The Salting Station : St Abbs, The Borders

Oct 20

3 min read

The Salting Station wild sauna is nestled in the beautiful fishing village of St Abbs on Scotland’s rugged south-east coast, amidst a rocky shoreline shaped by the raw power of the North Sea. The untamed energy of the sea meets the restorative warmth of the sauna, offering a unique opportunity to slow down, reconnect with nature and experience the elements in their purest form.

View from a wooden sauna window of a rocky shoreline and calm sea at sunset, with cloudy sky and warm orange light — The Salting Station

Our Wild Sauna Visit

We visited a Salting Station social session at Golden hour on a Friday night in mid October. The light was fading but filling the sky with orange and pink. A drizzle of rain made the warmth of the sauna even more enjoyable. It was magical.

K enjoying her dook
Seating available
Sauna interior
Oil cup over the stones
K drenching herself
Eucalyptus infused water for the stove
K enjoying her sprinkler shower
Water and Fruit available
Snorkeling and wildlife watching gear
Seats for a gentler cool down
Storage box
Water shoes available

Guide to Facilities

Parking & Directions

Follow the narrow road down to the harbour in St Abbs. It's a little steep and windy. There is a large pay & display car park, run by the Harbour Trust, at the bottom of the hill and along the harbour wall to the left. (At the time we visited the charges were £1.20 hourly 8am - 8pm. Overnight parking is also available for £20.)

Changing

There is no changing room so bring a robe for more privacy. There is a large plastic box for keeping belongings together and dry. A public toilet with a shower is available opposite Ebbcar's Cafe.

Host

Our host and owner, Petra, greeted us warmly and showed us around the facilities before leaving us to enjoy our session. She checked in halfway through to make sure everything was just right and to stoke the fire. Petra also recommended the safest routes across the rugged rocks to the water. As a marine biologist based in St Abbs, she has an evident passion and deep knowledge of the local marine life. She spoke enthusiastically about encouraging more people into the water and introducing them to the joys of diving, to discover and appreciate the incredible abundance and diversity of life beneath the waves. It was lovely to meet someone whose personal passion so beautifully reflects the wild, natural surroundings of The Salting Station.

The Hot Bit

This converted horse box sauna has a wood fired stove at the door and L shaped benches arranged over 2 tiers facing the large picture window to the North Sea. Our host used essential oil infused water in the diffuser bowl. Fresh eucalyptus leaves were soaking in the sauna bucket, all of which created a beautifully scented sauna experience. Sauna hats aren’t provided, so bring your own if you prefer to wear one. There is a sand timer to help track your session. The sauna comfortably seats 6 people for social or private sessions. The view out to the rocks and the North Sea is quite hypnotic and different every day, we watched a variety of sea birds, rainbows, cloud bursts and crashing waves. It's such a grounding experience to sit in the warmth of the sauna while watching the wild coastal landscape unfold beyond the glass.

The Cold Bit

There are plenty of ways to cool off between sauna sessions. You can relax in the wooden deckchairs, taking in the beautiful views of the sea and rocks, or choose from the shower, the plunge bucket (aptly named the ‘Trust Bucket’!) or a fun sprinkler mat that gently sprays you with water.

I have to admit, I assumed the rocks would make getting into the sea too challenging, but with Petra’s guidance on the safest routes and my trusty water shoes, it was surprisingly straightforward. Just watch out for slippery seaweed, and you can enjoy bathing in the rockpools. It was a wonderful experience and well worth it. I absolutely loved it, although I have yet to find a dook I didn’t enjoy...

Food/Drinks Nearby

Water, fruit and fruit infused water are provided with cups. The harbour cafe Ebbcar's serves food and drink during the day and nearby Coldingham has a pub and a pizzeria for evening food.