A wild sauna isn’t hidden in some obscure part of a gym. It’s not just an extra feature at an expensive spa, nor is it a place where people use devices to "optimize" their sweat sessions and monitor their heart rates.
Read Next: Rob da Bank during his uplifting journey to Finland’s icy sauna haven
Many wild saunas Perched – quite often literally – on the unbridled edges of Britain, these retreats confront erratic weather conditions to provide a robust dose of nature and an invigorating mix of warm and cold experiences, which come from sources such as the sea, lakes, rivers, ice baths, or open-air showers. Frequently adapted from horseboxes or trailers, these wilderness saunas serve as distinctive refuges.
The thriving wild sauna "movement" (which now encompasses over 200 and growing such establishments across the UK) draws heavily from Nordic bathing traditions, where The sauna is a way of living.
I explored numerous saunas for my latest book. During each journey, spanning from Fife to Falmouth, as soon as I returned home by train, another sauna seemed to open right where I had been. Below are 12 out of many worth trying across the UK.
Hotbox, Co Derry/Londonderry
In 2020, Anna and Carl Isaksson launched their sauna enterprise at Benone Strand, which was familiar territory for Anna from her youth. The stretch of coastline spans seven miles. beach boasts everything from a café and a surf school to restrooms, showers, and even wild ponies roaming the sand dunes.
After arriving at Benone, they have never regretted their decision, retreating only due to 50 mph winds, unpredictable tidal movements, and ocean swells.
Carl is from Sweden and was raised using saunas. For the HotBox project, they employed a sauna craftsman. Finnmark and equipped with Thermo Aspen bench seats, a natural hemp exterior, and larch siding, which was manually charred to achieve a darkened black appearance.
The sea is shallow at Benone, so you need to wade out a bit for a decent dip, but dolphins and porpoises are known to pass by. From the sauna window, views stretch over the hills of Donegal and the quirky Mussenden Temple.
hotboxseasauna.com
Ty Sawna, Swansea Bay
Oxwich Bay is a large, sandy recreational beach providing water sports activities, accommodations, and cafes. Michelin -featured establishment and, thanks to Ty Sawna (known as Sauna House in English), includes two wood-burning barrel saunas nestled among the sand dunes.
At this popular location on the Gower Peninsula, facilities such as parking, toilets, changing areas, and fresh water are available. Even though high tides can get quite near, buckets are provided for washing up during low tide.
Ty Sawna’s founder, Harri Barker, learned about the advantages of saunas during a visit to Ireland. She resided nearby in the area. campervan For half a year, she familiarizes herself with the area and the community around Oxwich Bay. Alongside the sauna experiences, she provides services such as body scrubs, breathwork sessions, yoga classes, tea gatherings, and social meet-ups.
tysawna.co.uk
Luna Hut, East Sussex
Everyone experiences their moment of clarity in the sauna, and for Laura Brown and Mike Lord, this revelation occurred within a spacious seaside sauna in Cork. With prior experience managing a country spa in the Sussex countryside, the duo was well-versed in DIY projects.
Therefore, they constructed Luna Hut, featuring a large picture window and enough room for 16 people. Following renovations, it will reopen this coming weekend and is situated adjacent to it. Brighton’s Sea Lanes, which includes a series of bars, an outdoor pool area, as well as a yoga studio—all operated by the same duo.
Yoga paired with the sauna enhances the link between mental well-being and physical fitness, while providing mats ensures accessibility for wheelchairs in the sauna area. Additional Luna venues can be found in Eastbourne and Worthing, and there are future plans to develop an enlarged Luna facility in Brighton.
lunahutsauna.co.uk
Devon Sauna Hub, Devon
Tired of the local authorities rejecting her plans for a permanent sauna, Sara Dance purchased a tent sauna and began hosting popup events on private property near the River Teign. Ultimately, the council approved Sara’s proposal – she is known as a Wim Hof disciple. cold-swimming instructor and a thermalism educator — securing a consistent presence along the renowned seaside area of Teignmouth, where she currently oversees the operation of Devon Community Sauna.
The popup tents function at Fishcombe Cove and along the River Teign, and they frequently make stops at the swimming lake located in Beckenham Place Park in southeast London.
devonsaunahub.co.uk
Revive Wild Sauna, Dorset
The competition was intense to be the first in the UK to have a floating sauna. Revive Wild Sauna The victor was announced. Situated at the Portland Marina, the six-person barrel sauna is adjacent to an expansive wooden terrace equipped with ladders leading directly into the sea. It also provides a refreshing dip pool for those preferring not to opt for saltwater.
The Portland Marina is an ideal location. Sheltered by its dedicated breakwater, it remains accessible regardless of the weather conditions. Additionally, on-site amenities consist of the Salt pub restaurant and complimentary parking.
For Katy and Alex, whose business involves running Revive saunas across different spots in Dorset such as Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, hosting an event on the water fulfilled a long-held dream. They provide a subsidized wellness evening mid-week at Bowleaze Cove specifically designed for those who have had a challenging week.
revivewildsauna.co.uk
Sweheat Sauna, London
Do you prefer being a biohacker who carefully times their sessions of alternating hot and cold immersions, or do you enjoy the relaxed approach of a casual sauna user who leaves as soon as they feel satisfied?
Victoria Maddox, who founded Sweheat in London’s Royal Victoria Dock, is firmly in the latter camp. A sauna aficionado who has been on the wild sauna circuit for more than a decade, she discourages timers in Sweheat’s two saunas but welcomes nudity and löyly (the Nordic steam tradition generated by pouring water over hot stones). All of which pleases the local Lithuanian community.
Adjacent to the Wakeup Docklands wakeboarding facility, you'll find showers and a big cold pool; however, numerous people opt instead to cool off directly in the nearby dock, which undergoes regular testing to ensure it remains clean.
sweheatsauna.co.uk
Wildwater, Pembrokeshire
The Wildwater Sauna rotates locations approximately every month, attracting a devoted fan base amongst swimmers, surfers, and local residents. Favorite sites include Newgale, Nolton Haven, Little Haven, Whitesands, and Porthclais.
Scott Chalmers and Richard Lynch, the co-founders of Wildwater, are documentary filmmakers who established the sauna business as a sideline following their travels. Estonia They had the six-person capacity trailer custom-built in Denmark, and they frequently set it up in locations where there’s no cell phone reception, aligning well with their "primitive" take on sauna traditions.
During tranquil and cloudless nights of the full moon, Scott and Richard arrange exclusive sauna, swimming, and meditation events. Beach cleanups occur regularly every time the sauna is operational.
wildwatersauna.com
Warmth, South Yorkshire
In 2011, during her studies at the institution, Bethany Wells constructed a tent sauna as part of an architectural research initiative. Royal College of Art , captivated by "the sensory and social environment the sauna offered, along with its comforting and leveling impact."
Building on her previous experiences, in 2016, she transformed a horse trailer into the Warmth Community Sauna project, which was requested by Compass Festival In Leeds and supported by the Arts Council, it hassince toured various art festivals, providing complimentary sauna experiences.
In 2024, it became a permanent fixture at Nomad Maison in Sheffield. To stay true to its inclusive philosophy, the venue offers a pay-it-forward system allowing individuals to support free communal events such as sound baths and various activities.
warmthsauna.co.uk
Earthen Link, Tyne and Wear
Tired of feeling chilly during her walks back home, Laura Bond opted to invest £3,000 in a Finnish sauna tent. She set it up along the shores of Tyne and Wear, ranging from Tynemouth Longsands and Cullercoats Bay to Roker Beach and Sandhaven.
Laura swiftly filled up her seats and enjoys running her portable sauna business alongside her role at the NHS. She mentions that she favors tent saunas over trailers since she appreciates feeling the sand beneath her feet.
She notes that it appeals to everyone. "There's an intimacy in wearing just your swimsuit and perspiring that encourages openness. The attendees are body-positive and welcoming of various states, and even those with negative attitudes upon arrival invariably leave with a much more optimistic outlook!"
earthbond.uk
Arisaig Sauna, Highlands
Last year, James and Rebecca launched Arisaig Sauna, which has swiftly gained recognition for its extreme temperatures, soaring between 90°C and 100°C.
Visitors can marvel at the breathtaking vistas of the Skerries, Eigg, and more. Rum , paired with aSignature Coffee Scrub crafted from locally-sourced coffee beans, a byproduct of the sauna’s partnership with Glenfinnan Coffee Co (Managed by James and his brother Iain). The grounds are rich in chlorogenic acids, which are renowned for their anti-aging benefits.
A canopy made of tarps hangs between the trees forming a makeshift changing room. You'll find a watering can shower, as well as baths filled with saltwater and seaweed, along with direct access to the sea. Accessing this spot can be challenging during low tide (you’ll definitely want rock shoes), however, it becomes ideal for a refreshing dip when the tide is high.
arisaigsauna.com
Kernow Springs, Cornwall
In the southwest, saunas are gaining popularity, and a novel type of wellness center is taking shape—the contrast therapy facility. These usually feature saunas, cold plunge pools, ice baths, hot tubs, and showers.
One example of this idea can be found at Kernow Springs, located in Wadebridge. Hiding behind a first-floor bar within Saltbox—a dining spot constructed from shipping containers—it draws inspiration from budget-friendly Scandinavian day spas like Salt in Oslo.
Martin Dean, who honed his skills constructing traditional boats with Cornish Crabbers before spending ten years running saunas and hot tubs at festivals, imbues Nordic Spa with an eclectic, festival-like atmosphere.
kernowsprings.co.uk/nordic-spa
Sauna in the Forest, Norfolk
Perhaps due to the freshwater pond, the grove of silver birches, or the sturdy wooden doors and window frames, Sauna in the Woods near Norwich exudes a distinctly Scandinavian atmosphere in the low-lying landscapes of East Anglia.
The property is located within the 40 acres of private woodland known as Pig’s Park and is constructed using fallen trees from the forest, primarily Scots pines.
The quiet atmosphere is enchanting. A vintage bus serves as a dressing area, an erstwhile hot tub functions as a cold plunge pool, and there’s also an open-air cold shower outside. Through the sauna window, you can spot beehives—the idea is to provide honey scrub treatments.
saunainthewoods.co.uk
Extreme Saunas: Top Open-Air Saunas Across Britain , by Emma O’Kelly (£18.99, Wild Things Publishing) is available now
