FELLSIDE SAUNA AND A DIP IN DERWENTWATER | Sauna Stories

There are gifts you unwrap and place on a shelf, and then there are gifts that ask you to step outside, breathe deep, and plunge into something very cold…  

Fellside Sauna on Derwentwater was the latter; a birthday present that gave me an outdoor adventure. I’ve sat in saunas before, and I’ve taken many cold-water dips, but never the two combined in such a wild way, perched on the edge of one of the Lake District’s most famous lakes.

It felt elemental, invigorating, and wholly different. Booked into the sunrise slot on a December morning, I went with the friend who’d made the purchase, and wondered if this might become a new love in my One Hour Outside ritual. It was certainly going to be a way of folding adventure into this particular day.

Fellside Sauna

A towable retreat designed to connect people with nature in the most fundamental way, Fellside Sauna (visit them here) sits right on the edge of Derwentwater, tucked into the grounds of The Lingholm Estate. The Derwentwater pop-up is seasonal, while the main and more permanent set-up is at Another Place, The Lake Hotel, on the banks of Ullswater.

Created by Laura and Joe, a Cumbrian couple inspired by their time living in Wanaka, New Zealand, the sauna is part of their vision to bring adventure and wellbeing together in the Lake District. Laura first discovered mobile saunas while wild swimming abroad, she loved the mental challenge of cold immersion but longed for a way to warm up afterwards. Fellside Sauna grew from that spark: a lakeside cabin where heat and cold meet, and where the landscape itself becomes part of the escapade.

On our chosen December Friday morning, the sauna was waiting for us at sunrise, its timber walls glowing softly against the dim light of the lake and mountains around us. We were lucky with the weather – calm skies, no rain, and only the faint promise of a storm later in the day. The air was crisp, the kind that makes you draw your coat tighter until you step inside and feel the sudden rush of warmth.

From the benches, we could glimpse the water through the clear door, knowing that the other half of the adventure was only a short walk away. Having the sauna to ourselves made it feel even more calm: just us, the heat, and the lake beyond. It was a pocket of calm before that storm rolled in, a wild outdoor experience that felt both invigorating and grounding.

The Experience

We were met outside the café on the expansive and well-kept Lingholm Estate before being guided through the trees to the sauna itself, perched high on the bank overlooking Derwentwater. The set‑up is charming and well thought‑out, with the wood burner already working hard in preparation for our arrival. From the doorway, we could glimpse the cold plunge waiting at the water’s edge: a sturdy pontoon stretching out into the lake, with a ladder that promised a safe and easy entry without the scramble of a shoreline dip.

Facilities are simple, just a small shed for changing, with no toilets or showers, adding to the pared-back feel of the experience. We were provided with Crocs to protect our feet on the walk down to the lake, sipped cool drinking water between rounds, and were offered a calming cup of chamomile tea at the end. And the whole time, our lovely attendant kept the sauna hot, steady, and welcoming.

Heat and Cold Rounds

With an hour to ourselves, we settled into a set of three sauna rounds followed by three plunges in the lake. The guidance was to spend 5-15 minutes in the heat at a time. I began with around ten, breathing in the warm spice of cinnamon essential oil – then it was a brisk walk down the path to the lake. My first dip was tentative, only up to my belly button (if that), the cold biting too sharply to go further. Back in the sauna, I stretched to nearly fifteen minutes, this time with tea tree oil, before braving the ladder and lowering myself all the way to my neck. Done. Good. Out again.

But as I stood dripping on the pontoon and watched Fiona get in for a swim without hesitation, I realised I had to go for it too. I pushed past my gradual approach, plunged back in, and swam. It was invigorating, icy, and utterly exhilarating. From the water, the view of the surrounding fells is unlike any other, a perspective you can only earn by moving away from the edge. I might have only been in for a minute, but I felt on top of the world.

Our final round in the sauna was scented with eucalyptus, a sharp, refreshing counterpoint to the heat. This was followed by two last dips in the lake, each one easier, each one leaving me more energised. It was a simple hour, yet it felt expansive, a cycle of heat, cold, and stillness that left me both grounded and buzzing.

In Review

It’s probably clear by now that I loved the experience. At £19 each, it felt excellent value for an hour that was both invigorating and restorative. We were fortunate with the weather and the state of the water, and equally lucky to have the sauna to ourselves. as we hadn’t paid for exclusive hire, so there was always a chance of sharing. Thankfully for us, sunrise on a December Friday didn’t tempt anyone else.

We booked the Fellside Sauna pop-up at The Lingholm Estate, they also have a more permanent set-up at Another Place Hotel on Ullswater, which looks just as inviting (with some additional facilities). Booking was straightforward online, with clear instructions provided so we knew what to expect.

Facilities are minimal: a shed for changing and the sauna itself, but no toilets, showers, or lockers. That simplicity is part of the charm, though it does mean you need to come prepared. Arrive hydrated, bring a towel to sit on plus another to dry off, and a changing robe to keep warm and save dignity when moving between sauna and lake. I borrowed my friend’s Dryrobe, and if I wasn’t convinced before, I definitely want one now. The Lingholm Kitchen, the onsite café, has loos, but only after 9am, which is worth noting if you’re on an early slot like we were.

The little touches made it feel special: a choice of essential oils (I’d never used them in a sauna before and loved it), drinking water provided throughout, and a calming cup of chamomile tea at the end. We ate at the café afterwards and the food was superb, rounding off the morning perfectly.

Fellside Sauna Reflections

It was the perfect way to start the day; something new, something wild, and a reminder of how good it feels to step outside your comfort zone. This was my first dip in a while, and it felt like reconnecting with a part of myself I’d been missing. We were fortunate with the weather: calm skies, no rain, and the storm holding off until later. From the sauna, the views across Derwentwater and up to the surrounding fells were breathtaking, shifting subtly with each round of heat and plunge.

I’m glad I built up my time gradually, both in the sauna and in the lake. Each cycle felt like a small victory, a step deeper into the experience. By the end, it was wild and free, invigorating in a way that only elemental contrasts can be. If I lived closer, I’d fold this ritual of heat, cold, and stillness into my weeks. As it was, even just one hour left me buzzing, grounded, and grateful.

This birthday gift reminded me how powerful an experience can be. An hour at Fellside Sauna was everything at once: the warmth of the cabin, the shock of the lake, the stillness of the fells. It was a chance to try something different, to embrace the outdoors in winter, and to discover a ritual that felt both restorative and exhilarating.

I left energised, grateful, and certain that if I lived closer, I’d be back often. For anyone seeking a thoughtful gift, or simply a way to reconnect with nature, this is an experience worth trying. And if you’ve ever been given an adventure instead of a thing, I’d love to hear about it – what wild or quirky gift has stayed with you long after the day itself?

Fellside Sauna: Sauna Stories Fact File

Location: The Lingholm Estate, Cumbria (this is the one we went to).

Sauna: Wood-fired sauna with space for six.

Cold Plunge: In Derwentwater! A short walk down a path to the lake.

Facilities: Open-sided shed for changing, toilet in nearby cafe (note their opening hours!).

Atmosphere: Relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

What to Bring: Two towels, water bottle, decent shoes to get to/from your car.

Extras: Drinking water, freshly brewed tea to finish, loaner crocs to get to the water.

Travel: Car. Free parking for sauna users in estate car park.

Price: From £19 for 60 minutes.

Booking: Direct via Fellside Sauna website.

>> Read all my Sauna Stories journal articles.