The Wee Barra Sauna
Relax... Rejuvenate... Revive
We have adopted and designed our sauna and cold water plunges on the Finnish model. Finns have a long standing tradition of using saunas and cold water plunges as part of their daily wellness routine. This practice, known as contrast therapy, involves alternating between hot and cold temperatures to stimulate physiological responses that benefit both physical and mental health.
Stress relief
Regular sauna use can help manage stress by triggering the release of endorphins, leading to a sense of calm and well-being.
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Saunas help you sleep better at night, and gives a deep sense of relaxation
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The heat from the sauna can help eliminate toxins and impurities from the skin, while the cold plunge can stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms.
Using the Sauna
Begin with 10-15 minutes in the sauna and then step into the cold plunge barrel for between 20 seconds -2 minutes. - repeat this cycle 3 times.
To finish off - End with a short cold plunge and dry off completely but allow your body to rewarm naturally
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Hydrate well after your session
Alternatively if you need time to build up to the cold water plunge, you can stand outside the sauna to cool off to help reduce your core temperature, dab your face and neck with cold water or use our outside cold water shower.
Sea Swimmers
We welcome all regular local sea swimmers - if wanting to sea swim and then use the sauna - you can have your swim/dip and then welcome to use the sauna afterwards and follow the above routine to get optimal benefit for your session.
We ask all sea swimmers to use our cold water shower to rinse off before using the sauna and barrell's. We are a 3 min walk to the sea.
How we will look after the Barrels
To ensure pristine cold water conditions - we test water weekly using pH strips to ensure pH levels are at the optimal level between 7.2-7.6.
We clean the barrels regularly and treat the water using plant based water treatment and there will be no harsh chemicals used at all. (for sensitive skin)
We aim to keep our sauna at the recommended temperature 80-90 C and the cold water barrels 7-10 C
Sauna felt hats!
Felt hats are available to use at our sauna and are highly recommended. Sauna hats aren't just a quirky tradition—they serve a real purpose: protecting your head and hair from extreme heat so you can stay in longer and enjoy deeper benefits.
Sauna and Activity Combo
For all our sauna goers we are delighted to offer a combo package of a guided kayaking/paddleboard trip and sauna. Each person booking a combo will receive a £5.00 discount. Please contact us for details.
The Isle of Barra is a fantastic location for water sports with beautiful beaches to visit and plenty of wildlife to spot. Catering for all levels of experience find out more about our trips at:
Our sauna story
The inspiration for the wee Barra sauna and cold water plunge barrels came from Katie and friends who have been swimming wild in the sea for the last three years. Coming into the sauna after a very cold bracing winter swim has been totally bliss and one to share with others! With the handy DIY skills from Chris who had the ingenuity to build the sauna in one of our kayak sheds- we have created a very unique sheltered sauna enclosed with its own decking and perimeter fence which gives privacy for all users as well as allows all cold water plungers to gaze and see the stars! We want to be able to offer this experience to everyone who wishes to use it and hope we can provide a lovely relaxing authentic experience.
What to bring with you
Please arrive in swimwear so you are ready to go.
2 towels- small one to sit on in the sauna and a larger one to dry off with afterwards
Water - stay hydrated
There are accessible toilets for use before and after sessions.
