FAQs

What should I bring with me?

• Swimwear – mandatory in the sauna.
• Two towels (one to sit on in the sauna and one for drying yourself at the end).
• Flip flops or other easy-to-put-on footwear to move outside to cool down.
• A bottle of water to rehydrate.

During winter, we recommend that you bring warm loose clothes for changing back into after the session.

Where can I leave my belongings?

Due to limited space, please bring minimal personal belongings with you. There are no lockers but you’ll have your own hook to hang belongings on and space for shoes and glasses.

What should I expect?

This is a rustic rural sauna, set in a beautiful location. The sauna travels around the Scottish Borders, so make sure of which location you have booked!

Access to cold water – sometimes this is via a wild swimming spot, sometimes just from a watering can.

There is minimal changing space – come ready to sauna if you can.

Usually there will be no toilet facilities, so please go before you arrive.

Are refreshments supplied?

We ask that you bring a bottle of water with you so that you can rehydrate during the session. A small refreshment is provided when you leave the sauna (this varies – could be water, herbal tea, a chunk of orange or cordial).

How often is the sauna cleaned?

High levels of hygiene practice are adhered to. The sauna will be wiped down and mopped regularly – this is done thoroughly and quickly, taking a few minutes between sessions. Deep cleaning and sauna maintenance is carried out regularly.

What time should I arrive for my session?

Please arrive promptly to allow for sauna briefing. Changing times are included within the session.

How do I book?

Please use our booking page to see when the sauna is available, and book online. If there is no availability when you’d like to sauna, try pinging us a message on socials or sauna@cedarhus.co.uk – Beyla is still new and feeling her way to being open at the right times!

Book a private sauna session: you can book the whole sauna for an hour, two hours or more. Please get in touch – sauna@cedarhus.co.uk

Gift certificates – available on booking page. Excellent for Christmas, birthdays or just a bit of fun!

How many people will be in the sauna?

The sauna takes a maximum number of 8 people per session in a social / community sauna.

If you book the sauna for a private session, you can have up to 10 people, which is maximum capacity, but because everyone moves in and out of the sauna at different times depending on their heat preferences, this should be fine.

How long do I stay in the sauna?

Nordic countries each have individual preferences around sauna experiences and cultures. In Scotland and the UK, we are catching up and developing our own culture to suit our personality, climate, and landscapes. The key thing is to monitor your own response to heat – stay in as long as you are comfortable, but don’t push it.

Come out, cool down, rest and repeat. Those new to sauna might stay in the sauna for 5 to 10 minutes, and experienced sauna goers might want to stay in the heat for up to 20 minutes before cooling down. We don’t recommend longer than this before cooling down. Please take personal responsibility of how you are feeling.

There is a handy mantra: heat, cool, rest, repeat. People can work with this to suit their own needs and comfort levels.

What should I wear in the sauna?

Swimwear is compulsory, nudity is not permitted in the sauna. We also ask that every user sits on a towel at all times during the session. Flip flops will be useful to get outside to cool down.

Is there a changing room?

There is a small room for hanging up belongings as you enter the sauna, separated by a glass door to provide a heat barrier for the sauna. It is very small so please bring only what you must, and come ready to sauna. 

Can I leave the sauna?

Yes, we recommend that you come out, cool down, rest and repeat. Try to minimise heat loss as you go in and out of the sauna by being fast with the door.

Can I put water on the sauna rocks?

Yes – please only use the water provided by Cedar Hus in the bucket. This releases gorgeous ‘löyly’ / steam. Go gently though, or the stove will cool.

Be careful when adding water – steam burns – use the long handled ladle and keep well away away from the extremely hot rocks and stove.

It’s polite to ask other users if they’d like more water to be ladled onto the stove – usually the intense ‘löyly’ this creates is desired by everyone, but it does make you feel hotter.

Who can sauna?

Sauna has many benefits. All persons using the sauna, do so at their own risk.

Check with your doctor before you book the sauna if you have any health issues, are using prescription drugs or are pregnant. 

How do I get into the sauna?

Our sauna is always staffed during social and community saunas, when you will be welcomed and assisted by a member of staff upon arrival. They will also be in attendance on site during your session if you need help.

The sauna will often be situated in a rural location, probably with at least a 5 minute walk to reach it through fields or along tracks, with conditions dependent on weather. The sauna has 4 wooden steps with no banister, and two doors to navigate to reach the sauna. We want to ensure the sauna is as accessible as possible, but there are practical limitations so please ensure you are comfortable with these before booking. Please bring helpers if you think you can manage with support.

Where can I park?

There is parking near to each of sauna locations, with directions available at the time of booking using google maps and What Three Words. Sometimes parking is limited, so please car share if you can. Please park considerately and do not block access for any other users of the car park/location.

What is your age limit?

The sauna is available to persons 16 and over. Except sauna sessions labelled “Child Friendly” where it’s 8+ with a ratio of 1:1 children to adults. 

Can I bring my own essential oils?

For health and safety reasons, please do not bring your own essential oils for use in the sauna.

Is alcohol allowed?

Alcohol is not permitted in or around the sauna and we reserve the right to refuse admission to persons who are intoxicated.