Bees Sauna : Broughty Ferry, Dundee
Perched on the grass overlooking the Firth of Tay, beside the historic Broughty Ferry Castle, 'comfortably wild' Bees Sauna offers the perfect escape by the sea. With direct access to the sandy beach and easy connections from nearby Dundee, Bees Sauna offers an inclusive space to slow down, warm up and reconnect with nature.
Our Wild Sauna Visit
We visited Bees Wild Sauna on a sunny Sunday afternoon in August, excited but admittedly a little dubious about our first experience of a sauna tent. By the end of our session, we were complete converts. We absolutely loved it and might even prefer a tent sauna now.
Look for the signs Bees Tent Sauna Is it the North Sea or the River Tay? Changing tent Sauna interior K off for a dook Can't miss the castle K rinsing off Cool down options Bees Sauna from the beach The star of the show - Izzy Refreshments available
Guide to Facilities
Parking & Directions
The beach was busy when we visited, but we had no trouble finding a parking space near the sauna and castle. The road is fairly narrow due to cars parked along the sides, although a turning circle at the end, makes it easy to manoeuvre.
Changing
There is a large changing tent (which used to be a sauna itself) which has seats and a large box to store your belongings.
Host
Our host, Kate, and her beautiful sauna dog, Izzy, gave us such a warm welcome, even though we were running late. Kate made sure we knew exactly what to expect before we got started and shared some helpful sea-safety tips so we could make the most of our dooks.
The Hot Bit
The large, circular sauna tent has a central stove, meaning everyone gets an equal dose of heat. There’s space for eight people, with individual wooden seats arranged around the stove. Windows offer lovely views across the beach to the water and give the tent a bright and airy feel.
Although the tent fabric itself never became hot to the touch, it retained the heat incredibly well, creating a wonderfully hot and relaxing sauna. There’s a generous selection of essential oils, which Kate encouraged us to try by adding a few drops to the löyly water. Kate also has plans to introduce sauna hats made by a local artist, which will be a great addition.
There’s no timer inside the sauna, encouraging you to forget about the clock and instead pay attention to how your body feels. Kate was close by throughout our session and was happy to chat, while also giving us plenty of space to enjoy the sauna. Towards the end of our time, she popped in to let us know that our session was nearly up.
The Cold Bit
The sauna sits right on Broughty Ferry Beach, at the mouth of the River Tay where it meets the sea. The sandy walk makes getting in and out of the water easy, and Kate pointed out the safest spots to enter, helping us avoid the stronger currents.
There are also several buckets of water beside the sauna for a quick cool-down, or plenty of space on the grass if you prefer to let your body cool gradually in the fresh air.
Food/Drinks Nearby
Fresh fruit is available to enjoy after your sauna, along with fruit infused water. When we visited, the water was infused with fresh pineapple and mint, although the flavour changes weekly.
If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, nearby community café Braw Tea is a great option. Bees Wild Sauna customers can also get a discount on their bill when they show their loyalty card, the perfect excuse to extend your visit with a coffee and well worth a visit.
Good to Know
There are various different sessions available at Bees sauna, these include Sunday morning Yoga sessions, jewellery making and sound baths.
A loyalty card is available for repeat customers.
Bees runs a Pay It Forward program whereby you can buy a sauna session for someone in the community who needs it.
Link to website
This post is based on our own experience at the time of our visit.
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