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Saunas in Cornwall

Saunas in Cornwall

Sun, Sand, Sea… and Sauna! The rise of sauna culture in Cornwall

Here in our beautiful location on the south coast of Cornwall, some things stay perfectly the same, year after year…the ebb and flow of the tides, fishing boats coming back with a fresh catch, and people walking the coast path to take in the views. But in recent years, there has been a new pastime brewing… with the huge rise in sea swimming, we are also seeing a host of pop-up Saunas in Cornwall along the our wonderful coastline.

The practice of sauna bathing is in fact thousands of years old, despite being a new addition to our local beaches! From the more primitive sweat lodges and pits in the ground where people would make fires and climb into the insulated spaces, sauna culture has evolved from all over the world. Perhaps most famously, we think of Nordic countries combining the heat of a sauna with ice-bathing in snow-covered lakes. In Finland, saunas are now a major tourist attraction – and it seems like Cornwall is cottoning on!

Flushing Beach and Gylly Beach – Kiln Sauna

We have a couple of beach saunas very close to our collection of cottages in the Falmouth area, but they are also popping up on the North coast and even inland as well.

The local beach in Flushing has been home to Kiln Sauna since January, and they have hosted open sessions as well as being available for private bookings and specific events like the ‘Pirtis’ Lithuanian sauna ritual by Nick Tattersall.

“Pirtis invites you to unwind in the comforting embrace of heat, releasing tension and promoting deep detoxification.”

Elevating your average sauna experience, events like this include “body scrubs, salt inhalations, whisks and other surprises” – you’ll have to visit Nick to find out what this involves!!

From the 25th of May, the Kiln Sauna is moving to Gylly beach – the more central location just minutes walk from Falmouth town. We look forward to seeing what kind of events they hold next, and wish them the best of luck in their new location!

After a month at Gylly, the Kiln Sauna will move to our local Mylor Churchtown, taking up residence at ‘Coastland’ – a new camping and watersports side on the water’s edge. This will be walking distance from a number of our cottages, and we think it’s a new hidden gem…

Maenporth Beach – Escape to The Sauna

Just a little to the West of Falmouth are the golden sands of Maenporth beach and its new sauna, situated in the peaceful boat field just across the road from the main beach. This wood-fired sauna can be booked privately, or you can join a community session by booking your space in an open time slot. Sitting in a sauna together often prompts the most interesting conversations…

This company, Escape to the Sauna, also have pop-ups at Carlyon Bay and Hayle, just in case you are feeling like a trip further afield!

Gylly Beach – St Michael’s Resort

For a touch of luxury, St Michael’s Hotel offers two saunas as part of its spa experience – an indoor herbal sauna and an outdoor barrel sauna with a view of the sea – as well as one which is part of the leisure club (open to non-members for day passes). If you’re keen on your hot and cold therapy but are happier in a plunge pool than the open sea, these are perfect for you!

Saunas in Cornwall - St Michael's Resort

Falmouth Town – SoulFloat Infrared Saunas

For a slightly different sauna experience, the SoulFloat Infrared Therapy Sauna is situated in the town centre of Falmouth, just off Events Square (behind the Maritime Museum). They say that “infrared saunas work differently from traditional saunas in that they raise the body temperature directly, rather than heating the air. By the end of your session you will have developed a deep sweat.”

You can visit with friends with a capacity for four people seated, or remove the benches to practice a solo hot yoga session! The lower (but more direct) temperatures allow for a longer session in the sauna.

Mount Pleasant Eco Park – Soul Sweats

Over on the North coast (almost, the Eco Park is just five minutes from Porthtowan Beach) is the new wild spa experience from Soul Sweats. Although a little further away, we’ve included them because of the impressive range of events offered: Hot & Cold Therapy, Breathwork, Restorative Yoga, Sound Healing, Meditation, Ecstatic Dance & Ceremony Circles, many of them combined with a sauna session.

The Benefits of Sauna Use

As well as adding a fun experience to your stay in Cornwall, your trip to the sauna actually comes with a range of health benefits too…

The heat is good for muscle recovery, whether you’ve been doing a holiday HIIT workout, a long walk on the coastal path, or perhaps tried your hand at kayaking or paddleboarding. The heat boosts the circulation of oxygen-rich blood to get you ready for your next adventure…
Time in saunas has been shown to reduce the stress hormone cortisol, and lowering this has knock-on positive effects on blood pressure, inflammation and metabolism. Taking time to unwind in a warm, relaxing environment benefits both our mental and physical health.
The sweating experienced in a sauna is good for detoxification of the body, whether that be heavy metals and chemicals, or more colloquially ‘sweating out’ one too many holiday wines from the night before!
Regular sauna use can also alleviate soreness in joint paint, especially caused by arthritis. Don’t blame us if you try it on holiday and then become addicted to the nordic sauna life!

Paddleboarding and Kayaking near Falmouth

Sauna Etiquette

Although this might vary between each sauna you go to, here are some general tips we’ve found useful when joining the local community sauna sessions:

Check the dress code! Although many traditional saunas encourage total nudity, all the ones we’ve tried have had users in swimwear.
If available, shower before and after using the sauna, but as many of those we’ve listed are ‘wild saunas’ by the sea, they might just have a foot washing bucket at the entrance. Do use this, as it helps keep it nice and clean for everyone.
Sit reasonably still, and use your inside voice. Nobody wants to be sharing with an excessively loud sauna-goer, especially if they are there to mentally relax. Although some neck and arm stretching can be really nice, a full body workout could also change the vibe, so maybe don’t do this in a group session!
Check with other users about adding more water to the coals – people love to tinker with the bucket and ladle, but make sure everyone is okay with increasing the heat.
Similarly, come in and out of the sauna quickly, without leaving the door open too long!

Most saunas will recommend fifteen minutes as a maximum, but many people sit for less time than this. We love going from the sauna to the sea and back, but you also have the option to sit outside in the cooler air temperature to balance your internal thermostat. If you have questions, the individual sauna you book with will be able to advise you best.

We hope you enjoy your stay in Cornwall, and do let us know if you’ve included a sauna session as part of your holiday! It’s great to see pictures and hear reviews of what you’d recommend to fellow guests. You can email us at martin@creeksidecottages.co.uk

Thank you to Kiln Sauna and St Michael’s Resort for the use of their images…