Loch Insh – A Wood-Fired Sauna and Lunch by the Water
A few hours.
The route
A small wood-fired sauna stands on the shore of Loch Insh near Kincraig, an hour of heat with the loch itself to cool off in.
Lunch follows at the Boathouse, looking out over the same water.
The day
Kincraig
A morning in the sauna at the loch's edge, then a hot lunch indoors with the loch in view.
A morning, with lunch after
The Sauna at Loch Insh
Loch Insh Outdoor Centre has free parking within a short walk of the sauna, which stands at the water's edge. It is a small wood-fired cabin, built by hand locally, with one long window looking over the loch to the hills. Between rounds of heat, cool off with a dip straight into Loch Insh, then go back in and warm up. Hot showers and changing rooms are on site for afterwards.
The Boathouse
Lunch
The Boathouse is a few steps along the shore, a log cabin with a balcony over Loch Insh. Lunch is served from noon to 3pm, and on Sundays there is a roast with the day's specials from noon to 4pm; ring 01540 651272 to check before you go. In winter the kitchen adds dishes in the Alpine style to its burgers and Highland home cooking, and a table can be booked online.
If it rains
The sauna is a warm wooden cabin and lunch is indoors: only the dip in the loch is out in the weather.
Make it a weekend
More days out near Aviemore.
Photographs by The Sauna at Loch Insh and Ralf Reineke via Google