A Visit to The Wild Sauna at Cherington

On a gloriously sunny morning in May, I made my way to The Wild Sauna at Whichford Mill in Cherington. The car bumped down a long drive of honey-hued Cotswold stone, emerging with the old mill on one side and the River Stour rushing past on the other. I stepped from the car and took it all in.  

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I live in the rural Cotswolds, and sometimes I think I’m accustomed to its beauty. However, it’s easy to forget that the Cotswolds has endless treasures tucked away here and there that can unfold unexpectedly before you like little pockets of joy. As I took in my surroundings, I realised I may have found myself in one such place.

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I chatted with Lucy, the owner of The Wild Sauna, and she directed me through a carved wooden gate to begin my session in their wood-fired sauna. As an adult and writer, calling something magical can feel childish and one-dimensional. Yet, the magical setting before me felt anything but one-dimensional. It felt lush, untamed, and beautiful.

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The sauna rests on the edge of a copse. Dappled light fell over the river, with an abundance of cow parsley, and a small, tantalising bridge over the River Stour that beckoned you to follow a path rich with nature’s promise. To the right of the bridge was a ladder leading down into the river – ideal for a cold plunge after your sauna. Or for those who prefer to see where their feet are stepping, a vintage enamel bath lay under a tree filled with icy water and petals.  A few meters away, nestled amongst the clouds of cow parsley, I could see the chimney of a wood-burning hot tub.

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The sauna is a converted horse box nestled within a delightful wooden structure that resembles a fairy-tale cottage. There are two changing rooms and a shower on either side. Three other women joined me, as this particular time slot was open to anyone in the community, and community places are available each week if booked in advance.

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The sauna was as hot and soothing as one might expect, and the company of three strangers made it even better. We relaxed, laughed, and put the world to rights. After a while, I headed out to the river, climbed the ladder, and braved the murky, cold water, encouraged by one of my new friends. It was brutally cold, but as I saw my first mayfly of the year sweep over my head, I felt happy and exhilarated.

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The session lasted an hour, during which we hopped in and out of the sauna, cooling ourselves down when necessary. Halfway through, Lucy brought us some sweet orange wedges. When I felt a little dizzy, normal with a sauna, I drank water and enjoyed wandering about the green space and dipping in and out of the river.  

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As I dried off and reflected, I felt peaceful and euphoric. Quite frankly, as a middle-aged woman, that’s not necessarily my usual vibe. I’ve never found saunas restorative before; however, this experience was vastly different.

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The thing is, I realised that this wasn’t just relaxing escapism from my life. Instead, it was a reminder of who I am, without all the strain, busyness, and buzz of modern living. A sauna forces you to be still; a wild sauna reminds us that we are simple beings that thrive in nature, especially when we connect to our bodies. That somewhere inside us all resides that playful, curious child who wants nothing more than to exist in the joy of the present moment and feel alive.

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To book your place at The Wild Sauna, head to www.whichfordmill.co.uk

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