With outdoor sauna culture now solidly stamped on South West life, we’re hailing a new ritual: a sizzling sauna sesh followed by a slap-up Sunday lunch. Here are some of the best places to enjoy our favourite new end-of-the-week tradition
The Greenbank Hotel + Escape to the Sauna
Falmouth, Cornwall
This delicious partnership is a dream for dip and diners. Escape to the Sauna is perched right on the edge of Falmouth Harbour (access to the cool water is perfect for those who love a bit of contrast therapy) and just steps away from The Greenbank.
What’s even better is the relationship means hotel guests receive a 20 per cent discount on their sauna sesh, while sauna goers are entitled to the same discount off their Sunday roast at either the hotel’s The Working Boat pub or Water’s Edge restaurant – both come complete with sweeping coastal views and top-notch hospitality.
greenbank-hotel.co.uk
escape-unplugged.co.uk
Pythouse Kitchen Garden
Tisbury, Wiltshire
Pythouse Kitchen Garden has hordes of fans for many reasons: its innovative menus, foraging workshops, cute shepherd’s huts, uber-cool supper parties and glamping pods. Yet our favourite excuse for a stay at this enchanting spot is a restorative wellbeing getaway. In the sanctuary of an 18th-century walled garden, wood-fired sauna unwinding and cool plunge invigoration await.
Afterwards, tuck into an uber-nutritious Sunday lunch in the Michelin Bib Gourmand and Green Star restaurant, safe in the knowledge the menu has been crafted with the utmost sustainability credentials. Dishes are packed with gatherings from the garden, ethically produced ingredients from the wider community and smokiness from the Pythouse fire.
Wilder Sauna + The Chagford Inn
Dartmoor, Devon
New wellness venture Wilder Sauna enjoys an idyllic setting beside the River Dart at Badger’s Holt in Dartmeet (with a second site opening in Chagford). The handmade, wood-fired sauna can accommodate up to eight people, and being so close to the river means visitors can take a refreshing dip in the river if they wish to indulge in some contrast therapy.
Founder Primrose Russell says ‘Dartmeet is one of the most magical parts of the River Dart and has the most pristine water.’ Pair your experience in the wilderness with a quality lunch at characterful pub The Chagford Inn. High-quality cooking comes courtesy of chef-owner Ollie’s commitment to sourcing ingredients direct from farmers who share his values regarding regenerative agriculture and sustainability.
wildersauna.com
thechagfordinn.co.uk
The Old Bell Hotel + Wiltshire Wild Sauna
Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Sauna culture in the UK may have only recently exploded, but the ancient practice dates back thousands of years in Finland. So it seems only right to pair the experience with a lunch that provides equal time-travel appeal. And Grade I-listed, 800-year-old The Old Bell Hotel (rumoured to be England’s oldest) delivers in spades. But while the Cotswolds address may date back 800 years, the food offering is bang up to date.
Provenance is key, the chefs prioritise using the very best, whether that’s produce from the local larder at Abbey House Manor Gardens or the freshest catch from Brixham Harbour. Wiltshire Wild Sauna is your best pre-lunch bet. Its simple, off-grid authenticity – a wood-fired sauna and cold tub housed on an organic farm – feels just right for a break from the modern world.
oldbellhotel.co.uk
wiltshirewildsauna.co.uk
Glebe House
Colyton, Devon
At dreamy Glebe House, both sauna and Sunday roast can both be consumed without needing to travel anywhere. The guest house, restaurant and 15-acre smallholding is a haven of relaxation with its blissful views and exquisite food offering.
Book a sauna and dine package to switch off in the wood-fired sauna, situated in a private corner of the southern garden with sweeping views across Coly Valley. Then plunge into the cold tub (it’s spacious enough for two), which is maintained at around 8°C. There’s a hot shower, too, to refresh before heading off for an impeccable four-course Sunday lunch. The unfussy cooking is inspired by regional food of England, Italy and France and has earnt Glebe House a Michelin Green Star.
Enjoyed our round-up of the spots for sauna and Sunday lunch in the South West? Check out how to soak, plunge and steam your way to Viking Wellness.
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