Historic Forest Bathing Sites in the UK

Get ready to leave the fast-paced, digital world behind and relax under pine-scented, sun-dappled canopies. This is the new health and wellness trend of Forest Bathing, where you soak up all that nature has to offer - and a good few historic vibes too, depending on the place. 

Having noticed this calming new trend, health and wellness experts at Eden's Gate conducted an Instagram survey (by counting up the number of hashtags used on the platform) to discover the most popular sites for Forest Bathing, which has its origins in Japan. 

With forests, national parks and woodlands among some of our oldest sites, it perhaps wasn't too surprising to find out that many of the sites that topped this survey have some historical significance, too. 

Photo by Miha Rekar on Unsplash

Here are some of the historical sites that topped the survey... 

The New Forest, Hampshire

Near Southampton, the New Forest has a history that spans centuries. The hunting ground of Medieval kings, it's where one of them - William II - died after accidentally being shot in the chest with a wayward arrow in 1100. For walks, trails and other information visit the New Forest National Park website. 

Cefn Coed, near Gwynedd, Wales
On 75 acres of farmland dating back to the 1600s, slow down your pace with camping, stargazing, cycling, walking or just relaxing on this beautiful site near Gwynedd in Wales. The Cefn Coed website says to look out for badgers and glowworms, too! 

Dartmoor National Park, Devon
Over 86,000 acres of natural parkland with Prehistoric and early Bronze Age stone circles, standing stones and burial sites. It also has a Medieval Longhouse and was home to quarrying in the Victorian period, before becoming a site for tourists to visit. Find out more on Dartmoor's website. 

Photo by Elliot Martin on Unsplash

Durlston Country Park, Swanage, Dorset
Durlston makes up part of the Jurassic Coast, so if you're into Prehistory or dinosaurs then it's right up your street. There's also the nineteenth century Durlston Castle, too. Find the details at Durlston Country Park and Nature Reserve website. 

Kirroughtree Forest, South West Scotland
Take your pick from nature trails, woodland walks and bike rides, and there's the remains of eighteenth-century mining activity at Kirroughtree Lade - the water channel that powered the mining activities at Blackcraig. Find out more at the website for the Kirroughtree Visitor Centre. 

Hackfall Wood, North Yorkshire
With a history dating back to possibly Domesday Book, through the Medieval period and up to the 1700s, Hackfall is a settled and calm place to go to get away from it all. It was landscaped in the mid-eighteenth century to include waterfalls, buildings and gardens. Find out more at the Hackfall website. 

Have you heard of Forest Bathing? Have you visited any of the destinations here? 

You might also like 7 Ways Being a History Lover Changes You Forever, 9 Afternoon Teas for HIstory and Heritage Lovers, and 10 Things To Know About Stratford Upon Avon Before You Visit. 

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