Sign up and receive 10% off all orders placed (excludes offers and sale items)
Sign up and receive 10% off all orders placed (excludes offers and sale items)
When Sorbet Living founder Debbie relocated to Wiltshire, one of the things she missed most was her regular swimming routine. Having always enjoyed indoor swimming, finding a new place to swim and unwind became an important part of settling into a different landscape and rhythm of life.
While Debbie was scouting the nearest outdoor lidos, she discovered another restorative experience – the growing sauna culture emerging across the countryside. What began as an occasional visit has gradually become a regular ritual – a way to relax, reset and connect with the place she calls home and the community around her.
Finding Warmth
Moving somewhere new often means letting go of familiar routines, and finding others to take their place. For Debbie, swimming had always offered space to step away from the busy days of running Sorbet Living, as well as the benefits of exercise. Wiltshire’s landscape presented different opportunities. Outdoor swimming pools, colder water, changing seasons and, increasingly, wood-fired saunas have become part of a new way of living.
There’s something appealing about stepping from fresh air into warmth – the heat slows the pace of the day, encourages stillness and gives a chance to disconnect from the demands of everyday life.
The Rise of Outdoor Saunas
Across Britain, outdoor saunas have become part of a wider movement towards slower forms of wellbeing. You’ll see these Nordic-looking cabins located by lakes, in gardens, near coastlines and in rural settings, offering something that feels contemporary as well as deeply traditional.
Unlike a spa experience, these spaces often feel more relaxed and communal. Conversations begin between strangers, regular visitors become familiar faces and the ritual itself encourages people to slow down. For lots of people, the appeal lies not only in the warmth but in the sense of belonging that comes with it.
Close to Home
There are two beautiful outdoor saunas just a short distance from Sorbet Living’s lifestyle store in Fonthill Gifford:
Surrounded by fields and open landscapes, the farm feels a world away from busy schedules and screens, creating the ideal environment to unplug and unwind. The Scandinavian sauna offers a warm retreat, while the cold plunges provide an energising challenge for those feeling brave! Moving between heat and cold, with fresh country air in between, is all part of the experience – you’ll leave feeling so much lighter than when you arrived.
Set within the beautiful grounds of Pythouse Kitchen Garden (and the location of our recent shoot), this is the kind of wellness experience that encourages you to slow down and stay a little longer. Walled Garden Wellbeing by Sprigs Co is rooted in a simple philosophy: that time spent in nature is one of the best ways to restore body and mind.
The wood-fired sauna, crafted from natural materials and nestled amongst the trees, offers a peaceful retreat, and Walled Garden Wellbeing also hosts yoga, movement, massage and sound experiences, all inspired by the rhythms of the garden and designed to help guests reconnect with themselves, their community and the natural world. After your session, wander through the kitchen garden before settling in at the restaurant for a seasonal, wood-fired lunch.
A Different Kind of Gathering
Perhaps what makes these experiences so appealing is that they combine several things we increasingly seek: connection, nature, warmth and time away from screens and schedules. They also offer something that we all need in this busy world – an opportunity to sit quietly, meet others and become part of a shared ritual.
For Debbie, what started as a search for a replacement swimming routine became something entirely different. A new habit, new friendships and another way of living seasonally, connected to both landscape and community.
Sorbet Living’s Sauna Essentials
Whether you’re heading for a morning session or planning a slower afternoon of heat, cold and countryside walks, a few thoughtful essentials can make the experience feel even more restorative. These are the pieces we always pack for a sauna visit:
Here’s to a summer of saunas, cold plunges and time outside in nature! We’ll be sharing more of our local favourites here over the coming months.
Words by Amy Tarrant
With thanks to Nordic Soul for their images
More blog posts about our collections, makers, and locations.
