The Wild Sauna

The Wild Sauna sits on the banks of a river at Whichford Mill, a working mill site deep in the Cotswold countryside near Shipston-on-Stour. The sauna itself is wood-fired and lined in the Finnish style with aspen and alder, seating up to six, with stepped river access for dipping, a spring-water-filled cast iron bath for cold immersion, and a hot-and-cold spring-fed shower for rinsing off.

Booking runs a few ways: private hire for groups up to six (or larger groups of eight or ten with a two-hour slot and hot tub add-on), a seat in a communal sauna session, or the Sunday Mini Retreat, which combines yoga, sauna, hot and cold soaks, foraged teas, and cake. There are four changing rooms, shared on a turn-taking basis for community bookings and dedicated for private hire. A covered veranda gives shelter in wet weather, and there's a compost loo on site. Natural Skin Care platters—clay mask, sea salt scrub, body butter, all made in-house—can be added to a booking or requested from the sauna host, with cash preferred for extras.

Children aged 12 and up are welcome if accompanied one-to-one by an adult. Parking is available for cars, though the site sits on a bridleway and is reachable on foot, bike, or horse from nearby villages. Bring two towels, flip-flops or crocs, sturdy shoes for the muddy approach, and a warm robe. Dogs can be left in the car but aren't allowed in the sauna area. A two-bedroom Airbnb is available on site for those staying over.