There’s a new sauna in town… and she’s a beauty.

Over the past few years sauna culture in the UK has quietly been having a moment. Wild saunas popping up by rivers and lakes, wood-fired heat beside the sea, people rediscovering the simple joy of a good sweat. In fact, sauna use has grown by more than 400% in the last five years.

But while it might feel like a trend, sauna bathing isn’t actually new to these shores. There’s evidence of sauna-style bathing in parts of the UK going back centuries. Perhaps what we’re seeing now isn’t something new at all… but something old being remembered. A ritual we’re slowly reclaiming.

And now, nestled amongst the hills at Howgills Hideaway, Birch Sauna has arrived to bring the heat (and the steam) back to the land.

Tucked beside Blossom Yurt and surrounded by the wide, breathing landscape of the Howgill Fells, this little wood-fired sauna sits right in the heart of nature. No traffic, no noise, just hills, sky and the gentle crackle of the fire warming the stones. It’s a place to slow down, sweat it out and let the outside world melt away for a while.

The sauna is hosted by Fiona from Bloom with Berry, a qualified Sauna Master who brings not just the heat, but a whole ritual with it. Drawing inspiration from ancient Lithuanian sauna traditions, the experience goes far beyond simply sitting in a hot box.

Think aromatic steam rising from the stones.
Birch and oak branches gently brushing the skin.
Plants and herbs releasing their scent into the air.
Salt scrubs, deep breathing, moments of stillness and moments of laughter.

It’s part cleansing, part relaxation, part connection.

The benefits of sauna are well known: improved circulation, muscle recovery, detoxification, better sleep and a boost for the immune system. But ritual sauna adds something deeper. It invites you to slow down, to breathe more consciously, to be present in your body again. To treat the whole experience as a small ceremony of care.

And of course… where there is heat, there must also be cold.

Two cold plunge tubs sit waiting outside the sauna doors. Brave souls can slip straight from the warmth of the sauna into the invigorating chill of the water –  a contrast that wakes up every cell in your body and leaves you feeling wildly alive.

This isn’t just sweating in a sauna.
This is ritual. This is rhythm. This is a return.

For now, Birch Sauna is offering monthly sessions with two ways to join:

Sauna Ritual — a guided, sensory sauna experience inspired by traditional Lithuanian practice.
Social Sauna — a more relaxed session to gather, chat, sweat and soak up the atmosphere.

Come for one… or stay for both.

Either way, you’ll leave warm to the bone, clear in the head and feeling just that little bit more connected — to yourself, to nature, and to the ancient joy of fire, water and steam. Private bookings are also available – a great way to celebrate something in a unique way or just get the friends or family together!

More information can be found here: Bloom with Berry Monthly Sauna Sessions Tickets, Blossom Yurt at Howgills Hideaway, Kendal | TryBooking United Kingdom

Fiona can be contacted on [email protected] / 07825631503