Willowgate Adventure Centre : Perth
- K
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 27
Part of Willowgate Adventure Centre, this wood-fired barrel sauna is tucked away in a surprisingly quiet spot between the River Tay, the railway line, and the dramatic road bridge. Well used by locals, it's an easy-to-access destination just outside Perth, offering the perfect combination of soothing heat and a refreshing cold-water dook in the purpose-built pool. A great place to unwind and experience the benefits of hot and cold therapy in a unique riverside setting.
Our Wild Sauna Visit
This was my first solo wild sauna visit, and I was looking forward to seeing what the experience would be like. I visited around midday on a mild weekday at the start of July, sharing the session with a handful of regular visitors, which gave the sauna a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The Willowgate Adventure Centre was a hive of activity, but the sauna is tucked away at the far end of the open-water swimming area in a surprisingly peaceful spot. Despite being nestled between the River Tay, the railway line, and the road bridge, it feels remarkably secluded and calm.
The sauna View out of the window The Sauna area Changing hut View out of sauna door Sauna and changing huts
Guide to Facilities
Parking & Directions
There is a car park at the adventure centre and some spaces along the front of the reception building. The sauna is a few minutes walk across the grass, in the direction of the road bridge at the far end of the swimming area.
Changing
Changing rooms with hot showers and toilets are located in the reception building, just around the back. Outside the sauna itself, there are a number of simple wooden changing huts, each with a bench and several hooks for clothing and belongings, although beware of the low head height. Additional hooks are provided outside the barrel sauna, making it easy to hang a towel or dry robe while you enjoy your session.
Host
The sauna isn't permanently staffed, with the Willowgate Adventure Centre team based around the main building supporting the various watersports activities. When I arrived, reception was unattended and there was no signage to the sauna, so I found a member of staff who pointed me in the right direction. They were friendly and helpful, explaining that there should be a radio at the sauna if I needed anything, such as topping up the wood burner with more logs. Although we couldn't find the radio during my visit, there was a supply of logs beside the sauna, allowing us to keep the fire going ourselves if needed.
The Hot Bit
This wood-fired, barrel-shaped sauna comfortably seats up to six people on benches facing one another. A large arched window at the rear frames views towards the River Tay, while the mostly glazed door overlooks the open-water swimming area, creating a bright and airy feel inside. There are no sauna hats provided. A 15-minute sand timer is available to help keep track of your session, and a foot bath by the entrance is intended to reduce sand being brought inside. During my visit, however, there was still quite a bit of sand on the floor from the previous session, suggesting the sauna hadn’t been cleaned between bookings. There are benches at the door for keeping water bottles close at hand.
The Cold Bit
Across the sandy beach area is a pool for open-water swimming. The water is fed from the River Tay but is not part of the river itself, so there are no currents to contend with. Being tucked away at the far end means it’s mainly used by sauna-goers, with the occasional canoe passing on the far side. The sandy, gently sloping entry makes it easy to get in and out of the water.
Food/Drinks Nearby
No water is provided so remember to bring your own. The adventure centre has a cafe which is a little further back along the road and serves meals and snacks. Perth has many more options.
Good to Know
The road in is single track with only 1 passing space so look ahead before beginning your drive down, also there is a tight turn immediately after the railway bridge that might prove problematic for larger vehicles.
The adventure centre hosts lots of other adventure activities such as wild swimming, canoe, kayak, paddleboarding, climbing, biking, fishing, bushcraft and more.
Link to website
This post is based on our own experience at the time of our visit.
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