What began with a couple of horseboxes on beaches, wild saunas have become a proper movement in Scotland.
Today, you’ll find over 80 beautifully crafted, wood-fired saunas dotted across loch shores, beaches, and harbours, each offering hot-cold immersion surrounded by breathtaking scenery. From the beaches of the East Neuk of Fife, to urban saunas at Granton and Portobello, to riverside saunas in the Cairngorms, here is my guide to all the outdoor and wild saunas in Scotland.
This guide was last checked in September 2026 – so if you know of one I have missed, or spot something out of date, get in touch.
Wild saunas in Scotland
Every wild sauna I could find in Scotland, from the Solway Firth to Shetland. Beaches, lochs, riverbanks, woodland and a few that move around. Tap a sauna to read about it.
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Soul Water Sauna Portobello
Edinburgh's first beach sauna, set at the end of a residential street on Portobello promenade with open views across the Firth of Forth. Lively and social – walkers, swimmers and dog-walkers all passing by. Sixty or ninety minute sessions, with the sea a few steps away for the cold bit.
↑ Back to mapSoul Water Sauna Granton
On Granton promenade beside The Pitt food market and events space, so you can go from sauna to street food in about ninety seconds. Open views over the Forth and the same sociable feel as Portobello.
↑ Back to mapSoul Water Sauna Dalkeith
Their Wandering Bear sauna has found a permanent home among ancient oaks beside the River Esk, with a fire pit to sit round between rounds. Woodland and open sky rather than sea – a different mood entirely from the beach sites.
↑ Back to mapSpear Sauna
A wood-fired sauna overlooking the surf cove at Europe's largest inland surf resort. More social than most standalone saunas, with surfers and swimmers coming and going. Surf lesson first, sauna after, is the way to do it.
↑ Back to mapPuffin Sauna
A horsebox sauna in a working market garden in the middle of Leith, at the community croft run by Earth in Common. Cold plunge barrels rather than sea. Proof that a wild sauna does not need a coastline.
↑ Back to mapPentland View Outdoor Sauna
Tucked out of sight at the foot of the Pentlands until you reach the bottom of the hill, sheltered by a grassy embankment and a few trees. Open hill views and no sea in sight – the quietest of the Edinburgh options.
↑ Back to mapHot & Bothy
A sauna village behind Archerfield Walled Garden with two wood-fired saunas and a fire pit to gather round. The yurt sauna is the only publicly available one of its kind in the UK, which alone makes it worth the trip to East Lothian.
↑ Back to mapEscape Sauna
Two saunas on the dunes beside Drift Coffeehouse, a few miles east of North Berwick and half a mile from Tantallon Castle. Escape to the Bay is wood-fired; Bass is electric. Both look out over the Firth of Forth to the Bass Rock. Coffee and cake at Drift afterwards.
↑ Back to mapBYRE at Balgone
A wood-fired sauna on a 1,500-acre working farm two miles from North Berwick, looking out over open East Lothian countryside with the estate's Highland cows grazing nearby. Rural and quiet – a working farm rather than a beach.
↑ Back to mapHot Fox Sauna
Inside Foxlake Adventures, an outdoor activity centre in woodland on the edge of the John Muir Way. The cold plunge is straight into the lake. Cable wakeboarding on site if you want to make a full day of it.
↑ Back to mapWild Scottish Sauna Elie
A wood-fired cabin on the dunes at Shell Bay, reached through the caravan site, with easy access to the sea – though the tidal draw is long, so check before you commit to the dip. The pick of the Wild Scottish Sauna sites for many regulars.
↑ Back to mapWild Scottish Sauna Kingsbarns
Wilder and more remote than the other Fife sites, on a beach loved by wild swimmers. Sweeping dunes and huge skies – the one to choose if you want solitude rather than company.
↑ Back to mapWild Scottish Sauna St Andrews
Behind the dunes on West Sands with the North Sea in front and the Old Course curving away beyond. Minutes from the town centre, so it gets students, locals and visitors in the same session. Free parking and a cafe next door.
↑ Back to mapWild Scottish Sauna Eden Springs
A lochside sauna tucked among the trees at the fishery, with a jetty for getting into the water. Changing rooms, toilets and a cafe on site – the most comfortable of their locations, and a good first wild sauna.
↑ Back to mapWild Scottish Sauna Kinross
Their freshwater site, beside a loch just off the M90 at Kinross. Handy if you are driving north or south and want to break the journey with something better than a service station.
↑ Back to mapLargo Castaway Sauna
On the edge of Largo Bay, with multi-coloured changing huts, orange slices between heat cycles and home-made tablet afterwards. The picture window frames the Forth, looking across to North Berwick Law and the Bass Rock on a clear day. Named for Lower Largo's own Alexander Selkirk, the real Robinson Crusoe.
↑ Back to mapBees Sauna
A tent sauna on the grass overlooking the Firth of Tay beside Broughty Ferry Castle, described by its owner as comfortably wild. Direct access to the sandy beach, an easy hop from Dundee, and Izzy the sauna dog on the welcome committee.
↑ Back to mapWild Scottish Sauna Forbes of Kingennie
Beside the water at the Forbes of Kingennie country resort just outside Dundee, and the inland option for anyone who would rather not deal with a North Sea tide.
↑ Back to mapHotBox Sauna
A floating wood-fired sauna on Loch Tay – you step straight off the deck into the loch, which is about as direct as cold-water contrast gets. Scotland's only sauna that moves with the water rather than on a trailer.
↑ Back to mapBraan Sauna
A wood-fired sauna on the banks of the Tay at The Taybank in Dunkeld, with a cold plunge tank and a firepit. Music and food in the bar afterwards – the Taybank has been a folk institution for years.
↑ Back to mapWildEmber Bothy Sauna
On the quiet north shore of Loch Tay near Kenmore, framed by the seven Munros of the Lawers ridge and hidden among the trees beside the loch at the Crannog Centre. Traditional wood-fired heat in a genuinely spectacular setting.
↑ Back to mapThaw Sauna
On the shore of Loch Earn in St Fillans, surrounded by the central Highlands. Warm up, then plunge into the loch. The obvious reset after a day on the hills around Lochearnhead.
↑ Back to mapKnoydart Sauna
On the beach at Inverie on the Knoydart peninsula – reachable only by boat from Mallaig or a long walk over the hills. Run by two local lads, with the sea in front and a freshwater river a few steps from the door for the plunge. Reviewers report dolphins, otters and a sea eagle inside an hour.
↑ Back to mapSauna Cairngorms
On the shores of freshwater Loch Alvie, three miles south-west of Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. Clear water, gentle hills and greenery all round – and Cub the sauna dog is often about.
↑ Back to mapCromarty Community Sauna
Moves around the town of Cromarty on the shores of the Cromarty Firth, and it is hard to get closer to the shoreline than this. Community-run, with all profits reinvested into local projects. Check where it is before you set off – it does not stay put.
↑ Back to mapClach Mara Sauna
A mobile wood-fired sauna working the far north coast, with views that do the slowing-down for you. On the NC500 route, and a very good reason to break the drive. Locations change, so check before travelling.
↑ Back to mapSuilanu Sauna
A handcrafted sauna on a croft at Broadford, sitting beneath a picture-perfect view of Bla Bheinn – the kind of view that unknots your shoulders before you have even stepped inside. Day retreats with yoga and shared lunch as well as sauna sessions.
↑ Back to mapStaffin Sea Sauna
A Scandinavian-style sea-view sauna at the community-owned Staffin Harbour on the north-east coast of Skye, in the shadow of the Quiraing. Corran Coffee roasts a few doors along, so you can make a morning of it.
↑ Back to mapBarbos Sauna
A horsebox sauna on the Aberdeen Esplanade, just along from the old fishing village of Footdee – Fittie to locals. On a wild day the waves throw themselves at the shore while you sit in the steam and eucalyptus, which is quite the combination. Rated five stars by nearly eighty people.
↑ Back to mapTeth Sauna
At the old fishing village of Collieston on the Aberdeenshire coast. Teth is Scots for heat, and the North Sea just below provides the other half. A refreshing pause in the day rather than a full production.
↑ Back to mapFyrhus Sauna
Nestled in the dunes at Hopeman East Beach, seconds from a sea dip on the Moray Firth. One of the most straightforwardly lovely settings on this list.
↑ Back to mapWatershed Sauna
Built inside a vintage horsebox with a wood-fired stove sourced from Finland. Usually at Findhorn East beach but it turns up in other remote spots too. They run sauna bingo – spot all nine wildlife species on the card and win a private hour.
↑ Back to mapStonesthrow Sauna
A wood-fired sauna just above the shoreline at Whiting Bay with direct access to the sea and views across the water. It moves between locations on Arran, so check where it is before you get the ferry.
↑ Back to mapGreen Goddess Sauna
Housed inside a converted 1960s Bedford army truck, built from reclaimed materials and fitted with a Finnish stove. Parked beside the beach at Blackwaterfoot on Arran's west coast. Almost certainly the most characterful sauna in Scotland.
↑ Back to mapCoorie In Sauna
Tucked among the trees beside the beach at Tralee Bay Holiday Park, twenty minutes north of Oban. The soft sand and clear water of Ardmucknish Bay are right there for the cold half.
↑ Back to mapSauna Wanna
A mobile sauna on the pier at Stromness with direct sea access – about as authentic an Orkney experience as you can arrange in an hour. Harbour, ferries and the Atlantic beyond.
↑ Back to mapHaar Sauna
A wood-fired mobile sauna on the tombolo at St Ninian's – the largest sand tombolo in Britain, with sea on both sides of the sand bar you walk out along. The most northerly sauna in the country and quite possibly the most dramatic setting.
↑ Back to mapWild Dook Sauna
Mhairi's mobile seaside sauna, usually at Mossyard Beach on the Solway but it also turns up beside the loch at Moffat Distillery. The only wild sauna in the whole of Dumfries and Galloway, and the Solway sunsets are worth the trip on their own.
↑ Back to mapSauna at the Kings
Becky Gorrara was a primary school teacher until a six-degree dip at Cullen with a friend made her think, wouldn't a sauna be amazing. She quit and built one. A wood-fired barrel in an elevated spot right on the golden sands, framed by the Three Kings rock stacks, with the North Sea as the plunge pool. Female-owned, local wood, up to eight, and a social session where the locals show you how it is done.
↑ Back to mapStonehaven Paddleboarding Sauna
A wood-fired sauna right beside the beach at Stonehaven Harbour, with safe sea swimming, a whisky-barrel freshwater plunge, a wood-fired hot bath and proper changing rooms. One of the better-equipped setups on the east coast.
↑ Back to mapFraileach Sauna
A wood-fired sauna in a converted horsebox at Port Erroll Harbour in the old fishing village of Cruden Bay, with harbour views and sea swimming if you want it. The host is known for a kind, relaxed welcome – whether you are people-watching or wave-watching.
↑ Back to mapThe Little Sauna
A wood-fired community sauna beside the River Don at Keig, down a track in rural Aberdeenshire. Social and private sessions with wild river dipping on the doorstep – one of very few inland community saunas in the north east.
↑ Back to mapThe Sauna Hoose
A mobile wood-fired barrel sauna on Fraserburgh Beach, an award-winning stretch of Aberdeenshire sand. Private hire or communal sessions. Being mobile, it is worth checking where it is before you drive up.
↑ Back to mapWild Braemar Wilderness Sauna
Where the River Connie and the River Ey meet in the Cairngorms – a hand-built aspen and cedar sauna with waterfall views and dark, peaty Highland river plunges. Guided by naturalist and wild swimmer Annie Armstrong as a private experience for up to six. The most considered and the most expensive sauna on this list, and by most accounts worth it.
↑ Back to mapWest Coast Wellness
A warm oasis with unbeatable views over Loch Fyne, run as part of a farm-set wellness operation with yoga, hill walking and wild swimming alongside the sauna. The only wild sauna on Loch Fyne.
↑ Back to mapNowhere Sauna
Hidden in the trees beside a large pond outside Crieff, with several cold options – a big round cold bath, a bucket shower fed with river water, and plunge pools. Herbal waters poured on the coals, a covered changing area and lockers. Rated five stars by nearly three hundred people, and repeatedly called the best sauna in Scotland by those who have tried a few.
↑ Back to mapBallintaggart Farm Sauna
An eight-person handmade wood-fired sauna tucked into the hillside at Ballintaggart Farm, with sweeping views across the Tay Valley. Cold plunge pool or bracing shower, then a fire to toast marshmallows by, with drinks and small bites from the kitchen. The estate's cook school featured on Scotland's Greatest Escapes. Open to non-guests as well as those staying. It is a slow narrow road in, with the occasional sheep, so leave time.
↑ Back to mapSalting Station
On the harbour at St Abbs, one of the loveliest corners of the Berwickshire coast. Rock pools to dip in, freshwater showers, water and fruit laid on, and a picture-window view of the sea and the cliffs. Everything thought through – and the only sauna on the Borders coast.
↑ Back to mapCedar Hus
Laura and her team run a sauna that travels between farm locations in the Borders and out to private events. Cold plunge, ice bucket and shower for the cool-down, and a reputation for hen dos and birthday gatherings as much as quiet sessions. Check where it is before you go.
↑ Back to mapThe Wild Wellness Sauna at Airhouses
A sauna and plunge pool in the Lammermuir foothills near Lauder, with a luxury glamping pod alongside for changing, tea and a sit down afterwards. Big views, and gentler than a sea dip if that is your preference.
↑ Back to mapSaltbox Sauna Stornoway
The Hebridean operation that started it all, with a spacious sauna box on the wharf at Stornoway and a guided walk-through of the whole experience. Sea dips off the harbour, sauna hats, and a crew people rave about. They also run sessions at Bayble Beach and up in Ullapool.
↑ Back to mapSaltbox Sauna Horgabost
Parked right in front of the beach at Horgabost, drive-through-the-campsite close, looking out over one of the most photographed stretches of sand in Britain. Ten to fifteen minutes in the heat then straight into the Atlantic. Also found at Northton and Reef beach.
↑ Back to mapWee Barra Sauna
A small owner-built sauna at Dunard in Castlebay with a whisky-barrel cold dip, felt hats and essential oils. The only sauna in Barra, and about as far out into the Atlantic as this list goes. Reviews are mixed on the state of the facilities, so worth a look before booking.
↑ Back to mapHebridean Spa
Kristina and her husband built this from scratch at their house outside Stornoway – sauna, hot tub, plunge pool, outdoor bar, fire pit and treatment rooms, with views over the moor. More polished than most on this list, and the local food offering is part of the appeal.
↑ Back to mapBothan Jura Wild Sauna
Right at the shore on Corran Sands with the Paps of Jura behind and the sea in front. Dip in the sea or in the burn – people describe running between the two giggling. Pi is the host. Getting to Jura takes two ferries, and every review says it is worth it.
↑ Back to mapIsland Sauna Shack
On the old pier at Salen looking across the Sound of Mull towards Tobermory. Sea access either off a floating pier straight into deep water or gradually off the stones. They run guided full-moon sauna and meditation sessions as well as ordinary bookings.
↑ Back to mapOrkney Hot Tubs
Hazel runs sauna sessions on Inganess beach and at the Ness slipway in Stromness, 100 degrees with the sea to swim in and sauna hats to borrow. Mobile, so check the location when you book.
↑ Back to mapHaar Sauna Lerwick
Haar's second site, in Lerwick itself rather than out at St Ninian's. Wood-fired with cold plunge pools and a cold shower, big windows and a community-session feel. Handy if the weather makes the tombolo a bad idea.
↑ Back to mapThe Wee Wild Sauna
Close enough to the beach for a sea dip at high tide, with cold water tubs and a cold shower for when the tide is out. Changing facilities on site and a sociable feel – people end up chatting to the other groups in their session. The only wild sauna on the Ayrshire coast.
↑ Back to mapElie Seaside Sauna
Judith's sauna at Elie harbour, separate from the Wild Scottish Sauna site on the dunes at Shell Bay. A huge window over the sea, spacious decking, and a demonstration of the fan method and the sauna hats if you want to get the most out of the heat. One Finnish visitor called it the perfect escape.
↑ Back to mapApplecross Sauna
Right on the water's edge at the Boatshed in Applecross, over the Bealach na Ba. Ninety degrees inside, ice-cold dips in the sea, and seals in the bay while you sit. No spa frills – that is not what this is – but the views and the welcome are why people come.
↑ Back to mapOthala Sauna
On the shore at Lower Diabaig at the end of a spectacular single-track road, looking across the loch to Skye. Repeatedly called the most beautiful sauna in Scotland by people who have been to a lot of them. Gille Brighde next door for food afterwards.
↑ Back to mapFire & Steam Sauna, Shieldaig Lodge
In the grounds of Shieldaig Lodge overlooking the bay, run by Gairloch Canoe and Kayak Centre. Zinc tub of cold water beside the sauna if the loch is a step too far, and seals in view from the window. A very good NC500 stop on a wet day.
↑ Back to mapFire & Steam Sauna, Sands
The same operator's second spot, at Sands campsite north of Gairloch, with a slipway down to the sea and views over Longa island to Skye, Lewis and Harris and the Torridon hills. Cafe on site afterwards.
↑ Back to mapThe Loyly Co
On the campsite at Clachtoll in Assynt, looking out over the bay to Split Rock. Spacious, properly hot, with a cold shower and cold foot baths, and grapefruit water laid on. Generous 75-minute slots.
↑ Back to mapSeaview Sauna
On Dunnet Bay on the far north coast, with whisky-barrel cold plunges, a bathtub and a shower to choose between, and cows in the next field. AJ hosts, and hands out orange quarters at the end. Ninety minutes, which regulars say is exactly right.
↑ Back to mapGreat Glen Sauna
A converted horsebox beside the Caledonian Canal at the historic Bridge of Oich, right on the Great Glen Way. Plunge straight into the river with the old bridge in view. Sarah is the host, and it is the obvious reward after Ben Nevis.
↑ Back to mapArisaig Sauna
Rebecca's horsebox sauna on a croft, now near Acharacle with views out over Loch Shiel and a short ramp down to the water. Free oil for the stones, a cold plunge bath, and coffee they roast themselves and eggs from their own hens for sale.
↑ Back to mapWilderness Sauna, Woodlands Glencoe
Glass-fronted and looking straight out over Loch Leven to the Glencoe hills. Cold plunge bath and pull-handle buckets, a warm changing area, and a fully self-service setup – you will not meet anyone, which some people prefer.
↑ Back to mapThe Wild Sauna Company
On the shore of the Lake of Menteith – the only body of water in Scotland called a lake rather than a loch. Walkway into the water, sauna hats, water shoes provided, and the Lake of Menteith Hotel next door for lunch by the fire afterwards.
↑ Back to mapHot Tottie Sauna
At the old lifeboat house on Luss beach, where the river meets the loch – twenty steps in either direction gets you into clear fresh water. Glass-fronted and properly hot. No changing facilities, so come ready.
↑ Back to mapEir Sauna
On the shore at Arrochar looking up Loch Long, run by Rebecca, an NHS nurse who took the plunge on her own business. Cold plunge bath and a drench bucket as well as the loch, and fresh fruit and water laid on. The obvious finish after the Cobbler.
↑ Back to mapClyde Coast Saunas
In the grounds of Kelburn Estate above the Clyde, with a dip in crystal-clear water and views over to Cumbrae and Arran. Highly rated and well run – the owner has been known to dog-sit while you are in.
↑ Back to mapSauna at the Sea
A converted horsebox on the shore at Torrs Farm with a path down to the water, plus a hot tub, ice bath and a geodesic tent with kitchen and living space if you book the package. A second site at Second Sands, Port William.
↑ Back to mapOrka Sauna
A few steps from the clear water of Burghead bay on the Moray coast, with buckets of cold water for anyone not fancying the swim. New, small and spotless.
↑ Back to mapStravaig Saunas
On a hillside above the Dee at Crathie with Lochnagar in the distance – a wood-burning stove, a picture window and a cold bath outside with wooden seats to sit and look at the world. Self-service and private, which is much of the appeal.
↑ Back to mapSeaway Sauna
A wood-burning sauna in a pine cabin on the beach at Monifieth, with a secure staircase down and a plunge straight into the North Sea. Run by Pauline and Derrick. Reviews are mostly excellent though not unanimous – worth confirming your booking directly.
↑ Back to mapCellardyke Seaside Sauna
Beside the tidal pool at Cellardyke, with a ladder down into it and a view out to the Isle of May. Same people as Elie Seaside Sauna. No changing area or tap, so come prepared – and bring sandals for the gravel.
↑ Back to mapThe Sauna at Loch Insh
At the Loch Insh Outdoor Centre in the Spey valley, with the loch a few steps away and the Cairngorms behind. Part of a working watersports centre, so you can paddle or ski first and sit in the heat afterwards.
↑ Back to mapSauna at the Sea, Port William
The second Sauna at the Sea site, a converted horsebox at Second Sands in the village of Port William on Luce Bay. Cool off outside or run down to the beach. The only sauna in the Machars.
↑ Back to mapEastwood Forest Sauna
In alpine forest at Newton Mearns on the southern edge of Glasgow – the closest wild sauna to the city and the only one that is properly a forest sauna. Plunge pools that reviewers confirm are cold enough, a wee cafe alongside for a coffee after, and a good spot for yoga and meditation sessions.
↑ Back to mapThe Wild Heat Sauna
A wood-stove sauna in the West End with sherry barrels for the cold plunge and a view over the cricket field. Gary and Louis have built a genuine sanctuary in the middle of the city – orange slices, drinking water and an hour-long session. The most urban sauna on this list.
↑ Back to mapSmugglers Sauna
A converted horsebox on the shore of Loch an Eilein, built by local craftsman Zeki Basan and named for the whisky smuggling this part of the Cairngorms was once known for. Fifty-minute slots for one to four people, with a host who briefs you on arrival and works the stove throughout. Signposted left from the Loch an Eilein car park. Book at least 24 hours ahead – and check first, as Rothiemurchus have the sauna listed as temporarily out of use.
↑ Back to mapPick a region or choose a type to see the saunas.
83254137373171264423 saunas showing
Nearly all of these need booking in advance, and many are seasonal. The ones marked mobile move between locations — sometimes week to week — so always check where a sauna actually is before you set off. Bring two towels, flip-flops and something warm for after.
Where to find a wild sauna in Scotland
There are over 80 outdoor and wild saunas in Scotland, spread across the country. The most remote sauna in Scotland is Knoydart Sauna at Inverie, reachable only by boat from Mallaig or an eighteen-mile walk; the most northerly is Haar Sauna on the tombolo at St Ninian’s in Shetland. Public sessions typically cost £15 to £25 per person for 60 to 90 minutes, and almost all need booking in advance.
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Wild saunas in Fife and the East Neuk
There are seven wild saunas dotted along the Fife coast, which makes this the densest sauna coastline in Scotland. Wild Scottish Sauna alone has four sites here, and the East Neuk villages have three more between them.
Wild Scottish Sauna Elie
Shell Bay, Elie
Elie Seaside Sauna
Elie Harbour, Fife
Wild Scottish Sauna Kingsbarns
Kingsbarns Beach, Fife
Wild Scottish Sauna St Andrews
West Sands, St Andrews
Wild Scottish Sauna Eden Springs
Eden Springs Fishery, Fife
Largo Castaway Sauna
Lower Largo, Fife
Cellardyke Seaside Sauna
East End, Cellardyke, Anstruther
Wild saunas in Glasgow
There are two saunas in Glasgow, and they could not be less alike. One is a forest sauna at Newton Mearns on the southern edge of the city, the other a wood-stove sauna in a Partick back street with a view over the cricket field. Both are a bus ride from the centre.
Eastwood Forest Sauna
Langlee Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow
The Wild Heat Sauna
40-44 Peel Street, Partick, Glasgow
Wild saunas in Edinburgh
There are five wild saunas in Edinburgh. There are two beach saunas on the promenades at Portobello and Granton, a horsebox in a working market garden in Leith, one overlooking a surf lagoon at Ratho and one hidden at the foot of the Pentlands.
Soul Water Sauna Portobello
Portobello Beach, Edinburgh
Soul Water Sauna Granton
Granton Promenade, Edinburgh
Spear Sauna
Lost Shore Surf Resort, Ratho
Puffin Sauna
Leith Community Croft, Edinburgh
Pentland View Outdoor Sauna
Pentland Hills, Edinburgh
Wild saunas in East Lothian
There are four saunas on the coast east of Edinburgh, all within forty minutes of the city. A yurt behind a walled garden, two saunas on the dunes looking at the Bass Rock, and one on a working farm with Highland cows for company.
Hot & Bothy
Archerfield Walled Garden, Dirleton
Escape Sauna
Quarrel Sands, by Drift Coffeehouse, North Berwick
BYRE at Balgone
Balgone Estate, North Berwick
Hot Fox Sauna
Foxlake Adventures, Dunbar
Wild saunas in Midlothian
There is one wild sauna in the woods at Dalkeith Country Park beside the River Esk. Surround yourself with ancient oaks and a fire pit.
Soul Water Sauna Dalkeith
Dalkeith Country Park, Midlothian
Wild saunas in the Scottish Borders
There are three wild saunas in the Scottish Border – and none are located on the obvious tourist trail. There is a harbour sauna at St Abbs, one that travels between farms near Melrose, and a pod in the Lammermuir foothills above Lauder.
Salting Station
The Harbour, St Abbs
Cedar Hus
Bewliehill Farm, by Melrose
The Wild Wellness Sauna at Airhouses
Airhouse, Lauder
Wild saunas in Dundee and Angus
There are three wild saunas on the Tay and the Angus sands – a tent sauna beside Broughty Ferry castle, an inland one at Kingennie and a pine cabin on Monifieth beach.
Bees Sauna
Broughty Ferry Beach, Dundee
Wild Scottish Sauna Forbes of Kingennie
Forbes of Kingennie, by Dundee
Seaway Sauna
Monifieth Beach, Angus
Wild saunas in Perthshire
There are seven wild saunas in Perthhire from a floating sauna on Loch Tay, a riverside one at Dunkeld, woodland outside Crieff and to a sauna on a farm hillside above the Tay valley.
Wild Scottish Sauna Kinross
Loch Leven, Kinross
HotBox Sauna
Taymouth Marina, Kenmore, Loch Tay
Braan Sauna
The Taybank, Dunkeld
WildEmber Bothy Sauna
Scottish Crannog Centre, Loch Tay
Thaw Sauna
St Fillans, Loch Earn
Nowhere Sauna
Braincroft, by Crieff
Ballintaggart Farm Sauna
Grandtully, by Aberfeldy
Wild saunas at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
There are three saunas at Loch Lomond and in the Trossachs the Lake of Menteith, Luss beach and the shore at Arrochar. All three have the water a few steps from the door, and all three are inside the national park.
The Wild Sauna Company
Port of Menteith, Lake of Menteith
Hot Tottie Sauna
The Lifeboat House, Luss, Loch Lomond
Eir Sauna
Rossmay House, Shore Road, Arrochar
Wild saunas in the Cairngorms National Park
Sauna Cairngorms
Loch Alvie, by Aviemore
Smugglers Sauna
Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus, by Aviemore
Wild saunas in the Highlands
There are 14 saunas right across the Highlands. This is where the wild sauna scene is at its wildest: Applecross, Diabaig, Gairloch, Assynt, Knoydart and the far north coast. Several are on the North Coast 500.
[lfs_listing name="Knoydart Sauna" location="Long Beach, Inverie, Knoydart" url="https://www.knoydartsauna.com/" type="Wild Sauna" category="Seaside"]On the beach at Inverie on the Knoydart peninsula – reachable only by boat from Mallaig or a long walk over the hills. Run by two local lads, with the sea in front and a freshwater river a few steps from the door for the plunge. Reviewers report dolphins, otters and a sea eagle inside an hour.Cromarty Community Sauna
Cromarty, Black Isle
Clach Mara Sauna
North coast, Caithness
Applecross Sauna
The Boatshed, Applecross
Othala Sauna
The Shore, Lower Diabaig, Torridon
Fire & Steam Sauna, Shieldaig Lodge
Kayak Centre, Shieldaig Lodge, Gairloch
Fire & Steam Sauna, Sands
Sands Campsite, Gairloch
The Loyly Co
Clachtoll Beach Campsite, Lochinver
Seaview Sauna
Dunnet Bay, by Thurso
Great Glen Sauna
Bridge of Oich, Invergarry
Arisaig Sauna
Dalnabreac, Acharacle
Wilderness Sauna, Woodlands Glencoe
Old Ferry Brae, Ballachulish
The Sauna at Loch Insh
Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, Kingussie
Wild saunas in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray
There are 12 saunas in Aberdeen city, the Aberdeenshire fishing villages, the Moray Firth and Royal Deeside.
Barbos Sauna
Esplanade, North Square, Aberdeen Seafront
Teth Sauna
Collieston, Aberdeenshire
Fyrhus Sauna
Hopeman East Beach, Moray
Watershed Sauna
Findhorn East Beach, Moray
Sauna at the Kings
The Links, Cullen Beach, Moray
Stonehaven Paddleboarding Sauna
Shorehead, Stonehaven Harbour
Fraileach Sauna
Port Erroll Harbour, Cruden Bay
The Little Sauna
Keig, by Alford, Aberdeenshire
The Sauna Hoose
South Harbour Road, Fraserburgh
Wild Braemar Wilderness Sauna
Braemar, Royal Deeside
Orka Sauna
Station Road, Burghead, Moray
Stravaig Saunas
Torgalter, Crathie, Ballater
Wild saunas in Argyll, Arran, Jura, Mull and on Skye
There are six saunas across Arran, Jura, Mull, Loch Fyne and the coast north of Oban. Several need a ferry, and all of them are worth it.
Suilanu Sauna
Broadford, Isle of Skye
Staffin Sea Sauna
Staffin Harbour, Isle of Skye
Stonesthrow Sauna
Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran
Green Goddess Sauna
Blackwaterfoot Beach, Isle of Arran
Coorie In Sauna
Tralee Bay, by Oban
West Coast Wellness
Loch Fyne, Argyll
Bothan Jura Wild Sauna
Corran Sands, Knockrome, Isle of Jura
Island Sauna Shack
Aros Pier, Salen, Isle of Mull
Wild saunas in the Outer Hebrides
There are four saunas in the Outer Hebrides across Lewis, Harris and Barra. Saltbox runs the two coastal sites and tours further afield, and Barra’s is at the far end of the chain.
Saltbox Sauna Stornoway
King Edward Wharf, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Saltbox Sauna Horgabost
Horgabost Beach, Isle of Harris
Wee Barra Sauna
Dunard, Castlebay, Isle of Barra
Hebridean Spa
Tong Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
Wild saunas in Orkney and Shetland
There are four saunas in Orkney and Shetland, including the most northerly sauna in Britain, out on the tombolo at St Ninian’s.
Sauna Wanna
Ness Road, Stromness, Orkney
Haar Sauna
St Ninian's Beach, Bigton, Shetland
Orkney Hot Tubs
Inganess Beach & Ness Slipway, Orkney
Haar Sauna Lerwick
27 South Road, Lerwick, Shetland
Wild saunas in Ayrshire and on the Clyde
There are two saunas on the Clyde coast – at Prestwick beach and the Kelburn Estate above Fairlie, both with a dip in the firth and views to Arran.
The Wee Wild Sauna
31 Grangemuir Road, Prestwick
Clyde Coast Saunas
Kelburn Estate, Fairlie, by Largs
Wild saunas in Dumfries and Galloway
There are three saunas along the Solway and out into the Machars, in a corner of Scotland that most sauna guides forget entirely.
Wild Dook Sauna
Mossyard Beach, Dumfries & Galloway
Sauna at the Sea
Torrs Farm, Kirkcudbright
Sauna at the Sea, Port William
Second Sands, Port William
What to expect the first time
A wild sauna is hotter and more sociable than a gym one. You sit on a towel, someone ladles water onto the stones every few minutes, and after ten or fifteen minutes you go out and get cold – in the sea, a loch, a river, a barrel or just the air. Then you go back in. Three rounds is normal.
Nobody is watching your technique and there is no right way to do it. Sessions are usually shared unless you have booked private hire, and the conversation with strangers turns out to be a large part of why people keep going back. If the heat is too much, sit on a lower bench or step outside – nobody minds.
Wild saunas in Scotland: your questions answered
How many wild saunas are there in Scotland?
There are 82 outdoor and wild saunas in Scotland, across all sixteen regions from the Solway Firth to Shetland. The Highlands has the most with 16, followed by Aberdeen and Moray with 12 and Fife with 7. Almost none of them existed five years ago.
Where can I find a sauna in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has five: Soul Water on Portobello beach and again on Granton promenade, Puffin at the Leith Community Croft, Spear at the Lost Shore surf resort in Ratho, and Pentland View at the foot of the hills. Another four sit just along the coast in East Lothian, and one at Dalkeith in Midlothian.
Is there a wild sauna near Glasgow?
Two. Eastwood Forest Sauna sits in alpine forest at Newton Mearns on the southern edge of the city, and The Wild Heat Sauna is a wood-stove sauna on Peel Street in Partick with sherry barrels for the cold plunge. For a loch instead, Luss and Arrochar are both under an hour away.
How much does a wild sauna in Scotland cost?
Most public sessions run from about £15 to £25 per person for 60 to 90 minutes, and social sessions can drop to around £11. Private hire for a group is usually £80 to £150. Wild Braemar’s guided wilderness experience is the outlier at around £500 for up to six.
Do I need to book a wild sauna in advance?
Almost always. Most hold six to ten people and weekend sessions go quickly. Some take bookings up to half an hour before a session starts, so it is worth checking for late space. Mobile saunas need checking in particular, because the location changes.
What should I bring to a wild sauna?
Two towels – one to sit on, one to dry with – plus a swimsuit, flip-flops or water shoes, a bottle of water and something warm and loose for afterwards. Several have no changing area, so it is often easiest to arrive sauna-ready.
Do you have to get in the cold water?
No. The cold is where most of the benefit is said to be, but nobody makes you do it and plenty of people just sit in the heat and cool off in the air. Many saunas offer a bucket, a cold shower or a plunge tub as a gentler option than the North Sea.
How hot is a wild sauna?
Usually between 80 and 100 degrees, which is hotter than most gym saunas. Wood-fired heat feels softer than electric because of the way steam is thrown onto the stones – the Finnish word for it is löyly. Sit lower down if it is too much.
What is the difference between a wild sauna and a spa sauna?
A wild sauna is wood-fired, outdoors and built around natural cold water – the sea, a loch or a river – rather than a tiled plunge pool indoors. The setting is the point. You will not find robes and slippers, and you will often be sharing with strangers.
Can you use wild saunas in Scotland in winter?
Winter is when they are best. The contrast between the heat and genuinely cold air is far stronger, there are fewer people, and the light is better. Most operate year round. Sea temperatures around Scotland bottom out at roughly six to eight degrees in February.
Which wild saunas are on the North Coast 500?
Clach Mara works the Caithness coast, Seaview sits on Dunnet Bay near Thurso, and Fire & Steam has two sites at Gairloch. Applecross Sauna is at the Boatshed over the Bealach na Bà, and The Loyly Co is on the campsite at Clachtoll in Assynt.
Where is the most remote wild sauna in Scotland?
Knoydart Sauna on Long Beach at Inverie, reachable only by boat from Mallaig or an eighteen-mile walk over the hills. The most northerly is Haar Sauna on St Ninian’s beach in Shetland. Othala at Lower Diabaig in Torridon is regularly called the most beautiful.
Is cold water immersion safe?
For most healthy adults, in short doses, yes – but cold water shock is real and sea conditions change quickly. Go in gradually rather than jumping, never swim alone, keep it short, and warm up properly afterwards. If you have a heart condition or are pregnant, take medical advice first. Sauna hosts do not provide lifeguard cover.
Before you go
Opening hours change with the season and many of these are one-person operations, so check before you travel. Several move between locations, sometimes week to week, so confirm where a sauna actually is on the day. And take the cold water seriously: go in gradually, keep it short, and have dry clothes and something hot ready for afterwards.
Kate – Love from Scotland x
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