Applecross – a Sauna by the Sea and Lunch at the Inn
A few hours.
The route
Applecross Sauna is a wood-fired barrel sauna at the water's edge in Applecross, run by the village's own community company, with a wide window looking across the bay.
Book a seat in a shared hour or take it for your group, cool off in the sea if you like, then walk along the shore to a long, warm lunch at the Applecross Inn. It's open to anyone twelve or over.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book Applecross Sauna online before you go, for a time before lunch: a seat in a shared hour is £15 at the time of writing, or book the whole sauna for up to six; times change with the seasons, children must be 12 or over, and there's no refund inside 24 hours.
Book a table at the Applecross Inn online, as it's usually very busy: it serves 12pm to 8pm Thursday to Monday, from 3pm on Wednesdays, and is shut on Tuesdays.
The day
Applecross
An hour of wood-fired heat with the bay in the window and the sea a few steps away. Then seafood and a peat stove along the shore.
About three hours
Applecross Sauna
Applecross Sauna stands at the water's edge by the Boathouse in Applecross, a barrel sauna for up to six with a wood-fired stove and a panoramic window over the bay. It's run by the Applecross Sports and Wellbeing Association, the village's community company. A seat in a shared session is £15 for the hour at the time of writing, or the whole sauna can be booked for a group of up to six. Opening hours change with the seasons, so book online and see the times there. Arrive within 15 minutes of your slot, in swimwear, with two towels, a water bottle and shoes for the stony shore if you plan to dip in the sea. Stay in for 15 minutes at most at a time. Sessions can be called off in high winds, and there's no refund inside 24 hours. Children from 12 may come with a parent or guardian. There are steps and uneven ground down to it, so if mobility is a worry, contact the sauna before you book, and ask about parking then too.
About 2 min on foot
Applecross Inn
Lunch
Lunch is at the Applecross Inn on Shore Street, a couple of minutes' walk along the shore, with views over the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye. It serves from 12pm to 8pm Thursday to Monday, opens at 3pm on Wednesdays and is shut all day on Tuesdays, so pick a sauna day when it's open. Book a table, as it's usually very busy and has table service only. Local seafood and Highland game are the thing here, with seafood specials each day and menus for children and vegetarians, and a peat stove burns in the bar in the colder months. Children under 16 are welcome until 9pm, well-behaved dogs on leads too, and the main bar is wheelchair accessible.
If it rains
The sauna is warm in any weather, though sessions can be called off in high winds; the Inn has a peat stove in the bar in the colder months.
Make it a weekend
More days out in Kyle of Lochalsh.
Photographs by Dolina Evelyn, Uwe Gaertner and The Wandering Booler via Google