Forest bathing at Black Down

Black Down, just south of Haslemere, is the highest point in the South Downs National Park. Its broad top is heath and Scots pine, with ancient woodland, copses and old sunken lanes on the slopes below. The poet Tennyson lived nearby and wrote of the view: green Sussex fading into blue. The National Trust cares for it.

Three small National Trust car parks on Tennyson's Lane are the usual way in. From there, a walk of about two miles leads to the Temple of the Winds, a curved stone seat with a wide view south. The sunken lanes and pinewoods are the places to stop and listen. Paths range from easy bridleways to hilly, more challenging routes, and there is an accessible track from the car park.