Forest bathing at Prior Park Landscape Garden

Prior Park is the National Trust's 18th century landscape garden in a valley on the southern edge of Bath, created by Ralph Allen with advice from Capability Brown and the poet Alexander Pope. Broadleaved woodland with many veteran trees lines both sides of the valley, which runs down to a chain of lakes crossed by the Palladian bridge of 1755. Kingfishers visit the lakes. It is small, but the enclosed valley and old trees give it a sheltered, unhurried feel.

There is no visitor parking, so most people walk up from Bath Spa station, about a mile, or take the bus, and arrive at the lower entrance. Short level routes run around the lakes and along the top of the garden, which are the easiest places to sit. Steep paths link the upper and lower parts and are unsuitable for wheelchairs. The garden is gated with an admission charge, and opening days vary through the year.