Top 10 Destinations for Sauna Stargazing in the UK

Summer coming to an end doesn’t have to mean evenings spent indoors. As the nights gradually draw in, September brings one of the best times of year to experience the UK’s growing outdoor sauna scene. 

Earlier sunsets mean an evening sauna can now continue beneath a dark sky, whether you’re visiting a local sauna after work or making it part of an autumn weekend away.

It’s an experience that’s becoming possible in more places than ever. According to the British Sauna Society’s Sauna Map, there were around 45 public sauna sites in early 2023. Today, there are more than 850 (and growing), with outdoor saunas now found on beaches, beside lakes and rivers, and in some of the country’s most beautiful rural landscapes.

So, which parts of the UK offer the best combination of outdoor sauna and stargazing?

We’ve analysed every UK county and territory with at least three public saunas, covering 70 destinations in total, to create The UK Sauna Stargazing Index.

Each destination was ranked on three factors: how dark its skies are, the likelihood of clear conditions, and the number of public outdoor saunas relative to the local adult population.

Our in-depth analysis has revealed that Scotland claims seven of the top 10 places in the ranking, including the top three. 

The Outer Hebrides takes first place with an index score of 86.5 out of 100, followed by the Shetland Islands and Argyll and Bute.

In fact, Cornwall is the only mainland English destination to appear in the top 10, while Gwynedd is the highest-ranking Welsh destination in fifth place.

Also known as Na h-Eileanan Siar or the Western Isles, it may be a surprise to see the Outer Hebrides at the top of the list. After all, it’s a location that the vast majority of the UK public have never been to, and likely couldn’t point out on a map. 

But when it comes to sauna stargazing, its first-place position starts to make a lot of sense.

The islands have 19.4 public saunas per 100,000 adults, the highest concentration in the top 10, alongside a Bortle rating of just 1.5. That means very little artificial light competes with the night sky, creating some of the best conditions for seeing the stars.

Then there’s the setting itself. White-sand beaches, turquoise water and vast Atlantic views make the Outer Hebrides particularly well suited to an outdoor sauna, especially once the sun begins to set.

Standout locations here include the Saltbox Saunas at Bayble Beach, Horgabost Beach, and Reef Beach, which offer incredible views of the sky after the sun sets over the Atlantic.

The Shetland Islands take second place, combining remarkably dark skies with one of the highest concentrations of public saunas in the research.

The islands have 16.5 saunas per 100,000 adults, alongside a Bortle rating of just 1.5.

The Shetlands remain one of the UK’s most distinctive destinations, with towering sea cliffs, sandy beaches and a wide array of wildlife such as puffins, seals and, of course, Shetland ponies. When choosing a sauna under the stars spot, there’s plenty of choice here with 16.5 saunas per 100,000 adults. 

Take a look at the options from Haar Sauna in both Bigton and Lerwick if you’re planning a trip to the Shetlands.

Sticking with the west coast of Scotland, Argyll and Bute boasts 11 public saunas and has some of the UK’s finest scenery. When you’re there, you’ll see vast lochs, mountain landscapes and stunning forests.

As with the first two entries, its place on this list is largely down to the exceptionally high number of saunas (16.2 per 100,000 adults) and the lack of light pollution (Bortle score 1.5). 

Argyll and Bute is quite a large area, so if you’re looking for a particular spot to combine sauna and stargazing, take a look at Eir Sauna and Hot Tottie in Luss. The latter is right next to Loch Lomond, offering incredible views on the ground and in the sky.

The only county in mainland England to make the top 10, Cornwall is a much larger destination than the others on the list. It more than holds its own against much smaller, remote counties. 

While its Bortle rating of 3.5 is higher than the three Scottish destinations above it, Cornwall performs particularly well for sunshine and sauna availability.

The county receives 1,636 hours of sunshine per year, the highest figure of anywhere in the top 10 by a considerable margin, and has 9.1 public saunas per 100,000 adults.

Its established coastal sauna scene also makes stargazing relatively easy to incorporate into an ordinary evening. As sunset moves earlier through September, an after-work sauna by the coast can finish beneath a darkening sky without requiring a particularly late night.

Gwynedd is the highest-ranking Welsh destination, taking fifth place with an overall score of 75.4.

Home to Eryri National Park and some of Wales’ most dramatic mountain landscapes, the area performs particularly well for both darkness and sauna availability.

It’s no shock then that it offers incredible views and scenery. After a hike up one of Gwynedd’s many mountains, what better way to wind down than in a luxurious sauna?

Gwynedd scores well in two parts of the index: 15.1 saunas per 100,000 adults and a low Bortle light pollution score of 2.5. 

The Highland Council area is Scotland’s largest local authority by land mass, so it naturally performs well on the index thanks to its vast areas of protected skies. Its breathtaking scenery and rugged coastlines are reasons why the North Coast 500 is one of the UK’s best driving routes. You can even hunt for Nessie at the world-famous Loch Ness.

Highland scored well here thanks to its high number of saunas (11.8 per 100,000 adults) and a near-perfect Bortle light pollution score (1.5).

Given the size of Highland, its saunas are naturally spread across the region. Arisaig Sauna and Clach Mara Sauna are among the locations where the surrounding coast and landscape become part of the experience.

For anyone travelling through the Highlands, an evening sauna can offer a quieter way to experience the scenery once the day’s walking and sightseeing have finished.

While technically outside the UK county system, the Isle of Man was still worth including, as it scored well on some of the factors considered.

The Isle of Man has relatively dark skies and healthy sunshine levels, which make it a top option for sauna stargazing. 

When you’re there, motorsport fans can enjoy the Isle of Man TT across May and June, while there is also rich Celtic and Viking heritage to take in.

Stirling shows that you don’t necessarily need to travel to one of Scotland’s more remote islands to find dark skies and a good choice of saunas.

It ranks eighth, with 12.3 public saunas per 100,000 adults and a Bortle rating of 2.5.

Its central location also makes it one of the more accessible Scottish destinations in the top 10, particularly for those looking to fit a sauna into an evening rather than plan an entire trip around it.

If you fancy pairing your stargazing with a sauna session, Bask Saunas and The Wild Sauna Co are two options worth considering. 

Dumfries and Galloway takes ninth place, helped considerably by its exceptional night skies.

The region has a Bortle rating of just 2.0, making it one of the darkest destinations in the top 10.

Its quieter coastline, countryside and relatively low levels of artificial light create particularly good conditions for stargazing, while there are 8.7 public saunas per 100,000 adults.

Its location in southern Scotland also makes it one of the more accessible Scottish destinations for those travelling from northern England.

Rounding out the top 10 is another Scottish local authority, in the form of Moray. Found on the north-east coast, Moray actually sees more sun than the other Scottish locations in the top 10 (1,400 hours per year). 

It also has a fast-growing sauna scene, as more and more people are looking to combine relaxation with stunning coastal views. Moray even offers one of the best locations in Europe for dolphin watching, with sites such as Chanonry Point and Covesea Lighthouse. 

One of the most surprising things about the ranking isn’t a destination that made the top 10, but one that’s missing altogether.

Northumberland is one of the UK’s best-known stargazing destinations and is home to Europe’s largest area of protected night sky. Yet it doesn’t appear in our Sauna Stargazing Index.

That’s because our research uncovered that there simply aren’t enough public saunas. 

To be included in our research, a destination had to have at least three public saunas. Despite Northumberland’s exceptional dark skies, it didn’t meet that threshold.

For Finnmark Sauna, which is based just across the county border in Durham, it’s a particularly interesting omission.

Jake Newport, CEO of Finnmark Sauna, said: “Being based in Durham, Northumberland is right on our doorstep, so it was one of the places I expected to see perform really well when we started looking at the data.

“It has almost everything you could want for an outdoor sauna experience: incredibly dark skies, beautiful countryside, a dramatic coastline and plenty of places where people already go to switch off and spend time outdoors. The only thing currently missing is enough public saunas.

“We’ve seen outdoor saunas grow incredibly quickly across the UK, particularly in coastal and rural locations, and I’d love to see more of that happening here in nearby Northumberland.

“There’s a real opportunity for hospitality businesses, accommodation providers and wellness destinations in Northumberland. People already travel there for the landscape and the night sky, so a thoughtfully designed outdoor sauna could complement what the area already does exceptionally well.”

September brings something that the height of summer simply can’t: darkness at a much more sociable hour.

As sunset gets earlier, an outdoor sauna can naturally extend into an evening beneath the stars. That might be part of a weekend on the coast or in the countryside, but it can just as easily be a session at a local sauna after work.

The cooler air also creates a different experience between sauna rounds.

Jake explains: “Autumn is one of my favourite times of year for outdoor sauna. The evenings are becoming darker, the temperature outside is beginning to drop, but we’re not yet in the depths of winter. It creates a really enjoyable contrast with the heat of the sauna.

“It’s also when sauna under the stars becomes much easier to fit into everyday life. In the middle of summer, you can wait until very late for a properly dark sky. By autumn, you can finish work, head to an outdoor sauna and experience that same setting without having to stay out until the early hours.

“The time outside the sauna is an important part of the experience too. Traditionally, you wouldn’t sit in the heat continuously. You take a break, allow yourself to cool down and return when you feel ready. If you’re somewhere with a beautiful night sky, those few minutes outside can become one of the best parts of the session.

“There’s no need to rush that process or challenge yourself to stay in the sauna for a certain amount of time. Particularly if you’re new to sauna, listen to your body, take regular breaks and make sure you have water available.

“As the evenings become cooler, I’d also have something warm nearby to put on between rounds. A sauna hat can make the heat more comfortable around the head and ears, particularly during a longer session.

“You don’t have to travel to a remote part of Scotland to enjoy it either. If you have an outdoor sauna close to home, autumn gives you the opportunity to make this part of a normal evening. But if you do find yourself somewhere with very little light pollution, taking a break from the heat and looking up at a genuinely dark sky is a wonderful experience.”