Bringing Ancient Sauna Traditions to the Howgills

If you’ve noticed more people talking about and visiting saunas recently, you’re not imagining it.

Sauna use has exploded across the UK in recent years, with the number of public saunas growing by more than 400%. From city wellness spaces to beachside cabins and lakeside retreats, more and more people are discovering what countries such as Finland, Lithuania and Estonia have known for centuries: sauna isn’t simply about getting warm. It’s a powerful practice for health, wellbeing, community and connection.

And now, right here on the edge of Sedbergh, nestled amongst the stunning landscape of the Howgill Fells, we have our very own wood-fired sauna.

Birch Sauna sits beside Blossom wellbeing yurt at Howgills Hideaway, offering panoramic views across the fells, wide open skies and the kind of peace that’s becoming increasingly rare in modern life. But what makes our sauna different is that it’s rooted in tradition.

Sauna may be having a moment, but it is far from a trend. For thousands of years, sauna culture has been woven into daily life across Northern and Eastern Europe. It has been a place to gather, celebrate, heal, reflect and connect. People didn’t visit a sauna simply to sweat; they came for the rituals, the conversations, the slowing down and the deep sense of wellbeing it brought.

As a qualified Sauna Master, Fiona, from Bloom with Berry, has trained both in the UK and Lithuania, learning traditional Baltic sauna practices known as Pirtis. Pirtis is a beautiful and immersive sauna tradition that works with the healing power of nature. During rituals, aromatic herbs, flowers and plants are infused into the sauna atmosphere, releasing their scent and beneficial properties. Traditional leaf whisks, known as vanta, are used to gently brush and fan the body, creating waves of heat, stimulating circulation and providing a unique sensory experience that is both invigorating and deeply relaxing.

The experience engages all of the senses. The crackle of the wood-fired stove. The scent of birch, eucalyptus, meadowsweet or wild herbs. The warmth on the skin. The rhythm of the whisking. The feeling of stepping back into nature and away from the noise of everyday life.

While many people are drawn to sauna because it feels good, research is increasingly highlighting the potential health benefits too. Regular sauna bathing has been associated with improved circulation, reduced stress, enhanced recovery after exercise, better sleep, relaxation of muscles and joints, and support for overall wellbeing. Many people simply describe it as one of the few places where they truly switch off.

Perhaps most importantly, sauna creates space. Space to slow down. Space to breathe. Space to connect with yourself, with nature and with others.

That’s why our Social Sauna sessions have become so popular. They offer a chance to gather with friends or meet new people, sharing warmth, conversation and laughter between rounds of heat and cooling off in our cold plunge beneath the Cumbrian sky.

This summer we’re also launching something completely new: Sauna Supper. Taking place on 18th July, Sauna Supper combines the restorative experience of sauna with delicious food and good company, creating an evening designed to nourish body and soul. It’s an opportunity to experience sauna culture in the way it has traditionally been enjoyed for generations: as a communal, joyful experience that brings people together.

To our knowledge, this is the first sauna offering of its kind in the area and one of the few places in the North West where people can experience authentic Pirtis-inspired sauna rituals led by a trained Sauna Master.

Alongside our community sessions, Birch Sauna is also available for private bookings, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, gathering with friends, planning a team wellbeing event or simply looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon.

As someone who spends much of her time helping people reconnect with themselves through yoga, wellbeing coaching and nature-based experiences, Fiona had fallen in love with what sauna can offer. It’s simple, ancient and surprisingly powerful.

Sometimes all we need is warmth, fresh air, good company and a little time away from the rush of everyday life.

And now, all of that is waiting just above Sedbergh.

Try it for yourself.