Lakeside Sauna
At Sauna Hus, the lake is not an extra. It is part of the experience. It’s part of the experience. The sauna is lakeside so moving from heat to cold feels simple and natural, without any fuss.
No tubs. No queues. Just steam lifting off the water and time to slow down between rounds.
What makes a lakeside sauna different
Sauna works best when it follows a cycle. Long heat. Short cold. Quiet recovery.
Being beside a lake removes friction from that process. You step out of the sauna and can cool down naturally beside the lake within moments. Within moments, your body starts to cool and your breathing settles without much effort. You can feel things slow down. When you head back into the heat, it usually feels deeper and more comfortable than the first round, almost straight away.
That simple back-and-forth is how sauna has been used across Scandinavia for generations. Not rushed. Not treated like a performance. Just steady contrast, repeated until it feels right.
Freshwater, as it is
The lake sits beside the sauna and forms part of the natural setting around Sauna Hus. It’s fed by groundwater, which helps keep the surrounding environment cool and consistent through the year, without the sharp changes often found in coastal water.
For cooling between rounds, many guests choose to use the cold water dunk tank, which offers a simple, contained way to cool down quickly before resting and returning to the heat. Others prefer to cool gradually in fresh air beside the lake, allowing their breathing and body temperature to settle naturally.
Freshwater tends to feel clean and direct after time in the sauna. Even brief contact with cooler conditions nearby is often enough to mark the transition between rounds.
There’s no expectation to stay in water, or to use any single cooling method. Sauna isn’t about endurance or pushing limits. It works best when you move between heat, cooling, and rest in a way that feels controlled and comfortable on the day.
The lake is also home to a small number of carp, which occasionally drift past quietly near the edge. It’s a small reminder that this is a real, natural place rather than a staged spa environment.
Alternative ways to cool down
Cold water immersion isn’t for everyone, and that’s fine.
The first round can feel unfamiliar, which is completely normal. By the second or third, most people stop thinking about the process altogether and settle into a rhythm that feels natural, without trying to force it.
Cooling down doesn’t have to involve the lake. Many guests choose to use the cold water dunk tank or the outdoor shower instead, particularly if they prefer a more contained or familiar option. Some people stick with one method for the whole session, while others change between rounds. Both approaches are fine, as long as the pace feels right for you.
Sauna works best when you feel relaxed rather than pressured. The benefit comes from contrast, not bravado. See our info about cold water safety
The lakeside sauna rhythm
Most sessions end up following a loose pattern, even if you don’t think about it too much:
Sit in the heat until your body feels ready
Cool down in the lake, plunge pool, or shower
Rest for a moment and let your breathing settle
Return to the sauna
That rhythm tends to find you, rather than the other way around.
Some people repeat this twice. Others four or five times. There’s no correct number. The benefit comes from repetition, not intensity, and that’s usually where people notice the biggest change.
Between rounds, people often sit quietly, talk less, and notice more. The presence of the lake encourages that pause.
Who a lakeside sauna is for
A lakeside sauna suits people who want more than just heat.
It works well for:
Cold water swimmers looking to warm up properly
Walkers and outdoor swimmers
People managing stress or poor sleep
Anyone curious about sauna but wanting a natural, unpressured introduction
You don’t need sauna experience. You don’t need to stay in the water. You don’t need to push yourself.
If it’s your first time, you may want to read our guide on what to expect from your first sauna session before you arrive.
Seasonal by nature
A lakeside sauna changes with the seasons.
In winter, the contrast between hot air and cold water is sharper, and steam hangs low over the lake. In summer, sessions are slower and softer, with longer rests between rounds. The carp move lazily through the shallows, and time feels less important.
The lake makes sauna feel grounded in the time of year, rather than something sealed off from it.
Lakeside sauna at Sauna Hus
Our lakeside sauna sessions take place at Cyder Farm in rural Suffolk, between Bungay and Halesworth. The setting is quiet, open, and away from roads and crowds, allowing the sauna–lake cycle to unfold naturally.
If you’re interested in the wider benefits of sauna, you can also read more about the health benefits of sauna use, or explore our Suffolk and Norfolk sauna pages for location details.
When you’re ready, you can book a session and experience the rhythm for yourself.