One of my favourite sauna spots is in a remote landscape in north Wales, where you might not spot another soul for miles.This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
The wildness sauna has incredible views(Image: Portia Jones )
It’s early morning on a Sunday, and instead of emerging from under the duvet sporting a raging hangover like I used to in my 20s, I’m in a wood-fired sauna, enjoying the sound of silence. As much as I used to roll my eyes at anything I perceived as woo-woo, I’m now part of a growing cohort concerned with wellness, and instead of slamming sambuca shots, I book sauna sessions and ice bath dips like a budget Gwyneth Paltrow. Nineteen-year-old me is judging so hard.
I have visited saunas all over Wales and indeed over the UK, and I’ve come to love a steamy sesh with a scenic view. One of my favourite sauna spots is in a remote landscape in north Wales, where you might not spot another soul for miles.
Barlwyd Glamping in Blaenau Ffestiniog offers glamping guests access to a wood-fired wilderness sauna located on the wild moorland.
Barlwyd Glamping in Blaenau Ffestiniog offers glamping guests access to a wood-fired wilderness sauna located on the wild moorland.(Image: Portia Jones )
The glamping site comprises shepherds’ huts positioned high on the moorlands among the UNESCO-listed slate quarries and mountains of Blaenau Ffestiniog, which are reached by off-road golf buggy via bone-rattling gravel tracks, adding another otherworldly feel to the Brontë-esque landscape.
These cute huts are part of a collection of accommodation options at the Llechwedd mine, which includes Llechwedd Glamping and the stylish Plas Weunydd Hotel.
One of the highlights of a stay here is a trip to the wilderness sauna, available exclusively to Barlwyd Off-Grid Shepherd’s Hut guests, and I couldn’t wait to enjoy a lovely steam with a view.
While the emotional warmth of sauna culture is undeniable, its physical benefits are equally compelling.(Image: Portia Jones)
As a sauna convert, I was delighted to unwind in their wood-fire barrel sauna perched on the moorland, overlooking Ffestiniog’s majestic mountains and a lake. Who doesn’t want to steam on a remote hillside while having a quiet moment of introspection?
Now, despite usually rolling my eyes at anything remotely woo-woo (healing crystals, drum circles, energy healing), I’m fully convinced that saunas are actual magic. The healing powers of sweating out all my anxieties and most of last night’s wine cannot be overstated.
For me, it’s less about chasing medical claims and more about switching off. Ignoring the relentless ping of emails and WhatsApp groups, I let the heat do its slow, steady work as I stew in my own thoughts and breathe in the earthy tang of scorched wood and rising steam.
The sauna is near five remote huts that are “built with love for modern nomads and that they are “charming outposts for those needing a wildly romantic adventure.”(Image: Portia Jones )
While the emotional warmth of sauna culture is undeniable, its physical benefits are equally compelling. Saunas have long been used to relieve aches, ease tension, and support everything from cardiovascular health to stress relief. For many, it’s an almost spiritual ritual, an intentional pause in a world that rarely stops spinning, and I’m here for it.
As I say, looking out over the countryside, my mind floated somewhere between a meditative state and a mild panic about whether my mascara was sliding off my face, as I had, of course, forgotten to remove it.
Every pore was open for business. I was sweating from places I didn’t even know had sweat glands. (Elbows! Who knew?) But I felt something like peace, or possibly dehydration, in that moment. Either way, it worked. I was full of wellness.
I’m fully convinced that saunas are actual magic(Image: Portia Jones )
What I particularly love about this wood-fired barrel sauna is its incredible location. It sits atop the moorland, overlooking Ffestiniog’s majestic mountains and a lake. You can sit in silence and look out over a vast tapestry of heathers, grasses and mosses while the occasional sheep wanders by.
The sauna can be booked by guests for two hours. Once the fire is lit, you just wait for the hut to reach the desired temperature, then unwind in perfect solitude.
After your zen-like experience, it’s just a short walk back to your off-grid shepherd’s hut for a snug night in. Each dog-friendly hut comes with its own en-suite bathroom, a large bed, and a compact kitchenette with all the essentials for whipping up a stove-top meal, including a small hob, a fridge, cooking utensils, crockery, washing-up liquid, a sponge, and a tea towel.
I should probably note that these adorable huts for two are fully off-grid (Image: Portia Jones )
Outside, there is a gas-powered barbecue for use when the weather is agreeable (reader, it was not). Luckily, just a mile down the hill, you’ll find Zip World’s Llechwedd site and the Plas Weunydd hotel, where you can grab a delicious dinner by the fire. I highly recommend their homemade chicken curry; it’s divine. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here
If you’re looking for a unique sauna experience and a remote glamping stay in the new year, this is definitely the place for you. For more information and booking, visit the website.