The Devon sauna in an enchanted-feeling woodland
Haldon Forest now has its own wood-fired sauna!
It’s set in a quiet clearing with views across the trees towards Dartmoor, and cold plunge tubs outside. We spent a dreamy Saturday morning here after doing the Haldon Forest ParkRun – so here’s all you need to know.
Finding the sauna
The sauna sits down Old Exeter Road, a short walk from the main Haldon Forest visitor hub. The What Three Words location is: merely.improves.cools.
The entrance isn’t immediately obvious, so leave an extra five to ten minutes if you’re walking. The track is quiet and surrounded by pines, and you’ll see the sauna once the path opens into a small clearing.
You can park at the sauna itself, but spaces are limited and guests need to move their cars straight after their session.
Parking at the main Haldon Forest car park and walking down takes around ten minutes – it’s expensive though!
At the site you’ll find:
- a wood-fired sauna with a panoramic window
- several cold plunge tubs
- a small changing pod with a privacy curtain
- a storage box for belongings (not lockable)
- outdoor seating and a fire pit
The site is off-grid. There’s no toilet, so use the visitor hub’s facilities before walking down.
What the sauna is like
The sauna usually runs between 70 and 100 degrees, depending on the fire. Inside, thermowood benches face a large window with views across Haldon Forest and Dartmoor. You’re free to enter and exit as often as you like.
The cold plunge tubs sit outside on the gravel. They are cool rather than ice-cold, and we alternated several times within the hour.
Bring:
- two towels
- swimwear (with no metal fastenings)
- plenty of drinking water
- footwear for outside the sauna
- a waterproof bag for wet items
Herbal tea is included, and electrolytes are available to add to your own water.
Opening hours and how to book
The sauna runs on a session-based timetable, with morning, afternoon and occasional evening slots throughout the week. Times vary seasonally, so the current schedule is shown directly on their booking page.
You can book online through:
➡️ You Can Sauna – Haldon Forest bookings page
(There’s a calendar where you choose your date, time and group size.)
Walk-ins are possible only if there is space and a staff member available to check you in, so booking ahead is recommended, especially at weekends!
Practical things to know
There’s a small camping shower to use when you arrive. There is no lockable storage, so bring minimal valuables.
If you’re pairing the sauna with Haldon Forest Park Run like we did, 10am just worked for us (we finish Park Run in around 30 minutes).
With glorious views over Dartmoor, this is one of my favourite saunas in Devon! Let me know if you try it!
