Hot & Bothy Community Sauna : East Lothian

M
Apr 20
2 min read

Hot and Bothy offers two distinct wild sauna experiences, thoughtfully contained in one intimate setting. Tucked behind Archerfield Walled Garden, this wild sauna is reached by a winding path through expansive green space. It sits within a wider estate near the mouth of the River Forth, between the popular coastal towns of Gullane and North Berwick in South East Scotland.

A small wooden sauna with a porch and stairs, surrounded by potted flowers under a bright blue sky. Sign reads "The Bothy". Relaxed mood. — Hot and Bothy wild sauna

Our Wild Sauna Visit

We visited Hot and Bothy Wild Sauna on a beautiful Sunday morning, with clear blue skies and just a slight spring chill in the air. It was our first 90-minute session, and we loved having that extra time to fully relax and unwind - there’s no going back to 60 minutes now! It was our first time trying a yurt sauna, and it turned out to be an incredibly calming experience. The gentler heat made it comfortable to stay in much longer, and the softly darkened space added to the overall sense of relaxation. The facilities are arranged together in a tranquil pocket of wild flowers and greenery creating a sense of escape from the everyday.

Guide to Facilities

Parking

The sauna is behind Archerfield Walled Garden within the estate, with two good-sized car parks. We arrived during a busy junior Parkrun and still managed to find a space.

Changing

There are 3 private and spacious changing huts, each with hooks, bench and mirror. The host told us that there are plans to soon offer private lockers for storing belongings. There is also a communal changing area that has more space.

Host

Our host was very chatty and friendly, giving us a good introduction to the space and how to make the most of our session. She was around if needed and gave a 10-minute warning before the end.

The Hot Bit

There are two distinct sauna options: a traditional, custom-built wood-fired sauna with two-tier bench seating and picture windows overlooking the gardens, and a yurt sauna with gentler wood-fired heat, a darkened interior, and two-tier benches. Together, they seat up to 14 people. Our session had 8, so we could move freely between them; this may be more limited when fully booked. Sauna hats are available, and the traditional sauna has a sand timer for tracking your session.

The Cold Bit

There are outdoor benches for cooling off slowly as well as a cold shower and two plunge barrels. The barrels have steps up, as well as steps inside to lower yourself safely into the water. The host showed us a bath tub which will soon offer another cold plunge option. Slider sandals are available to borrow.

Food/Drinks Nearby

Drinking water and hot herbal tea are provided, along with cups, plus fresh orange slices. For something more substantial, the café in the garden centre offers good food, or it’s a short drive to North Berwick or Gullane for more options.

Good to Know

This wild sauna offers a loyalty card and hosts various wellness and sauna ritual events throughout each month. There is ramp access to the yurt sauna.