Forest bathing at Coed Tŷ Canol National Nature Reserve

Coed Tŷ Canol, near Newport in north Pembrokeshire, is ancient oak woodland and wood pasture that has been grazed for centuries. The oaks are low, gnarled and twisted, set among rock outcrops, mossy stone walls and the remains of an Iron Age fort. It is one of the richest places for lichens in Britain and Ireland, so almost every branch and boulder is covered. There are no facilities, which keeps it quiet and unhurried.

Park in the informal lay-by south of the reserve and follow the waymarked Tŷ Canol Walk, a loop of almost three miles that takes about an hour and a half at a steady pace, longer if you stop often. Some slopes are steep and slippery when wet, so wear good shoes. Bluebells come up under the oaks in spring, and on a grey winter day the lichens are at their brightest. Footpaths also link to the Pentre Ifan burial chamber nearby.