Banish the Winter Blues with a Rejuvenating Outdoor Sauna

If you’re looking to combine relaxation and wellness with something a little bit different, few experiences match the magic of an outdoor sauna, especially in the dull winter months. While it may be a newer concept here in the UK, outdoor saunas are a longstanding tradition in Scandinavian and Nordic cultures, where the therapeutic powers of saunas are well known. 

Nature saunas bring together the revitalising power of heat therapy, and the calming presence of the natural world. Imagine relaxing in a cosy, wood-panelled sauna with panoramic views of the sea, before stepping into a cooling plunge pool, or taking a refreshing sea dip on a quiet beach. Here in North Wales you can do just that, so why not banish the winter blues with a rejuvenating outdoor sauna, and let the healing powers of nature and heat therapy work their magic on your wellbeing.

The Countless Benefits of Saunas

Saunas are more than just a luxurious way to relax – they offer countless health benefits including improved cardiovascular health, stress reduction and pain relief. Some studies have found that the benefits of regular sauna use are so great that they may even help us live longer! 

So just what is it that makes saunas so beneficial? Let’s take a look:

Stress Relief and Relaxation:

Regular sauna use can boost our overall mental wellbeing. By reducing cortisol levels, and prompting the release of endorphins, saunas naturally lower stress and generate feelings of calm and happiness. The perfect way to banish those winter blues!

Respiratory Health:

Saunas help to open our airways and ease congestion, lowering the risk of colds and other respiratory infections (making them particularly beneficial in the winter months).

Improved Cardiovascular Health:

Saunas mimic the effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system, helping to lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. 

Pain Reduction and Muscle Relaxation:

Heat therapy relaxes muscles, improves circulation, and reduces inflammation, providing relief for conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches, and back pain. This can be even more effective when paired with cold water immersion such as a refreshing sea dip.

Detoxification:

Sweating in a sauna helps flush out toxins and reduce fluid retention, supporting the body’s natural detox processes.

With so many benefits, it’s no wonder saunas are becoming increasingly popular as part of a regular wellness routine. 

Enjoy an Outdoor Sauna in North Wales

Here in North Wales we’re lucky to have a number of nature saunas in some truly beautiful locations, meaning you can make a rejuvenating outdoor sauna part of your next Dioni holiday.

Sawna Criccieth Sauna

Newly opened Sawna Criccieth Sauna, is a traditional Scandinavian, wood-fired sauna located just a stone’s throw from the sea, above Criccieth beach. The view from the sauna takes in the Rhinogydd mountain range of Southern Eryri, the mediaeval castles of Harlech and Criccieth, and the beautiful coastline and sea in between. 

It’s the perfect spot to cleanse your body and mind, and the location alone should be enough to tempt you, let alone the numerous health benefits!

Owners Andy and Esther were inspired by the sauna culture they experienced while visiting friends in Sweden. Their hope is that Sawna Criccieth will become a place where people come together to socialise and enjoy the many health benefits of sauna, while also connecting with nature, which can be hard to do in the depths of a Welsh winter. Immersing yourself in the blissful heat of a sauna can be something to look forward to on a grey day, and the health benefits and resulting feel good factor are a real plus in the dark winter months. 

Find it – Esplanade, Criccieth, LL52 0HU

Sawna Bach – The Scenic Sauna

Sawna Bach is a family business which runs two nature saunas, one by the sea at Porth Tyn Tywyn on Anglesey, and the other by the lake at Llyn Padarn in Llanberis. These authentic wood-fired saunas offer the opportunity to relax, de-stress, and experience a true connection with nature come rain or shine. 

Sawna Bach – The Scenic Sauna, Porth Tyn Tywyn

Located on the stunning shores of Porth Tyn Towyn, just 5 minutes’ drive from Rhosneigr, is Sawna Bach’s beachside sauna. Set just behind the dunes – which have been classed as a Special Area for Conservation due to their amazing biodiversity – this wood-fired sauna is immersed in nature, with panoramic views of the Anglesey coastline and resident wildlife. 

Alternate the heat of the sauna with a cooling outdoor shower, a refreshing sea dip, or a short breezy beach walk, for the ultimate nature sauna experience.

The perfect spot to relax and enjoy a spectacular winter sunset. 

Find it – Porth Tyn Tywyn, Anglesey, LL63 5TD

Sawna Bach – The Scenic Sauna, Llyn Padarn 

Located in the heart of Eryri National Park, Sauna Bach at Llyn Padarn is tucked away in a quiet spot right at the edge of the lake. With stunning views of Llyn Padarn and the mountains beyond this lakeside sauna certainly lives up to the ‘Scenic Sauna’ name, and offers a calming, serene sauna experience. Not only is it the perfect setting to relax and unwind, it’s the ideal way to rest, recharge and recover after a long hike in the Eryri mountains. 

Find it – Llyn Padarn, Llanberis, LL55 4TY

Whether you’re already a sauna lover, or new to the benefits of heat therapy, a beach or lakeside sauna experience may just be the perfect addition to your next coastal getaway.

Take a look at another of our wellness blogs to discover the physical and mental benefits of hot tubs