Forest bathing at Harlestone Firs

Harlestone Firs is around 300 acres of managed woodland and heath on the Althorp Estate, just west of Northampton between New Duston and Harlestone. It is open to walkers, cyclists and riders, and close enough to town to be an everyday wood for many people. At the back of the firs, near the railway line, a strip kept open as a firebreak has become the Harlestone Heath nature reserve, an area of acid heathland that is rare in Northamptonshire.

The entrance is on the A428, opposite the garden centre, along the main drive towards the sawmill. From there many paths spread through the trees. The ground is flat and the forest paths tend to drain well, so it is a good choice after rain when clay woods are heavy. A short circuit of about two miles takes half an hour at a normal pace, so you can easily slow down and spend the whole morning. Keep an eye out for bikes and horses on the wider tracks.