Gairloch

Gairloch – a Wood-Fired Sauna Above the Bay

A few hours.

The route

Fire and Steam is a wood-fired barrel sauna in the grounds of Shieldaig Lodge, on the south shore of Gairloch's bay, looking out over the water the village takes its name from.

Book a seat in an open session or the whole sauna, take the cold plunge between rounds, then warm up again over a light lunch in the lodge.

Before you go

Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Net Store in Ardheslaig, 10 miles away. Sleeps 4.
Then Rhuroin, 11 miles away. Sleeps 3.
Book Fire and Steam Sauna
Book Fire and Steam Sauna on its online calendar before you go, checking it's at Shieldaig Lodge that day: an open session is £18 a person and the whole sauna £95 an hour at the time of writing, with a disclaimer to sign; book a light lunch at Shieldaig Lodge (12 to 2pm, booking essential) on 01445 741333 or online.

The day

Gairloch

An hour of wood-fired heat and cold water above the bay. Then a light lunch in the lodge whose grounds it stands in.

About two and a half hours

Fire and Steam Sauna
Fire and Steam is a wood-fired barrel sauna run by the Gairloch Kayak Centre in the grounds of Shieldaig Lodge, south of Gairloch on the Badachro road, looking north over the bay. It moves now and then, to Sands campsite north of the village, so check where it is on the day you book. An open session is £18 a person at the time of writing, or the whole sauna is £95 for an hour. Times are in its online booking calendar, and everyone signs a disclaimer when they book. Come in swimwear, with two towels and no creams or oils, and stay in for 20 minutes at most at a time. The cold plunge beside it is at your own risk. Ages and parking aren't given on its pages, so ask when you book. Afterwards, Shieldaig Lodge serves a light lunch in its Loch-View Restaurant from 12 to 2pm every day, booked ahead, and its Liberator Bar, with its fire and its whisky, opens from 11am.