In the world of leisure vehicles, interesting conversions are commonplace. Everything from old school buses to jet engines have been transformed into tourers, but it’s not just accommodation that can be created out of the humble horsebox. They’ve formed the basis for a number of mobile saunas, which can be found across the UK.
The trend towards wild swimming doesn’t seem to be waning, but your enthusiasm for it may do now that the colder months are setting in. If you’re determined to keep swimming outdoors on your caravan and motorhome trips, the prospect of a mobile sauna to warm up in afterwards may appeal.
Benefits of sauna
Enjoying regular saunas is said to relax muscles, improve blood flow and boost skin health, with many people reporting they reduce tension and leave them feeling less stressed. Coupled with a cold water dip, spending time in a sauna has been embraced by mainly Scandinavian society in the past.
Rituals, including the Finnish practice of loyly, where you watch the steam rise from the hot rocks for a calming effect, or slapping yourself with birch twigs to eliminate toxins, are all part of the process. Different mobile saunas across the UK have taken their cue from a variety of traditions.
Beach Box Sauna Spa – Brighton
Beginning life as one mobile sauna in a converted horsebox, Beach Box Sauna Spa now boasts three experiences to choose from. Each of the saunas has a different vibe, from the aromatic cedar Lotta to the Estonian traditional Leil and the Loonah, complete with Finnish volcanic rocks.
Elie Seaside Sauna – Fife
Positioned on Elie Harbour with beaches conveniently close by for a dip, Elie sauna is a wood-fired sauna in a former horsebox. Book an individual seat or hire out the entire sauna for your caravanning friends and enjoy the view out across the East Neuk of Fife.
Samphire Sauna – Hastings Pier
A wood-fired sauna located right on the pier in Hastings, Samphire Sauna is open Fridays to Mondays. It’s easy to spot as the sauna is a converted horsebox, which has been painted green. Inside, you’ll find a Siberian larch floor, two tiers of benches and a stove topped with volcanic sauna rocks.
Salt Box Sauna – Outer Hebrides
The newly-opened Salt Box Sauna is fully taking advantage of its mobile status. The wood-fired barrel sauna travels around various locations on the isles of Harris and Lewis, meaning visitors can combine heat therapy sessions with dips in picturesque spots such as Shawbost Beach and Loch Bharabhat.
La’al Sauna – Cumbria
Another roaming sauna, but this time in Cumbria. La’al Sauna is a former horsebox, which has been insulated with sheeps’ wool and is warmed with kiln-dried logs. It’s currently located in Ullswater for the Dark Skies Festival, but moves around locations in the Lake District to maximise the opportunity for different people to give it a try.
Caravan sites with saunas
If a mobile sauna isn’t parked up near where you’re going to be holidaying, there are a number of caravan sites that offer sauna experiences. These include:
- Newlands Holiday Park in Dorset
- St Andrew’s Lakes in Kent
- Pool Bridge Farm in Yorkshire
Photo credit: Unsplash/HUUM
