Where to go
Woodlands for forest bathing in Essex
8 places in Essex that suit forest bathing, with parking, paths and facilities on each page. Find a forest bathing guide in Essex.
Blakes Wood and Danbury CommonsCoppiced wood and heathy commons on the Danbury ridge, full of bluebells in late spring
Epping ForestTwelve miles of ancient beech, hornbeam and oak pollards; start at High Beach
Hatfield ForestFormer royal hunting forest with ancient oaks, coppice and open wood pasture
Hockley WoodsThe largest surviving piece of Essex wildwood: oak, chestnut, hornbeam and birch
Markshall EstateArboretum of trees from temperate regions worldwide, with ancient woodland beyond
Norsey WoodAncient coppice on the edge of Billericay with a carpet of bluebells in spring
Thorndon Country ParkAncient woodland and old deer park with giant oaks and hornbeam pollards near Brentwood
Weald Country ParkMedieval deer park near Brentwood with woods, lakes, meadows and surfaced lakeside pathsPhotos: Blakes Wood and Danbury Commons, Roger Jones (CC BY-SA 2.0); Epping Forest, David Howard (CC BY-SA 2.0); Hatfield Forest, PAUL FARMER (CC BY-SA 2.0); Hockley Woods, Roger Jones (CC BY-SA 2.0); Markshall Estate, Roger Jones (CC BY-SA 2.0); Norsey Wood, CV1958 (Colin Viney) (CC BY-SA 4.0); Thorndon Country Park, Marathon (CC BY-SA 2.0); Weald Country Park, Marathon (CC BY-SA 2.0).