Forest bathing at Woodchester Park

Woodchester Park is a secluded wooded valley near Stroud, cared for by the National Trust. It holds the remains of an 18th and 19th century landscape park, with a chain of five lakes along the valley floor. At its heart is Woodchester Mansion, a Victorian Gothic house left unfinished when its owner, William Leigh, ran out of money; it is run by a separate trust and opens on set days.

Most visitors start at Tinkley Gate, where the car park, café and toilets are. The purple trail to the lakes is a little under 3km; the orange trail from Buckholt runs about 5.6km to the mansion and boathouse. Ground is uneven and steep in places, so wear proper walking shoes. The valley floor by the lakes is the calmest part once you are away from the car park. Mobile signal is poor, which many will see as a bonus, and the Buckholt car park is open from dawn to dusk.