Sweat bathing has become one of the hottest wellness trends of the 21st century. Rebecca Pitcairn picks out 10 top spots for coastal saunas…

Anglesey, North Wales

Positioned on – arguably – one of the best beaches in north Wales, Porth Tyn Tywyn, Sawna Bach The Scenic Sauna is everything it says on the tin: relaxing, revitalising and rich in incredible coastal views from the famous island of Anglesey.

Restorative during sunny days, and cosy during the winter drizzle, the wood-fired sauna is split over two levels and seats six to eight people. Extended sessions are held at Full Moon, where sauna-goers are guided through intention setting techniques for the month ahead. Open Thursday to Sunday, prices start from £15 for a 50-minute communal session (from £10.50 with a bulk sauna pass). saunawales.co.uk

Ballygally Beach, Northern Ireland

Dramatic views of Scotland to the east, Ballygally Head to the south and Scawt Hill and Sallagh Braes to the west make Scenic Sauna on Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast a stunning spot to turn up the heat. Dip your toes in the icy Irish Sea or embrace the chill with a full immersion before warming up in the wooden barrel sauna. The sauna is bookable through the historic Ballygally Castle, which has introduced a ‘Sauna by the Sea’ experience including bed and breakfast, a 30-minute sauna and hire of dry robes and Thermos flasks filled with tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Prices from £150. hastingshotels.com/ballygally-castle

Bude, Cornwall

Sitting on a promenade between Bude’s cliffs the barrel-shaped wood-fired Ocean Soul Sauna offers views of three beaches: Crooklets, Middle Beach and Summerleaze from its half moon window. As well as the opportunity to take a dip in the nearby sea pool before your sauna, you can book an in-sauna treatment – choose from a Sea Salt Body Scrub or Moroccan Rassoul Clay Face Mask. Prices from £15. oceansoulsauna.co.uk

Coast National Park, Pembrokeshire

Jumping from beach-to-beach in the incredible Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wildwater Sauna was set up by childhood friends Richard Lynch and Scott Chalmers, who were inspired by the Nordic region of Estonia during their travels as documentary filmmakers.

The mobile sauna perches itself on picturesque beaches, such as Newgale, Whitesands, Porthclais and Nolton Haven, giving sauna goers the opportunity to take a dip in a different part of the coastline each visit. Prices from £15 per person for a 55-minute communal sauna and £85 for private hire. wildwatersauna.com.

Compton Bay Isle of Wight

From former Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank and his wife, Josie’s wellness brand, Slomo, comes this traditional Lithuanian woodfired sauna, situated at the top of the National Trust-owned headland above Compton Bay, in the south coast of the island.

Up to six people can enjoy panoramic views across the bay and beyond. Evangelical about the benefits of sweat bathing and contrast therapy, Rob’s dream is for saunas to become common sights on every beach in the UK. Open between 9am and 5pm at weekends only, prices start from £15 per hour or £75 for private group hire. Last November, the couple also launched the UK’s first floating sauna at Tapnell Farm on the island. slomo.me

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Elie Harbour, Fife

There’s not one but two saunas situated on this stunning stretch of coastline in the East Neuk of Fife. The brainchild of mobile sauna pioneer, Judith Dunlop, Dune was the first sauna to arrive to Scotland’s coast in June 2022. The converted horse trailer is positioned with its floor-to-ceiling glass window facing due west, making the most of the sun setting on the horizon across Elie Harbour Bay and to Elie Beach and the cliffs beyond.

Shore, a second, larger community sauna with ten seats, arrived in February 2024 and overlooks Elie Harbour and Largo Law beyond, where on windy days you’ll be entertained by kites and wind surfers. Prices start from £14.50 hour for an individual space in Shore and £87 to hire Dune for a group of six.

Scottish Seaside Saunas also opened Cellardyke Seaside Sauna, beside freshly renovated Cellardyke Tidal Pool, along the coast, in September 2024, have St Andrews Seaside Sauna, opening, in the university town of St. Andrews, in January 2025 and has set an example for others, to start similar ventures, elsewhere in Scotland. scottishseasidesaunas.com

Port Erin, Isle of Man

Situated right on the golden sandy shores of Port Erin, Kishtey Çheh Beach Spa offers a full outdoor spa experience a mere stone’s throw from the lapping waves. Alternate between invigorating sea dips and the soothing warmth of the sauna, or cold freshwater shower and hot tub. Head there at high tide to make the most of the sun’s reflection glistening across the water. Prices from £9 for 30 minutes. kishteycheh.im

Sandbanks, Dorset

A truly authentic Nordic experience is at the heart of The Saltwater Sauna in Poole, run by Finn Arlene Glyn-Jones and her husband, Sam. Sustainability is also key – for every sauna booked, they plant a tree!

The wood-fired sauna is sat in dunes on the affluent Sandbanks peninsula, looking out over Poole Bay. Here, as well as social saunas, they offer guided rituals with army officer turned UK’s first thermalist instructor, Jane Witt.

Prices from £15 per hour for communal sessions and £55 per person for a 90-minute guided sauna, based on four people sharing (thesaltwatersauna.com). Members of nearby Rockwater Branksome’s Open Water club also get exclusive access to weekly guided sessions. rockwater.co.uk.

St Catherine’s Slipway, Jersey

If an invigorating sea swim isn’t your forte then Sauna Society at St Catherine’s Slipway, on the east coast of Jersey, offers a cold plunge tub or shower as alternative ways to cool down after building up a sweat in the handcrafted wild hut sauna. The six-berth sauna has a panoramic window offering views across the ocean towards France. One-hour communal sessions cost £15 per person, while private hire is £90. saunasociety.co.uk

Worthing, West Sussex

Fire, Salt, Sea founder David Batchelor brought sweat bathing to Worthing’s pebble beach after stumbling across a pop-up in nearby Brighton during the Fringe Festival. His sauna sits within a teal-painted converted horse box, first built in nearby Cowfold in the late 1970s but which has now been transformed into an authentic Nordic sauna with views of the historic and award-winning pier. Communal sessions cost £15 per hour and children over five are welcome when accompanied by an adult. firesaltsea.co.uk/about/