Forest bathing at Yarner Wood

Yarner Wood, on the eastern edge of Dartmoor above Bovey Tracey, became England's first National Nature Reserve in 1952. It is ancient woodland known for its old oak trees, and it is looked after by Natural England as part of the East Dartmoor reserve. It feels like a working nature reserve rather than a visitor attraction, which is a large part of its appeal for a slow, quiet walk.

You reach it up a 300m tarmac drive off the B3387, and the car park is where the reserve office, toilets and an accessible bird hide are. The Miles Without Stiles loop is about 2km on a wide, sheltered gravel path with a boardwalk, benches and a wooden gazebo; it climbs gently, and walking it anticlockwise avoids the steeper uphill stretch. There is also a pond-dipping platform, a good spot to stop for a while.