signs. There are no toilets or staff.