I’d never been to a sauna until recently. I wasn’t sure what to expect. It turns out: You change into your swimwear behind an outdoor curtain on a fresh winter’s day and cramp up with seven strangers in a hot, steamy barrel-shaped sauna on Windmill Hill City Farm. ‘So what do we do now?’ I asked and everyone laughed.
I didn’t get an answer, but as the sweat poured down my face I could see a cow eating grass from the window before me. Someone poured water on the hot coals, and the stream rolled up and licked my skin. Ouch. The temperature rose. This was it I realised. Relaxing while very hot and a bit of chit-chat with strangers – two things I’ve never been great at… But I did enjoy myself!
The Orchard Sauna opened on the farm in late 2023 to become the first to bring the outdoor sauna experience to Bristol. The friendly, community-centred sauna now runs from Thursday to Sunday, from early mornings to late evenings, making it fit for every schedule. While it’s tranquil inner-city farm setting creates an idyllic atmosphere.
What does Orchard Sauna offer?
The standard booking is a 60-minute communal session with up to seven other people, while 90-minute sessions also exist. Not much of a socialiser (although I will say this was an unexpected bonus of my sauna trip was the random conversations I had)? You can also book a silent sauna session for “quiet reflection.” Whatever that is!
Another surprise to me was learning what a “cold water plunge” was. Orchard Sauna has two plunge pools: a small barrel plunge (10c) and a larger pool that’s extremely cold (4c). Hanging out in a hot barrel, only to leave for an ice bath every 10 minutes, didn’t sound like fun before I went, but left me with lots of glowing good feelings!
What are the benefits of a sauna?
People have been using saunas for thousands of years and their benefits are numerous – including helping with muscle and joint pain, high stress levels, and cardiovascular health (aka creating a healthy heart). It’s also known to help with asthma. The benefits of throwing a cold plunge into the mix can improve circulation and muscle repair, boost energy levels, and enhance your immune function.
There’s a lot of research that’s gone into saunas and plunges. All I’m qualified to say is that I left Orchard Sauna feeling AMAZING!!! It felt like I was drunk. Plus, I was on a farm full of incredible things to do – with everything from goats, pigs, sheep and cows, as well as gardens and shops selling handmade crafts and local produce.
To learn more about Orchard Sauna head here.