Forest bathing at Penn Wood

Penn Wood, by Penn Street near Beaconsfield, is one of the largest ancient woodlands in the Chilterns, at 176 hectares. At least fifty of its trees are over two hundred years old, most of them beech, planted after oaks were felled during the area's chair-making days. Part of the wood is conifer, and the rest is broadleaved woodland and open grassland, where a small herd of Dexter cattle grazes to keep the wood pasture open. Saved from a golf course plan after a six-year local campaign, it has belonged to the Woodland Trust since 1999.

There are seven main entrances, but the obvious start is Penn Street, where a 360-metre easy-access circular path begins by the church and there is parking at Holy Trinity Church. From there around ten kilometres of permissive paths spread out through the beeches, and it is easy to find a quiet spot. Paths get muddy in winter. There are no toilets on site.