Muddy Stilettos


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-80.jpg" alt="Ocean Soul Sauna, Bude, Cornwall" class="wp-image-129436" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-80.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-80-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-80-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ocean Soul Sauna, Bude, Cornwall</figcaption></figure>



<p>Once the sole preserve of Scandi nudists and gym-dwelling blokes who spend <em>way </em>too long towel-drying, saunas have had a serious glow-up. In her gorgeous new book&nbsp;<em>Wild Saunas</em>, sauna evangelist Emma O’Kelly turns up the heat on the UK’s growing love affair with communal steam, discovering a world of community, calm and that elusive natural high. We met up with Emma to find out what all the fuss is about – and why this&nbsp;might&nbsp;be your next wellness obsession.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-71.jpg" alt="Emma O'Kelly, author of Wild Saunas" class="wp-image-129404" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-71.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-71-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-71-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-71-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-71-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-71-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Emma O&#8217;Kelly, author of Wild Saunas</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-has-everyone-fallen-in-love-with-saunas">Why has everyone fallen in love with saunas? </h3>



<p>It all began with middle-aged women braving the cold sea. They’d take a dip, warm up in the sauna, then drag their partners along, then the kids – and suddenly it became a family affair. Now it’s completely intergenerational.</p>



<p>From cold-water swimming clubs to community saunas on the coast, this movement picked up heat during the pandemic, and more people are joining the sauna boom every week. It’s not just about warming up after a frosty sea plunge anymore. And this isn’t a trend, it’s a whole lifestyle.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-saunas-the-new-pub">Are saunas the new pub? </h3>



<p>Pubs and churches are dying, but the sauna is becoming this new communal space. Gen Z loves it. It’s cheaper than a pub, it’s a tech-free zone – where else are you free from the ping of the iPhone or spared the pressure of the selfie? </p>



<p>And there’s this whole sober-curious generation looking for real connection. Saunas are that space. You can go with friends, or solo and sit in silence or end up having a deep chat with a stranger wearing just a towel – and it’s not at all weird.</p>



<p>People are looking for community, and operators across the UK are leaning into that by offering women-only sessions, sober nights, ADHD-specific slots and, for the brave, Tinder dates.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-body-confidence-does-that-put-people-off">What about body confidence? Does that put people off? </h3>



<p>It’s a judgment-free zone. Everyone’s equal in the sauna. You’re semi-naked and vulnerable – no one looks good naked and sweaty, so it’s a great leveller.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-a-real-science-behind-all-this-sweating">Is there a real science behind all this sweating? </h3>



<p>A 2019 Finnish study put heat therapy on the map, finding that using a sauna three times a week or more can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 50%. Add in better sleep, reduced inflammation, improved circulation, immune support and even mental health benefits (most regular sauna users say it helps with anxiety or low mood), and it’s no wonder people are hooked — part wellness, part science, part very satisfying dopamine hit.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-and-cold-seem-to-be-the-magic-combo-what-are-the-rules">Hot and cold seem to be the magic combo&#8230;what are the rules? </h3>



<p>There’s no order and no rules. Do what feels good for you. If you’re new, start slow. Just do five minutes to ease yourself in. If you want the euphoric high, it’s sauna, cold dip, sauna again. You’re putting your body through good stress – it’s a workout for your heart.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finally-talk-us-through-sauna-etiquette-what-actually-matters">Finally, talk us through sauna etiquette. What actually matters?</h3>



<p>You must shower before you step in – no one wants eau de commute. Always sit on a towel – we’re sweating, not sharing. And rinse off between rounds, because that dreamy cold plunge is not a communal soup.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ready-to-glow-8-quirky-saunas-worth-travelling-for">Ready to glow? 8 quirky saunas worth travelling for</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kiln-sauna-falmouth-cornwall"><a href="http://www.kilnsauna.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kiln Sauna</a>, Falmouth, Cornwall</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-72.jpg" alt="Kiln Sauna, Falmouth, Cornwall" class="wp-image-129412" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-72.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-72-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-72-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-72-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-72-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-72-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kiln Sauna</figcaption></figure>



<p>Kiln Sauna occupies a postcard-perfect corner of Gyllygvase Beach (Gylly to locals), one of Falmouth’s white sand, crystal-blue water gems. Peaceful for sunrise swims and buzzing by night, it attracts a proper mix of ages — and is one of the few saunas in the UK where children are welcome.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-slomo-sauna-yarmouth-isle-of-wight"><a href="http://www.slomo.me" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Slomo Sauna</a>, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-73.jpg" alt="SLOMO sauna, Isle of Wight" class="wp-image-129415" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-73.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-73-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-73-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-73-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-73-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-73-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SLOMO sauna</figcaption></figure>



<p>Slomo Sauna is the latest wellness concept from Rob and Josie de Bank, founders of the famously family-friendly festival, Camp Bestival. Deeply into yoga, meditation and sauna and open water swimming, the pair are on a mission to turn to Isle of Wight into the UK&#8217;s very own ‘sauna island’.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rooftop-saunas-hackney-amp-brixton-london"><a href="http://www.rooftopsaunas.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rooftop Saunas</a>, Hackney &amp; Brixton, London</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-74.jpg" alt="Rooftop Saunas, Hackney &amp; Brixton, London" class="wp-image-129421" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-74.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-74-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-74-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-74-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-74-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-74-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rooftop Saunas</figcaption></figure>



<p>For a city sauna with a view, nowhere beats London’s Rooftop Saunas. What started as four snug hot boxes on a disused Hackney rooftop has grown into a complex of eight, overlooking cranes, graffiti and the constant hum of traffic — an uninterrupted slice of urban life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secret-sauna-at-penguin-pool-llandegla-denbighshire"><a href="http://www.mindfulretreats.fitness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Secret Sauna at Penguin Pool</a>, Llandegla, Denbighshire</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-75.jpg" alt="Secret Sauna at Penguin Pool, Llandegla, Denbighshire" class="wp-image-129423" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-75.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-75-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-75-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-75-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-75-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-75-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Secret Sauna at Penguin Pool</figcaption></figure>



<p>Cold water swimmers come from far and wide to sweat and swim at this nature-soaked spot. The sauna sits beside the pool, reached via a wooden log path that winds past a treehouse and gypsy caravans — with foraging, yoga and sound baths all part of the wider offering. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-treehouses-at-lanrick-perthshire"><a href="http://www.lanricktreehouses.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Treehouses at Lanrick</a>, Perthshire</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-79.jpg" alt="The treehouses at Lanrick, Perthshire" class="wp-image-129432" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-79.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-79-600x600.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-79-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-79-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-79-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-79-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Treehouses at Lanrick</figcaption></figure>



<p>All you see as you approach the sauna on the Lenrick Estate is a metal door carved into the landscape and a Hobbit-like hillock of a roof. Guests staying in the treehouses can switch off, with a log-burning stove, a treetop terrace, an outdoor copper-heated bath and use of the sauna.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-secret-sauna-bungay-suffolk"><a href="http://www.wainford.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Secret Sauna</a>, Bungay, Suffolk</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-82.jpg" alt="Secret Sauna, Bungay, Suffolk" class="wp-image-129443" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-82.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-82-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-82-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Secret Sauna</figcaption></figure>



<p>The location of the Secret Sauna is revealed just 24 hours before you book. Until then, all you need to know is that it’s on an island, in the middle of the River Waveney on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-wild-sauna-whichford-mill-warwickshire"><a href="http://www.whichfordmill.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Wild Sauna</a>, Whichford Mill, Warwickshire</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-83.jpg" alt="The Wild Sauna, Whichford Mill, Warwickshire" class="wp-image-129458" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-83.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-83-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-83-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Wild Sauna</figcaption></figure>



<p>A beautifully converted horsebox sauna, a stream to swim in, and a space for yoga and breathwork make The Wild Sauna a destination worth travelling for. Little wonder it was awarded Best UK Nature Sauna for 2025 by the British Sauna Society.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finn-lough-eniskillen-county-fermanagh">Finn Lough, Eniskillen, County Fermanagh</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-81.jpg" alt="Finn Lough, Eniskillen, County Fermanagh" class="wp-image-129439" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-81.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-81-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Untitled-design-81-1000x667.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Finn Lough</figcaption></figure>



<p>This is the kind of wild spa you might find in Finland and Japan. Everything is designed to maximise the unspoiled beauty of the forest and the magnificent lough with magnesium float baths, herbal saunas and a lakeside hydropool all part of the experience.</p>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="648" height="800" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Wild-Sauna-Book-Cover-1.jpg" alt="Emma O'Kelly's Wild Saunas book cover" class="wp-image-129450" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Wild-Sauna-Book-Cover-1.jpg 648w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Wild-Sauna-Book-Cover-1-486x600.jpg 486w" sizes="(max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px" /></figure>



<ul>
<li><em>Emma O&#8217;Kelly&#8217;s book Wild Saunas is available <a href="https://tidd.ly/4aXcBiI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">now</a>.</em></li>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE? </h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/how-to-put-yourself-first-in-2026-8-practical-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to finally put yourself first in 2026 – 8 practical tips</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/2026-wellbeing-fitness-and-beauty-trends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">From snackable fitness to adult playgrounds – the 2026 trends worth knowing</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/podcasts/best-wellness-podcasts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ear therapy: the hottest wellness podcasts right now</a></li>
</ul>



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