The Wild Sauna Company : Lake of Menteith, Stirling

M
Feb 20
2 min read

Updated: Mar 3

This barrel shaped sauna is tucked behind the Karma Hotel right on the edge of the calm, quiet waters of Scotland's only natural lake (not loch) the Lake of Menteith. Within the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, and just along the road from the small rural community of Port of Menteith, this wild sauna has lovely views looking over the water towards the ancient island priory of Inchmahome.

Wooden barrel shaped sauna on the banks of a lake under a grey cloudy sky — The Wild Sauna Company, Lake of Menteith

Our Wild Sauna Visit

We visited this cosy wild sauna on a cold, grey January morning. Having endured such a rainy few weeks we were relieved to get out and about into the Scottish countryside. This warm, inviting sauna was exactly what we needed.

Lake view over to a wooded island. Grey skies overhead. A grass covered jetty stretching out into the lake. — Jetty with steps into Lake of Menteith

Guide to Facilities

Parking

There is a free car park at the Karma Hotel, where there is also a couple of spaces for electric car charging.

Changing

There is a covered space for changing, with benches and some hooks for storing your belongings.

Host

Our host was great, she welcomed us and showed us around the facilities. She also made sure to check in with us during the sauna session to make sure everything was to our liking.

The Hot Bit

There is seating for 8 on benches facing each other. There were 6 of us and fit perfectly. At the far end is a large arch window which looks straight out onto the lake. The view was fantastic with lots of wild birds on the water and the odd rowing boat too. There was a wee draft at the door which was maybe more noticeable on such a cold day.

The Cold Bit

Plenty of great options for the cold bit, from a dook in the Lake, a cold bucket drench or shower. There are also seats to the side of the wild sauna for a more gentle cool off. As we mentioned it had been raining for weeks previous to our visit so there was a bit of mud but it was mostly avoidable using the astro turf mats. The lake has steps making it easy to get in and out and was shallow for a good distance.

Food/Drinks Nearby

There is free water provided outside the sauna. The restaurant at the hotel has a relaxed, dog-friendly bar area serving good food and drinks. Sauna customers get a discount.