Forest Bathing in Scotland

Scotland offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the outdoors through Forest Bathing and other activities to increase your connection with nature. From lush green forests to majestic glens, Forest Bathing here in Scotland can provide a renewed sense of calm and help clear your head while you take in the sights and sounds of Mother Nature. The Western Highlands where An Darach Forest Therapy is located, are referred as ‘The Outdoor Capital of the UK’.

Forest Bathing is a practice that can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere and it is a simple yet effective way to improve overall well-being. It is a way to reconnect with nature and to find peace and tranquillity in our busy lives, so it is worth noting that whilst we love Forest Bathing here in the Western Highlands, this kind of nature-connection activity isn't just limited to Scotland, it is a practice that can be done in any forested or natural area anywhere around the world.

What is Forest Bathing?

Forest Bathing, sometimes known as Shinrin-Yoku, is a nature-mindfulness practice that originated in Japan. It involves spending time in nature (usually a forested area as the name suggests) for the purpose of improving your physical, mental and emotional health. The practice is based on evidence that immersing yourself in nature and spending time ‘in the present moment’ can have a calming and revitalising effect on both the body and mind.

The practice of Forest Bathing typically involves walking slowly and mindfully through the forest, or sitting quietly, paying attention to the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural environment, and engaging and connecting with nature through all your senses. The goal is to use nature, and particularly the beneficial effects of the trees, to connect to your own sense of peace and calm, and to let go of distractions and stressors from everyday life, allowing you to reflect and engage with nature on a deeper level.

Benefits of Forest Bathing

Forest Bathing offers many physical and mental benefits, such as reducing stress, improving concentration and boosting immunity. By slowing down and tuning into the sounds, smells, sights and textures of nature, you are actively investing in our health and wellbeing. Engaging in activities such as listening to bird song or exploring the different textures of trees can reduce blood pressure, while being in nature and around green spaces can help to reduce stress hormones and to lower cortisol levels (a marker of stress) – all contributing to a feeling of relaxation and rejuvenation during and after your Forest Bathing trip.

Guided Versus Self-Guided Forest Bathing

You can either join a public guided walk or engage the services of a Forest Bathing Guide such as myself to provide you with a bespoke Forest Bathing Experience, or you can easily take yourself on a self-guided Forest Bathing walk. A Forest Bathing Guide can take care of the little things like keeping an eye on the time, and they often know the best places to engage and connect with nature. My role as a Forest Bathing Guide is also to help you to slow down, both physically and mentally, and to help you to relax and let go of stress by offering structured nature-connection activities, known as Forest Bathing ‘Invitations’. These Forest Bathing invitations are offered in a carefully designed sequence to create an experience that enhances your nature-connection and boosts the therapeutic and restorative effects of nature to help to improve your health and well-being. However, these are only ever recommended activities to try and there is never any pressure to engage in activity that you do not wish to, although it sometimes good for you to go a little outside your comfort zone (maybe try hugging a tree!). These Forest Bathing invitations are not things to be ‘achieved’ in order to feel that the Forest Bathing activity was ‘successful’ though.

Invitations may last anywhere between about 5 minutes and half an hour and could include activities such as:

Young Man Sitting By A Lake

  • Sitting by a stream or lake and noticing how the water makes you feel

  • Exploring a tree with your hands and your eyes, feeling the texture, swaying in harmony with the tree or gazing up into the canopy

  • Looking for features of nature that are moving, as you walk slowly along a path to through the woods

If you are guiding yourself, you might find some of the booklets that we have written useful as they contain enough different activities and invitations to keep you occupied for several Forest Bathing trips.

How to Prepare for a Forest Bathing Trip

Before heading out on a Forest Bathing trip, it’s important to take some time to plan and prepare. Pack comfortable clothing for walking, as well as any additional accessories you may need for the journey – such as something to sit on, sun cream, wet weather wear and spare clothing. Make sure you have suitable footwear, along with water and snacks to keep you refreshed during the trip. Last but not least, if you are guiding yourself, then plan your route in advance and check the weather forecast before you go.

Where to Find Forest Bathing Experiences in Scotland

Forests near Orchy Scotland

Scotland’s landscapes are a timeless delight, providing the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable forest bathing experience. Head to Caledonia Forest and the Cairngorms National Park to enjoy some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, or take a break in the Highlands for tranquility and serenity. Forestry and Land Scotland suggest their favourite three Forest Bathing locations are Cardrona in the Tweed Valley Forest Park; Faskally in the Tay Forest Park; and Glentrool in the Galloway Forest Park (which is certainly very beautiful and near where I got married outside in the forest!). Visit Scotland also suggest Thornielee Forest near Galashiels in the Scottish Borders; The Tay Forest Park in Perthshire; The Glengarry Forest not far from us between Fort William and Fort Augustus; the Glen Tanar Pinewoods in Aberdeenshire; The Dunnet Forest near Caithness in the Scottish Highlands; and Beecraigs Country Park in West Lothian.

Forest Bathing in the Western Highlands

An Darach Forest Therapy is based in Sunart on the West Highland Peninsula, just above the Ariundle Woodlands near Strontian in the Highlands of Scotland so we are surrounded by great places to go Forest Bathing. For this reason, we predominantly offer guided Forest Bathing in the local Ariundle Oakwoods and Àrd-Àirigh Woods (Ardery Woods - which can include time spent in the Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide). Both woods are part of the ancient Atlantic Oakwood, Scotland’s ‘temperate rainforest’ and are home to ancient Oak, Ash, Birch, Hazel, and Scots Pine as well as rare and fascinating mosses and liverworts, lichens, fungi and ferns.

We also offer guided Forest Bathing experiences in the The Strontian Community Woodland and Phemie’s Trail in Strontian; the Salen Alphabet Trail; Achnaha Woods in Morvern; Ballachulish, Kinlochleven and Glen Nevis. We often run bespoke Forest Bathing walks across Sunart, Ardnamurchan, Morvern, Lochaber, but can deliver bespoke Guided Forest Bathing activities, as well as our Corporate Wellbeing Workshops, all across Scotland.

Celtic Rainforest at Ariundle Woods

The Celtic Rainforest

People are often surprised when we talk about rainforests in Scotland, but the Atlantic Oakwoods are recognised as a temperate rainforest. The climate in the West coast of Scotland is affected by its proximity to the Gulf Stream that results in a combination of high humidity, frequent rain and cloud cover and a mild climate which means that mosses and lichen grow very well. The carpet of mosses in theses temperate rainforests absorb a large amount of the frequent rainfall, and this slowly evaporates during the dryer spells and maintains the levels of humidity and supports the growth of liverworts and ferns. Many of these ferns can be seen growing in where the branches and the trunks of the trees join, all the way up to the tops of the trees, another indication that these are temperate rainforests. These unique forests offer great Forest Bathing and Nature Connection potential!

Twisted Roots in Yakushima National Forest

Twisted Roots in Yakushima National Park in Japan

Japanese Temperate Rainforests

As mentioned, Japan is the birthplace of ‘Shinrin Yoku’ or Forest Bathing, and Japan is also home to a variety of temperate rainforests. One of the best examples of these is found in Kirishima-Yaku National Park on the Island of Yakushima off of Kyushu. Yakushima is best known for the extensive and beautiful forests that cover most of the island. The trails wind among Yakushima cedar trees (Yaku-sugi), which are famous for their incredibly old age. Many of them are about 1,000 years old and some are thought to be up to 7,000 years old. Due to the amount of rainfall, there are moss-covered rocks all over the forest floor, which add to the overwhelming green-ness of the forest. Walking through these moody, temperate rainforests, full of fairytale-like trees with twisted moss-covered roots, it is no surprise to learn that the island was the inspiration for the animated film Princess Mononoke, directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Tips on Getting the Most out of Your Trip

Forest bathing trips are all about getting up close and personal with nature and the environment. Make the most of your excursion by remembering a few key tips. Firstly, respect the land you’re visiting – show gratitude to the wildlife, plants and trees around you, and take all litter away with you. Next, take a break from technology. Leave your mobile phone at home, in the car, or leave it on flight mode if you feel safer having it with you – just try to resist the urge to keep checking your notifications, but maybe do have a go at mindful photography! Finally, be prepared for all weathers – even if it rains during your trip you can still have a great time and interact with the rain, but remember that Scotland's climates can change rapidly so make sure you bring appropriate clothing including wet weather wear, lots of layers (it can be cold when you slow down) and maybe have some dry clothes to change into with you!


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