Authentic wood-fired mobile sauna to open at Irvine beach this month

An authentic wood-fired mobile sauna arrives at Irvine beach this May where individuals can enjoy sauna bathing followed by a cold dip.

The Blackhouse Sauna offers everything you need to enjoy the full experience - kiln-dried logs, which are locally sourced, a water bucket, a ladle for pouring over the stones to create the beautiful 'Löyly' steam and two change tents.

David Moore, 33, along with Dale Mulholland, 35, and Gavin Maclean, 32, decided to start their venture back in 2023. Following the success of the first sessions at Doon the Beach in Stevenston this February, the trio decided it was time for a new location on the Ayrshire coast.

The Blackhouse Sauna co-owner David said: "Due to the way in which the business has been welcomed and received so far we are delighted to now be opening up at the new location of Irvine beach and offer our contrast therapy sessions to more people.

"We hope that this location will prove to be just as popular and feel it will appeal to regular cold water swimmers in the area as we are now right on the seafront where you can look out to the sea from inside the sauna."

The co-owners have known each other since they met whilst studying in Aberdeen back in 2009 and have been friends ever since. They had always spoken about starting a business together but had never found that one idea they all loved and agreed upon.

David said: "I myself first started to become aware of the benefits of contrast therapy when training for my trek to Everest base camp and Kala Patthar in 2019. Initially, this was through cold water therapy to prepare myself for the cold temperatures I would experience and also to try and get used to cold showers as there was no running hot water for the duration of the trek.

"After a period of regular cold showers and plunges, I noticed how much better I felt overall - both mentally and physically - and so started to do a bit more research into the benefits of cold water therapy.

"In 2021 I then started a new job over in Denmark along with Dale where, as part of Scandinavia, sauna culture is and always has been a big thing.

"A public sauna opened up right at the harbour along from the office where I was working and I loved going from the heat of the sauna straight in to the freezing cold harbour water. Again, I found that the benefits of heat therapy were numerous and especially when combined with cold water therapy. The Scandinavians have known this for years and there are plenty of studies on the subject to show how good this can be for your overall health and wellbeing.

"It seems to be something we have lost from our culture in Scotland but there is evidence of saunas being in use here from as far back as the bronze age."

David, Dale and Gavin got into contrast therapy more regularly during this period and arranged to go to different classes and locations to get a better understanding of what could be done and what they could offer people.

It was decided they would start Blackhouse sauna - an authentic wood-fired mobile sauna that can be moved to almost any location and allow everyone to access the benefits of contrast therapy.

In November 2023 the sauna was built in Eastbourne in the south of England. It is heated using a HUUM eco-friendly stove that comes all the way from Estonia where they have a long tradition and heritage of sauna culture and the interior is fully clad in beautiful alder wood which is the traditional Nordic way.

David said: "Myself and Gavin travelled down to pick it up and then towed it the 510 miles back to Kilwinning where Dale had agreed we could store it at his.

"We decided to call it Blackhouse Sauna due to its colour but also giving a nod to the old Scottish black houses where the fire was the focal point of the house.

"We were all of the same opinion when we started the business that we wanted it to be accessible to people of all backgrounds and remove the snobbery and social barriers sometimes present at spas and wellness facilities.

"So it was a great pleasure to be able to collaborate with Doon the Beach community café in Stevenston for our first-ever session in February this year.

"We have had continued success with this and it has been great to see everyone coming to the area and enjoying the sauna along with a coffee and a cake at the cafe afterwards."

The team behind the Blackhouse Sauna since also held an event with the Polar Bear Club in Glasgow who focus on cold water immersion and aims to help those struggling with addiction and mental health problems.

Now, the Blackhouse Sauna will be open at Irvine beach on Sunday, May 5 and Sunday, May 12 where up to 6 individuals can book a slot for one hour.

David said: "A typical community session where up to 6 individuals can book a seat lasts for one hour and the way we like to sauna is a combination of hot and cold therapy. Usually around 15-20mins sauna bathing followed immediately by a cold dip for 2-3 mins then repeat until you are completely relaxed and refreshed.

"On the day we will have the sauna set up and toasty hot ready for you to arrive."

Visitors are advised to bring their own towels to sit on, swimwear, flip flops, warm clothing and a flask of hot beverage for after.

The Blackhouse Sauna hopes to operate in Irvine "indefinitely" as the team behind the business likes the location.

David added: "At the moment we have the next two Sundays available to be booked and we will assess the feedback after this. All going well we will set up there on a more regular basis.

"We are always looking for locations we think would suit what we are trying to bring to the area. If there is an existing cold water swimming community or a club that regularly meets for and is interested in outdoor health and wellbeing, maybe a business we feel we can collaborate with, these are all things we look at. At the moment our primary locations are Stevenston and Irvine though.

"We also offer private hire for events and any businesses who are interested in using the sauna so location can change that way."

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