East Devon town NOW has its own wood-fired sauna
The day I’ve been waiting for for a long time has arrived… Exmouth now has its own wood-fired beach sauna at Sideshore.
It sits right by the path with a clear view of the sand and shoreline from the sauna itself.
We visited a couple of weekends ago, and here’s all you need to know!
Exmouth’s new sauna
The wood-fired community sauna run by Devon Community Sauna CIC sits on the grass by Sideshore, right next to the promenade, with a clear view of the sand and the shoreline.
We visited on a November Sunday afternoon, and even on a moody day, it was a pleasant spot to spend an hour!
The sauna itself is a compact wood-fired cabin with benches on either side. It technically seats 8, although it felt full enough with 5 people in during our session.
From inside, you can look straight out at the beach through the door and windows. The cabin heats quickly, and the fire gives it a natural dry heat. Super relaxing, especially on a grey day!
Outside the sauna, there’s a small dunk tub for cooling off. It fits one person at a time and is on the smaller side – my partner Rich is 6ft4 and could just about get in.
Things to know before you visit
The biggest thing to be aware of is that there’s no changing area.
You change on the grass next to the path, with pedestrians walking between the sauna and the beach.
In autumn and winter especially, it’s chilly and you’ll want to arrive prepared!
Bring:
- a large towel or robe for changing (a DryRobe works best)
- swimwear already on under clothes
- a waterproof bag for your wet items
- flip-flops or beach shoes
Because it’s an off-grid set-up, there’s:
- no drinking water (although you’re right next to Heydays, a big restaurant)
- no indoor space
- no storage or lockers (there are boxes for your things, this felt safe enough to me as there was always an employee there)
Do bring plenty of your own water.
Can you get into the sea?
The sauna sits right at Sideshore, which is not a safe swimming area, and at GSW, we do not advise swimming there.
The currents here are strong and the marked zone is officially a no-swim section.
Some people do swim by walking down the ramp past Heydays (which is a bit of an awkward walk and would take a few minutes!), but this is strongly advised against.
On our visit, Exmouth also had sewage alerts (classic!), so dipping in the sea wasn’t an option anyway.
Prices, community sessions and booking
Devon Community Sauna CIC runs both the Exmouth and Teignmouth sites and operates on a community-focused model. They offer:
- standard 55-minute sessions
- discounted Wellbeing Wednesday sessions
- free Wednesday sessions for anyone in severe financial difficulty (bookable via their FAQs)
- multi-session saver passes
- gift vouchers
You can book online through their website using the calendar system. Sessions run throughout the week, with peak and off-peak options depending on the time of day.
What’s nearby
The sauna sits right beside Heydays, so you can step straight off the grass and into their outdoor area for a drink or something to eat.
RISE is also only a few metres away, making it easy to grab a coffee, pastry or sandwich before or after your session.
Or head to Hangtime, which is an outdoor cafe that makes a delicious brew!
The whole set-up is right on the Sideshore stretch of the Exmouth–Budleigh path, so you can follow the walkway in either direction for a beach stroll once you’re finished.
The sand is directly in front of the sauna, and although this section isn’t suitable for swimming because of the currents, you can walk along it!
The site is around a fifteen-minute walk from Exmouth town centre, and there’s plenty of parking around Sideshore if you prefer to drive.
