Forest bathing at Goblin Combe

Goblin Combe is a 99-hectare Avon Wildlife Trust reserve near Cleeve, a limestone gorge cut by meltwater at the end of the last ice age. The floor of the combe is damp and wooded, with old yew trees on the slopes, under which the rare moonwort fern grows. The woodland and scrub hold a large population of hazel dormice. Above the trees, a steep climb brings you out onto limestone grassland and heath.

There is limited parking on Cleeve Hill Road. The path along the combe floor is the place for slow, sheltered walking among the trees. It can be very muddy and slippery, so wear boots. The climb to the top is steep with steps; avoid the cliffs and scree. Spring to early summer and autumn are the best times to visit. Grazing animals may be out on the grassland, so keep dogs on a lead.