A wild sauna isn’t hidden in some obscure part of a gym. It doesn’t come as an extra feature at an expensive spa either, nor is it a place where people use devices to “optimize” their sweat sessions and monitor their pulse rates.
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Many
wild saunas
perch – quite literally at times – on the unbridled edges of Britain; they confront erratic weather conditions to provide a refreshing taste of nature and an invigorating mix of warmth and chill – where the colder element comes from sources such as the sea, lakes, rivers, ice baths, or open-air showers. Frequently crafted from repurposed horse boxes or trailers, these wild saunas serve as distinctive refuges.
The popular sauna “trend” (with over 200 and growing similar setups across the UK) draws largely from Nordic bath traditions, where
The sauna is a way of living.
I explored numerous saunas for research purposes for my upcoming book. During each journey, traveling from Fife to Falmouth, before I could even return home by train, another sauna would open somewhere behind me. Below are 12 out of many worth trying across the UK.
Hotbox, Co Derry/Londonderry
In 2020, Anna and Carl Isaksson launched their sauna venture at Benone Strand, which was familiar territory for Anna from her youth. The stretch of land spans seven miles.
beach
boasts everything from a café and a surfing school to restrooms, shower facilities, and even wild ponies roaming among the sand dunes.
After touching down on Benone, they’ve never looked back, retreating only when faced with 50 mph winds, unpredictable tides, and swells.
Carl is from Sweden and was raised using saunas. For their HotBox project, the pair 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 blackened 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 that provides water sports activities, accommodations, and cafes.
Michelin
-featured eatery and, thanks to Ty Sawna (known as Sauna House in English), two wooden barrel saunas heated with fire sit amidst the sand dunes.
At this popular location on the Gower Peninsula, facilities such as parking areas, restroom blocks, dressing rooms, and potable water are available. During low tide, buckets are provided for washing up, even though high tide reaches nearby spots.
The founder of Ty Sawna, 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 layout of the area and the people of Oxwich Bay. Besides the sauna experiences, she provides services such as body scrubs, breathing workshops, 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 retreat in the Sussex countryside, where they often crafted items themselves, the duo was accustomed to doing things the old-fashioned way.
Thus, they constructed Luna Hut, featuring a large picture window and enough room for 16 people. Following renovations, it will reopen this weekend and is situated adjacent to it.
Brighton’s
Sea Lanes, which includes a series of bars, an outdoor pool area, and a yoga studio—all operated by the same duo.
Yoga alongside the sauna strengthens the link between mental well-being and physical fitness, with mats provided to ensure accessibility for wheelchairs. Additional Luna sites 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 adjacent to the River Teign. Ultimately, the council approved Sara’s proposal – she being known as a practitioner of the Wim Hof method.
cold-swimming
an instructor and thermalism educator — has secured a consistent place along the renowned seaside area of Teignmouth, where she currently manages the Devon Community Sauna.
The pop-up tents can be found 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 to have a floating sauna in the UK.
Revive Wild Sauna
The victor was announced. Located at the Portland Marina, this six-person barrel sauna comes with an adjacent spacious wooden terrace featuring steps leading directly into the sea. It also provides a refreshing cold-water dip alternative for those not interested in saltwater.
The Portland Marina is an ideal location. Sheltered by its dedicated breakwater, it remains accessible regardless of the weather conditions. Additionally, shore amenities feature the Salt pub restaurant along with complimentary parking spots.
For Katy and Alex, whose business involves running Revive saunas across multiple sites in Dorset such as Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, launching their venture near the waterfront fulfilled a long-held aspiration. At Bowleaze Cove, they provide an affordable wellness session during weekdays specifically designed for those needing some respite after a challenging week.
revivewildsauna.co.uk
Sweheat Sauna, London
Are you a biohacker who enjoys timing your hot and cold plunges, or do you prefer being a relaxed sauna user who exits promptly when your body signals it’s time to stop?
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 along with a sizable cold plunge pool; however, numerous people opt instead to take a dip directly in the dock area, which is frequently checked for hygiene standards.
sweheatsauna.co.uk
Wildwater, Pembrokeshire
The Wildwater Sauna changes locations approximately every month, attracting a dedicated fan base among swimmers, surfers, and local residents. Favorite sites include Newgale, Nolton Haven, Little Haven, Whitesands, and Porthclais.
Scott Chalmers and Richard Lynch, who are documentary filmmakers, founded Wildwater. They established the sauna business as a side project following their travels.
Estonia
They had the six-person capacity trailer manufactured 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 serene and clear nights of the full moon, Scott and Richard arrange exclusive sauna, swimming, and meditation gatherings. Beach cleanup events 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 dynamics created by saunas and their soothing as well as egalitarian impact.”
Leveraging her previous experiences, in 2016, she transformed a horse trailer into the Warmth Community Sauna project, which was initiated by
Compass Festival
In Leeds and supported by the Arts Council, it has since toured various arts festivals, providing complimentary sauna experiences.
In 2024, it settled permanently at Nomad Maison in Sheffield. To stay true to its inclusive principles, an option for contributing forward allows individuals to help fund free community events, sound baths, and various activities.
warmthsauna.co.uk
Earth Bond, 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 adores running her tent sauna business alongside her main job at the NHS. She mentions that she favors tent saunas over trailers since she enjoys feeling the sand beneath her feet.
She mentions that it appeals to everyone. “There’s an element of being in your swimsuit and perspiring that makes people feel more open to sharing. The attendees are not judgmental towards different body types and embrace various situations; if someone isn’t positively inclined upon arrival, they surely leave with a brighter 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 relish breathtaking vistas of the Skerries, Eigg, and more.
Rum
, accompanied by a custom coffee scrub crafted from locally sourced coffee beans, which are a result 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 formed by a tarp suspended between trees serves as a changing room. The facilities include a watering can shower, a soak in saltwater with seaweed, and direct access to the sea. Accessing this spot can be challenging during low tide (wearing rock shoes is essential), whereas high tide makes it ideal for an invigorating dip, often referred to as a “dook.”
arisaigsauna.com
Kernow Springs, Cornwall
Saunas are gaining popularity in the southwest, and a novel type of wellness center is cropping up—the contrast therapy facility. These usually feature saunas, cold plunge pools, ice baths, hot tubs, and showers.
Kernow Springs, located in Wadebridge, represents this idea. Hidden above a ground-level bar within Saltbox—a dining venue 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 operating saunas and hot tubs at festivals, imbues Nordic Spa with an eclectic, festival-like atmosphere.
kernowsprings.co.uk/nordic-spa
Sauna in the Woods, Norfolk
Perhaps it’s due to the freshwater pond, the grove of silver birches, or the sturdy wooden doors and window frames, but the Sauna in the Woods near Norwich exudes a distinctly Scandinavian atmosphere in the low-lying landscapes of East Anglia.
Located within the privately-owned 40-acre woodland area of Pig’s Park, this structure is crafted from fallen trees found in the forest, primarily consisting of Scots pines.
The quiet ambiance here feels enchanting. A vintage bus serves as a dressing area, an erstwhile Jacuzzi 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 soon.
saunainthewoods.co.uk
Extreme Saunas: Top Outdoor Saunas in Britain
by Emma O’Kelly (£18.99, Wild Things Publishing) is available now.
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