New Heartwood home: A foundation for the future
Earlier this year, we relocated from our original workshop in the hills of the Dyfi Valley to our purpose-built sauna-making site a few miles away in the village of Glantwymyn, near our home town of Machynlleth.
The move marked a milestone that had been years in the making and will enable us to meet the growing demand for outdoor saunas and wellness facilities.
Below, Heartwood Saunas founder and director, Olly Davey, shares in his own words the story of our journey to a new home and how it will guide Heartwood Saunas into the future.
Time for change
It first became clear to me that we needed more space in the workshop as far back as 2021. When I started the company in 2018 it was just me, but we experienced rapid growth in those first years, with demand for our outdoor saunas outpacing our production capacity. With a constant stream of new orders resulting in longer lead times, I had to quickly expand the team, employing talented, local craftspeople to work with me to make more saunas, without compromising on quality. During those early years, I recognised that if we wanted to keep expanding as a company, we would need a new workshop to support that growth.
Finding the right location took time. I went to see several potential sites looking for a place that would enable us to develop in line with my vision for the company and allow us to create the perfect workshop for the team. The quickest and easiest option would’ve been to take on a unit at an existing industrial estate, but that was never a route I wanted to go down. I was seeking a setting that reflected the company's values, visibly represented what we stand for, and kept us connected to the natural world.
Shaping the Vision
From the outset, I wanted the sauna workshop to match the ambition and quality of the saunas we build. Our new home is spacious, light-filled, and purpose-built for our needs, making it feel very much like Heartwood. Ancient trees surround the workshop, and with the river Twymyn running alongside, it’s a place that grounds us and our work in the landscape that inspires us.
Throughout the design and planning process, Arta, our in-house architect and designer and I, aimed to ensure that the space would offer us ample flexibility and enable us to improve efficiency across the board, giving us the scope to adapt to accommodate a range of projects - from our signature saunas for private homes and gardens, to larger bespoke and commercial projects. I wanted the space to inspire us and for us to feel immersed in the brand, so that as a team, we could continually push the boundaries of sauna design. As a result, in addition to a large workshop area, there is also a dedicated research and development space, providing us with room to explore new concepts and to test out new materials, ensuring we continue to build saunas in the most energy-efficient and sustainable way possible.
Building for the Future
As a Welsh sauna company, we’re committed to keeping our production in our home town which allows us to contribute to the region’s economy and create new job opportunities for talented local craftspeople. The larger office space located on the mezzanine floor also allows us to grow our head office functions as needed - from customer service, design and marketing to finance and HR, supporting the delivery of more saunas to clients across the UK and internationally. While the headcount continues to grow, we remain a small, dedicated team that thinks locally and acts globally.
Future plans also include developing the external area of the workshop for visitors and clients, creating the opportunity to experience both electric and wood-fired Heartwood Saunas, here at our new workshop. Working with garden designer and RHS Young Designer of the Year winner, Luke Coleman, we’ll be creating a biodiverse, landscaped wellbeing space that speaks of our heritage, our location and our values.
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If you have any questions about our saunas and would like to speak to a member of the team, please complete our Contact Form and we’ll be in touch.
Olly.
Waterscaping: A guide to Natural Swimming Pools
Natural swimming pools, or ‘swimming ponds’, are increasingly sought as an organic and ecologically conscious alternative to traditional swimming pools. These inviting aquatic features can transform gardens into tranquil oases that promote outdoor wellness and enhance biodiversity.
After working on some recent outdoor sauna projects with integrated natural water features, we feel that natural pools and swimming ponds provide the ultimate counterpart to outdoor saunas. So, we decided to find out more from some of the UK’s experts…
What is a swimming pond?
Swimming ponds, or natural swimming pools, combine the aesthetic appeal and ecological benefits of a pond with the functionality of a traditional swimming pool. While the terms ‘swimming pond’ and ‘natural swimming pool’ are sometimes used interchangeably, usually the former refers to a more naturalistic water feature with organic basin materials like clay or gravel, whereas the latter typically involves a more structured design with a concrete basin. Unlike conventional pools that rely on chemicals for water purification, natural swimming pools use aquatic plants and biological filtration systems to maintain clear and hygienic water. This creates a natural and harmonious swimming experience akin to wild swimming in a mountain lake. As a leading swimming pond provider, Gartenart, explains,
“Clear, clean water is the naturally occurring state in low-nutrient ponds and lakes if the body of water is large and deep enough. Swimming ponds are purposely built to emulate this state and are a prime example of how we can harness nature's intelligence effectively. A conventional swimming pool uses chemicals to kill microorganisms in the water, such as phytoplankton and bacteria. However, this isn’t necessary in a natural pool where the cleaning work is carried out by micro-organisms which exist together in equilibrium. This is the basic principle of a swimming pond - to use the natural purifying properties of plants and micro-organisms to sustain clean, clear and healthy water.” - Gartenart
Achieving crystal clear, clean water isn’t always only up to micro-organisms - submerged pumps and careful marginal planting are also often a key part of the science of swimming ponds. Hannah from award-swimming Swimming Pond creators, Ellicar, explains,
"A natural pool or swimming pond is a swimming pool that's filtered and purified hydrobotanically by water plants and a biological filtration system. That means clear, hygienic, living water without the need for chemicals. Native aquatic plants grow in the pool’s regeneration zones, absorbing nutrients and helping keep the water balanced and the algae at bay. Ultra-quiet, submerged pumps and a hidden hydraulic system circulate the water through the filters without the need for a plant room. The result is a balanced, natural-looking pool with water that feels like wild swimming in a mountain lake: soft, sparkling and rejuvenating." - Hannah, Ellicar
Health and Environmental Benefits
With natural swimming pools, it is possible to accomplish the best of both worlds—enhancing personal health and supporting wildlife biodiversity. Over the last two decades, the UK has experienced a resurgence in wild swimming, influenced by a growing desire to reconnect with nature and the evocative narratives found in literature such as Roger Deakin's seminal book ‘Waterlog: A Swimmer's Journey Through Britain.’ This movement has inspired many to bring the ethos of wild swimming into their gardens with natural swimming pools that offer a sanctuary for people and wildlife alike.
Although the deep part of the pool is generally reserved for human enjoyment, the carefully planted edges of the pond can support a host of wildlife, from pollinators to amphibians and birds.
"Wildlife starts to appear almost immediately after the pool is filled and the regeneration zone is planted. Diving beetles, pond skaters, and dragonflies are often the first to arrive, sometimes even while the pool is still under construction! Over time, our pools become thriving ecosystems. Within just a couple of years, you’ll find swallows dipping, dragonflies, newts and underwater pond life tucked away in the planted areas. Around the water's edge, you'll see pollinators, birds bathing and bats in the evenings. Giving a home to an abundance of wildlife, a natural swimming pool plays a vital part in protecting our planet and taking care of your health and wellness, naturally." - Hannah, Ellicar
Complementing this view, Gartenart underscores the personal wellness benefits of swimming in natural water.
"Swimming in natural water can have a calming and restorative effect on mental health, reducing stress and promoting relaxation. It's excellent for physical exercise, enhancing cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and overall fitness." - Gartenart
In addition to increasing biodiversity by providing habitat, natural swimming pools are also much better for the environment compared to traditional pools as they eliminate the need for harmful chemicals (and the risk of chemical runoff into surrounding areas) and mitigate the considerable energy consumption associated with conventional pool maintenance.
“Giving a home to an abundance of wildlife, a natural swimming pool plays a vital part in protecting our planet
and taking care of your health and wellness, naturally.”
Design and Construction
Although they may, in some cases, look simply like a large garden pond, there is a significant amount of technical design behind creating consistently healthy, chemical-free, naturally balanced clean water; as Hannah from Ellicar explains,
"We size our biological filtration systems to work with the volume of water and the number of swimmers per day in our pools, making the pipework, pumps, flow rates and water plants totally bespoke for each of our designs. If a pool’s filtration system has been designed incorrectly, it can lead to an imbalance in the water, which means the oxygenating plants don’t grow properly, and the ecosystem fails. And whilst natural pools require less maintenance than conventional chlorinated pools, if a pool has not been built to allow for an easy maintenance regime, it can lead to phosphorous overburden and hygienic water issues.” - Hannah, Ellicar
Ellicar began fifteen years ago with a personal project—a natural swimming pool in the founders' garden, following their training as water specialists with Austrian natural pool pioneers, Biotop. This initial venture sparked the creation of their company, which has since evolved into a renowned family business. The team brings a deep-rooted passion for natural pools and gardens to every project, reflecting their commitment to both family values and ecological integrity, and their process for creating a natural swimming pool is professional and meticulous, as Hannah explains,
“After an on-site consultation with our designer, Sarah, we start by drawing up concept plans so our clients can really visualise the design of their pool and/or garden. Once they are happy with the concept, we move to construction drawings, creating 3D designs for every aspect of the pool – from the reinforced concrete internal walls to the complex deck hatches that allow us to access the filter chambers for servicing. After this, we’re ready to get on site and start bringing our client’s dream outside space to life! Depending on the size and complexity of the project, this can take as little as six weeks, but often it takes around 10-15 weeks for full construction and installation of the pool." - Hannah, Ellicar
As well as designing entirely new swimming ponds, many swimming pond specialists also offer pond and lake conversions, such as Gartenart’s swimming pond at Brandon Parkes, Hampshire, pictured below (left) and at the top of this article.
“The client wanted to convert an existing pond which was built by the previous owner and was looking murky and not appealing as the rest of the garden. We usually check the existing elements of the garden before starting the design and in this case, we decided to keep a similar footprint of the existing pond, increasing the length slightly to create a link between the higher level and the lower level of the garden. We wanted to take advantage of the big slope nearby, initially with a slide, which has since been transformed into a rocky waterfall.” -Gartenart
Temperature is often a consideration for those new to the concept of natural swimming pools in the UK, however as Gartenart notes,
“We almost always find that once they are swimming in the pond, temperature is not the issue they thought it was beforehand.” - Gartenart
Garden Integration
Integrating a natural swimming pool seamlessly into the garden design is essential for creating a harmonious and immersive outdoor experience. By thoughtfully blending water features with the landscape, both the aesthetic appeal and the functionality of the space are enhanced, allowing the entire garden to become a tranquil haven. This holistic approach ensures that the swimming area feels like a natural extension of its surroundings, maximising the enjoyment and connection with the environment for everyone who uses it.
“For Southwell, we were asked to create a natural swimming pool and naturalistic garden for our clients to relax and enjoy spending time at home with their family. We designed the garden around a small natural pool, with a swim zone 3m wide and 10m long. A beach at the shallow end is perfect for small children to access the pool and for stepping slowly into the water in the depths of winter. We incorporated our clients’ cabin at the far end of the pool. It opens onto a deck with the side patio creating a generous living space for sun loungers, BBQs and outdoor living adjacent to the water. The borders are full and brightly coloured, with plants reminiscent of our client’s childhood in Kenya mingled with grasses for a looser feel. Flowering perennials attract pollinators and are left standing through winter for seedheads for the wild birds.” - Hannah, Ellicar
Successfully integrating a natural swimming pool into a garden requires thoughtful consideration and imagination. Proper placement ensures the pool enhances the beauty of the landscape and effectively maintains water quality. Strategic positioning can prevent common issues such as leaf accumulation, insufficient sunlight, and contamination from runoff, all of which can significantly impact the pool’s ecological balance.
“Its important to locate a natural swimming pool to work with nature instead of against it! For instance, it is not advisable to place a pool too close to deciduous trees, as the leaf fall in autumn can cause huge issues if they clog the filter and burden the water with unwanted nutrients which causes an imbalance leading to algae. It’s also important to locate the pool somewhere it will get plenty of sun so it warms up nicely! Another key location factor is to never place a natural pool at the bottom of a sloped site, or anywhere it is at risk of being contaminated with surface water runoff, as this can hugely impact the water balance.” - Hannah, Ellicar
Besides integrating the swimming pool into its environment, it’s also important to consider the individuals who will be enjoying the space. By understanding their unique needs, preferences, and interests, a truly personalised environment can be created—one that resonates deeply and transforms the garden into a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
“To the side of the garden is a botanical medicinal border -our clients are both practitioners- this was great fun to research and plant. One of our favourite features is a tiny stream we designed to look like a Scottish burn, it sparkles down the hillside, through a scree garden of Scottish cobbles planted with aromatics and creeping thyme and disappears under the deck walkway into a hidden balance tank.” - Hannah, Ellicar
Sauna Symbiosis
Combining a natural swimming pool with an outdoor sauna is an increasingly popular choice, as the health benefits of both are complemented and enhanced by the other. Having a cool, natural body of water to dip into between sauna sessions—rather than heading indoors for a cold shower—allows for uninterrupted immersion in nature.
“Natural swimming pools and outdoor saunas are a match made in heaven! Outdoor living and wellness areas are becoming more and more popular with our clients. The use of cold plunge pools after a sauna has well-documented health benefits: releasing adrenaline and endorphins that can reduce stress levels, boost your metabolism, increase your blood flow, and boost your immune function. Anecdotally, a few of our clients swear by this ‘contrast therapy’ to improve their quality of sleep.” - Hannah, Ellicar
Considering the positioning of a natural swimming pool in relation to an outdoor sauna is crucial for optimising the overall wellness experience. A thoughtfully designed path connecting the pool and sauna creates a seamless transition between the two, promoting relaxation and maintaining a sense of connection to the natural surroundings.
“When designing a natural pool with a sauna, we think about the physical access that means our clients are able to safely plunge into the cold water and exit again easily and quickly—either a ladder for quick access to the ‘deep end’ or a shallow beach that slopes into the water so you can wade in and submerge yourself at will. But equally, we design the transition between the sauna and the pool to be a sensory experience in itself. Whether it is a mown path between wildflower meadow borders or a decked walkway with lighting and contemporary planting, we design the wellness space our clients will love and use for years to come.” — Hannah, Ellicar
It’s clear that beyond improving physical fitness, the combination of natural swimming ponds and outdoor saunas creates a holistic and rejuvenating outdoor wellness experience. This synergy is beautifully captured in the design of a recent project we collaborated on with water garden designer Calum Gordon (of aptly named ‘Splash Gordon’), pictured below. The serene view of the natural swimming pool from the sauna window plays a central role in the experience. As Calum notes,
“It’s the perfect combination! Swimming in general is very good for both mental and physical health, but actually just being by the water and looking at it is very calming—it’s nice to be able to look over the water from the sauna window. In winter especially, it’s so good to walk out of the sauna and into the pool.” — Calum, Splash Gordon
With careful consideration, both a natural swimming pool and an outdoor sauna can be expertly tailored to suit specific needs, creating an outdoor living space that reflects individual interests and lifestyle. Whether the goal is to establish a tranquil retreat, a space for cultivating fitness, or a vibrant social hub, each element can be customised to accommodate experience priorities, mobility requirements, and aesthetic preferences. Together, the swimming pond and outdoor sauna form a cohesive wellness environment that cultivates presence in the body and a connection to nature.
“It’s the perfect combination... In winter especially, it’s so good to walk out of the sauna and into the pool.”
Natural Swimming Pool Specialists:
Ben Fogle on Sauna, Ceremony and Community
In the spring of 2021, we had the privilege of designing and building a bespoke wood-fired sauna for British adventurer and broadcaster, Ben Fogle. Ben was keen to have a traditional sauna that when not in use, appeared incognito, looking like an old structure that had been in the woods for a long time, but with hidden glazing features that would facilitate sauna bathing sessions truly immersed in nature. After working on the project in his woodland garden, we took the chance to talk to Ben about his experience with saunas, and why a sauna is, as he put’s it, his thing.
The Sauna as a Sanctuary
A self-identified ‘Journey Man’, Ben’s work and lifestyle involves travelling the world and learning about and documenting different ways of life. As Ben spends much of his time travelling, often in remote places, in extreme weather conditions or with limited resources, it’s especially important to have a place to come back to where he can relax and recharge, ready for his next adventure.
“I spend a lot of time in quite intense situations with people on expeditions, travelling, it’s quite a fast pace of life - my way of unwinding is to have a bit of me time. I’ve got family, and I love spending time with them, but for me it’s also very important to have a run, to do a bit of exercise, and to sit in the sauna, to reflect, zone out and switch off.
I think a lot of my friends are surprised that a sauna is my thing. But the sauna has always been my place of, not refuge, but my sanctuary, I suppose - it’s a place where I feel better.”
Although, as Ben says, it’s not typically a ‘very British thing’, saunas are deeply ingrained in human history and culture across the globe, and have always been a big part of Ben’s life. Through his work and travels he has been lucky to experience a lot of different saunas, from indoor hot rooms to traditional ceremonial sweat lodges and everything in between. But when it came to having his very own woodland hideout, it was a traditional wood-fired sauna that most appealed.
“I’ve experienced a lot of sweat lodges, which again, can have a really profound impact on you. Personally, while I thought about putting a sweat lodge here, I find them a little bit too dark, a bit too intense, almost too powerful - Sweat lodges (which have been used by indigenous folk around the world for many years) are there to have almost an other-worldly out of body experience, and for me that’s too intense for a Saturday evening when I’ve got an hour to myself - I don’t need to leave my body!”
“The sauna has always been my place of, not refuge, but my sanctuary, I suppose - it’s a place where I feel better”
The Ceremony of Sauna
Beyond simply stepping inside a sauna, relaxing for a short time, then leaving, as you might in a gym or leisure centre, Ben believes in creating a sense of ceremony around the process of sauna bathing. This ‘ceremony’ is a means of slowing down and really connecting with the elements involved.
“If you go to the sauna at a gym, it’s there, it’s on, you go in, you leave and that’s it. But the wood that I burn has been harvested from the woods around, it’s been picked up off the ground - so in away it feels more organic, and that organicness of burning my own wood, trying to gauge my own ideal temperature - is all part of the experience, it’s ceremonial. I dry the wood, I chop the wood, I then carefully feed the stove […] a bit like travel, it’s the anticipation and the excitement of getting the sauna ready that is part of the journey. I think ceremony is a really important part of life, and a lot of people are living such a fast pace of life that they forget about it.”
From preparing the firewood and collecting water for steam, to cycling between sauna bathing, forest bathing and cold water immersion in the plunge pool, Ben explains how the whole process sets a steady pace, each step keeping you present and connected to what you’re experiencing.
“After the sauna, I love getting into the plunge pool, it always takes your breath away - that for me is the key to having a sauna. I like that profound, intense change of temperature, it’s like all those pores that have opened up and all the sweat suddenly just evaporates… it’s all part of a sort of spiritual experience.”
As saunas have been a significant part of a number of cultures stretching into ancient history, there is no one ‘correct’ way to experience a sauna ceremonially. In fact, for Ben, it’s less about having a strict procedure, and more about getting into a sauna mindset.
“I find the sauna experience really profound. I don’t know what it is about the heating and the sweating and the turning your mind off, but for me, it’s meditative - I find it really therapeutic.
I don’t really have a routine, but there is the ceremonial aspect of getting the sauna up and running. I know what I need, and I actually deliberately switch the processes around a little bit. It’s about trying to get it to that perfect sweet spot where I can spend 15 - 20 minutes in there - for me that is about 90 degrees roughly. It’s working out how much wood to use, and how much air to vent through the stove to keep it at that temperature, which is actually all part of the ceremony, it’s quite fun!”
A Part of the Environment
As well as the sauna experience creating a personal connection with the natural elements, it’s important to Ben that the sauna structure itself feels connected to its setting, as though it is a part of the surrounding environment.
“What I really wanted was something that looked like it had been here for a while. I didn’t want it to look too new, I didn’t want it to be too jarring. I really wanted it to feel like it was part of the environment. The weathered wood, the decking, the fact that it kind of just sits effortlessly within this little wooded area was exactly what I hoped for, and I think thats what makes me smile the most, and when you close the doors up you wouldn’t even know it was a sauna, it kind of looks like an old shed, but behind that is this thing of beauty. ”
Ben’s sauna sanctuary is sheltered under a canopy of deciduous trees, and nestled amongst ferns, rushes and woodland flowers. The heightened sensory experience that sauna bathing creates certainly makes for a profound experience when enjoying the sights and sounds of the changing woodland garden throughout the year.
“I love that moment of going from the sauna, the heat, the intensity, this almost out of body experience that you can have […] to opening the door and it’s like a giant sigh as you go outside. And obviously the colder the better, but there is something very beautiful about hearing the leaves, the birdsong - it’s almost like you ingest and inhale nature all around.
I personally prefer using the sauna when it’s a little bit colder because I get really hot and I take a long time to cool down. For me, that’s when it really comes into its own; when there’s a frost on the ground, a sprinkling of snow, and you can sit in there and stare at it. What I love about the wooded area is that it’s a constantly changing canvas, so the outlook that I have will constantly change as the leaves come off and the trees become bare and naked again.”
Sharing the Sauna Experience
Although the sauna can certainly provide a place to enjoy some much needed ‘me time’, it also serves as an ideal space to connect with other people away from the distractions of modern technology and general busyness of daily life. Because the sauna is a natural space that encourages presence of mind, it can be a productive space for conversation, sharing ideas and reflecting on the day.
“My wife and I will have our bi-weekly catchup - because when you’re a parent, your time is all focused on the kids and we often don’t have time just to chat, and there’s something very simple and organic and natural about sitting in the sauna and just chatting through the week and the plans - that doesn’t mean you’re not switched off - but your head is in a clear enough space that you can think rationally and just digest what’s been going on, so it’s great for the family.”
Although his children aren’t quite old enough to enjoy the sauna itself when it’s up to temperature, the whole family enjoy using the space, and the children have found delight in the plunge pool in particular. Beyond his immediate family though, Ben is passionate about sharing the benefits of sauna with others, and in opening the experience up to friends and neighbours has created a community of sauna enthusiasts.
“Nothing gives me more happiness than other people coming along and using it - because once it’s hot, it’s hot for a long time, you don’t want to waste that heat. We actually have a sauna Whatsapp group, and people can book in their timings to use it - there’s no wastage here. I think if you’re thinking about a sauna and you’ve got friends and locals nearby that you might be able to engage as a community and actually share it, then it’s definitely something you should go for.”
We quite agree - as well as personal mental and physical health benefits, saunas can improve our social wellbeing too - and the more people that can enjoy traditional outdoor sauna experiences, the better.
Keen to hear more on sauna from Ben Fogle? Check out our mini series.
Glen Dye: An Escape to the Highlands
Thirty-three years ago, Charlie and Caroline Gladstone packed up their life in London and headed north to take on the enormous task of renovating a beautiful, yet completely derelict private estate in the Scottish Highlands. This winter, we caught up with Charlie to talk about the journey of restoring the estate, the joy of sharing this hidden eden with like-minded people, and about inspiring fun, friendship and connection to nature through unforgettable holiday experiences.
In Search of Big Skies, Dogs and a Slice of the Good Life
In the early nineties, Charlie Gladstone and his wife Caroline were living and working in London with creative careers, but having grown up in the rugged countryside of North Wales, Charlie has always been ‘a country person’, and it wasn’t long before he and Caroline found themselves longing for a lifestyle more in-tune with their love of the outdoors.
“We both had jobs in London and we had one child, he was a few months old, and we went up for a holiday in Scotland and just asked ourselves a very fundamental question - what were we doing in London when we could be in Scotland? We wanted to bring up our children in the countryside, with big skies and dogs and all that sort of stuff - so we gave up our jobs, sold our house, and moved up to Scotland to take on this nearly derelict place - and it was the best thing we ever did!”
The couple, along with their growing family, packed up their lives and headed for Aberdeenshire, where they then spent about 25 years rescuing the Glen Dye Estate, which had been in Charlie’s family since the 1840s, from dereliction. As Charlie explains,
“It had been essentially abandoned. All of the houses on the land and the farms were in a really bad condition, and we just worked away, raised and borrowed money, and reinvigorated everything.”
Once the buildings and infrastructure were sound, the couple were able to expand their vision for the place to creating a successful business that would allow them to share the magic of Glen Dye with the world.
"When there were roofs on the houses and the fences and drains worked, we thought, what can we do to open the place up to other people with similar interests? And so we found our motivation to create amazing holiday experiences in this amazing location.”
In Clachnaben’s Embrace
Situated just on the Highland boundary fault, where the flat agricultural land that runs the whole way up the east side of Britain gives way to the Highlands, the Glen Dye Estate is overlooked by the dramatic granite tor of Clachnaben whose inspiring presence can be felt across the estate. The rugged expanse of trees and moorland covers around 1500 acres and is regarded as one of the most beautiful private forests in Britain, though perhaps unusually for such a wilderness, it is also very accessible at just a half hour’s drive from Aberdeen.
“I think it’s about as wild as the United Kingdom gets, but it’s not got the bleakness that other places have - it feels more approachable, a warm place - not in terms of temperature, but in the way it sort of envelops you. It has the beautiful granite tor of Clachnaben looking over it, and running through the middle is the river Dye - a beautiful bubbling river you can always see or hear wherever you are.”
But it isn’t just the natural environmental that gives Glen Dye it’s magic, it’s the built environment too. Because both Charlie and Caroline had always worked in design and interiors, it was logical that they’d finish the holiday cottages and cabins to a very high standard. From the grand open fires and artistic interiors to the outdoor kitchens, saunas and hot tubs, the cabins and cottages at Glen Dye elegantly enhance the beauty of the landscape.
However, more than simply providing a beautiful base to explore the countryside, Charlie wants to offer the guests at Glen Dye an experience of what he calls ‘the Good Life’ - which to Charlie, is a life enriched with fun, excitement, friendship, learning amazing food, beautiful art and design and a tangible connection to the environment.
“I want our guests to feel inspired to change their lives in some way when they leave - whether that means to slightly change the decor of their house or to carry home new skills or new resolutions about getting outside and enjoying the outdoors - and I want them to have fun - ultimately that’s something that we’re quite big on. I also want them to feel they really connected with the place. For me, Glen Dye is a very powerful place... A spiritual place.”
“For me, Glen Dye is a very powertul place... A spiritual place”
Saunas, Swims and Scottish Wellness
But what is it to feel connected to a place? According to Charlie, its about the way in which we interact with our environment - it’s about learning, sharing, making memories and ultimately, cultivating a deeper sense of wellbeing. With this in mind, and very much in the spirit of the public right to roam in Scotland, Charlie and Caroline began to develop experiences their guests could enjoy while staying at Glen Dye - from bushcraft, foraging and campfire cooking to stargazing, wild swimming and wood-fired saunas.
“Our idea to introduce a bushcraft school has its roots in the way we brought up our children - it was very much about being outdoors and learning how to connect with simple skills like lighting a fire, cooking on a fire, crossing a river without falling in or even simply learning how to walk up a hill or climb a tree. 10 years ago Caroline and I published a family guide to the great outdoors, and it was all about how to get your children outside, how to identify trees and clouds, how to build a den, use an axe properly or make a bow and arrow. It really just became completely logical that we would get more involved in these things at Glen Dye.”
Although they have employed two bushcraft and wild-wellness experts, getting involved or 'talking the talk and walking the walk’ as Charlie puts it, is certainly key to the way in which Charlie and Caroline operate at Glen Dye.
“We offer the things that we believe in and have genuine interest in - we think that if we believe it, it has integrity and hopefully that integrity will resonate with our guests.”
Striving to create a new sense of luxury, the experiences offered at Glen Dye are outdoorsy and authentic with a strong focus on quality as well as connection with the elements. For Charlie, a day at Glen Dye is simply incomplete without an authentic wood-fired sauna to balance the crisp Highland climate and ice-cold river swims in the Dye.
“For me, having a sauna is an excellent punctuation mark the end of the day. I find it unbelievably good for my mental state and for my general feeling of physical wellness. I think we’re all chasing feelings that make us feel good both physically and mentally and the sauna is surprisingly good at that. You can research the health benefits of sauna and there’s clearly data and anecdotes to support them but you don’t need to do that because the feeling you get after a sauna is enough proof on its own. For years and years I was a very keen long distance runner and I have given that up as i’ve got older. But the sauna gives me the kind of rush that running used to give me, I think I would be surprised if i didn’t carry on doing it for the rest of my life.”
We quite agree.
A Ride to the Riverside
Our saunas are built by a close-knit team of skilled carpenters who share a passion for an outdoor lifestyle as well as their craft. We are lucky to be located in the beautiful Dyfi forest of Eryri (Snowdonia) National park, and our team regularly enjoy after work adventures as well as social sauna sessions. In spring this year, we captured an evening mountain bike ride down to the riverside sauna with some of our workshop team.
Members of the Heartwood Saunas team look out across the landscape that surrounds the workshop.
Common Ground
Living and working on the southern edge of Snowdonia, it is impossible not to engage with the landscape. The rugged slate mountain ridges, waterfalls, forests, expansive estuaries and sandy beaches are integral to the local community and identity. Many of the Heartwood Saunas team get active outdoors in the mornings and evenings, and their hobbies are quite diverse - from running, climbing and hiking to rowing, surfing and cycling.
Fitting an outdoor lifestyle around working for Heartwood Saunas comes naturally, as the workshop is positioned half way up a small mountain, in the dense mixed woodland of the Dyfi forest.
“My main hobby is mountain biking, and our workshop is at the centre of some of the best trails in the UK so fitting in rides around work is really easy.” Isaac, carpenter
Our workshop team arrive early in the morning, and it’s a beautiful time to take in the surrounding landscape, just as the sun hits the hills and begins to burn-off the mist that gathers in the trees.
“I try to use active travel to get to work - If I can go for a nice walk through the woods or a bike ride over the mountain ridge on my way then it puts me in a great state of mind for a day in the workshop.” Robin, workshop manager
(Left to right) Olly, Isaac and Robin ride up the Tarran y Gesail ridge.
“If I can go for a walk through the woods or a bike ride over the mountain ridge on my way then it puts me in a great state of mind for a day in the workshop.”
Origins
For Olly, Heartwood Saunas’ founder, it was enjoying an outdoor lifestyle in this landscape that fuelled an enthusiasm for saunas.
“Where we live it’s often really wet and cold, and a big part of my life is spending time outdoors - I’m often outside all day and really cold to the bone, so being able to come back, take off wet and muddy kit and step inside a hot sauna is just the perfect antidote to really drive out that cold.” Olly, founder.
With its unpredictable weather and a mixed terrain ideal for outdoor pursuits, Mid-Wales does seem like the right place to inspire and grow a sauna culture in the UK, and the Heartwood Saunas team are wholly behind the heat.
“Having a sauna straight after a ride gives your body time to recover. The combination of a ride, then a sauna and a cold plunge has got to be hard to beat.” Isaac, carpenter
Heading Out as a Team
As we are moving into summer, the team have been taking more opportunities to get outdoors together, and earlier in the season, some of our workshop team headed out after work for a ridgeway mountain bike trail and cycle down to our riverside Aire+ sauna.
While some of the team are keen mountain bikers, it was a new experience for others - and there were a handful of slightly scary moments as well as plenty of laughter.
“It was great to go out with everyone, it’s quite a mixed ability group when it comes to mountain biking so we took a straightforward route up the mountain to enjoy some views over the forest then we had different options on the way down.” Robin, workshop manager
The team approach the riverside sauna after a challenging ride
Post-Ride Sauna
For the Heartwood team, it was especially rewarding to end the ride with a riverside sauna session; an ideal way to encourage recovery and relaxation after strenuous exercise. The heat generated in the sauna helps to relieve tension by improving blood flow to oxygen depleted muscles. This speeds up muscle recovery time, preserves muscle mass and guards against inflammation.
Having a sauna together also gives the team an opportunity to catch up after the ride.
“Once we were in the sauna, everyone sat and talked about what happened on the trail - there were some really funny moments and it was great to sit and chat about these together.” Olly, founder
Although the role of saunas varies between cultures and has changed considerably over thousands of years, the tradition of communal sauna bathing to cultivate social connection, camaraderie and friendship persists. For the heartwood team, having a sauna together provides an opportunity to socialise and get to know one another outside of the workshop environment. But more than that, they get to enjoy the culmination of their hard work crafting exceptional outdoor saunas.
“It’s really nice to do something different with everyone who you work with, and I think having regular sessions in a sauna that we built helps build our relationship with what we’re making, and affirms why we’re making it.”
