07-07-2025
Inside the 'secret' sauna hidden off the beaten track
A BOUTIQUE glamping site in Herefordshire has showcased its status as a location for a secret sauna off the beaten track.
Mad Dogs and Vintage Vans based at The Old Rectory in Brampton Abbotts near Ross-on -Wye have formed a connection with Black Box Saunas, who make their saunas in the same village.
Run by Oli and Rachel Marshall, their saunas were recently on location at Glastonbury but being here in Herefordshire means they want to tap into a new audience for a sauna experience.
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Set with gorgeous views of the Black Mountains from the heart of the Wye Valley, Oli explains that the saunas give "a beautiful space of fantastic Herefordshire views whilst doing a very Scandinavian tradition. We like to think of this as a community setting where people can open up to their surroundings, drink in the mindfulness of sauna and just get away from everyday life."
Saunas are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, especially in coastal communities, but what Oli and Rachel want to achieve is making sure the sauna experience can happen in Herefordshire too.
Oli and Rachel in the shower and ice bath (Image: Will Luker) The saunas they create are attached with a shower and ice bath for anyone willing to try the experience of relaxing and giving their body not just an adrenaline rush but also some care.
"Saunas are getting people into the science of the wellness and longevity of getting your heart going, Ollie said. The cold plunge and the heat in a short space of time is good for your wellbeing."
Rachel said: "We are catching up with the Scandinavians and we're seeing interest in our saunas even at night because it is sociable to take part in. Sauna is becoming a socially accepted thing to pop into and create something for your wellness. There are a lot of mental health benefits and take stresses away from your body."
Based at their own glamping site, Al Farquhar and Jo Pilkington are seeing the benefits of not just being a location for accommodation but also for those in nearby Ross who come to relax after work.
Al said: "It is a welcome addition to our site and it's great for people to get together. We get a lot of birthday events and there's a celebratory event for someone booked in soon who will literally be in the sauna all day.
"Offering wellness therapy is a big part of what we do here and we've had people in their 20s come to experience the sauna which is really encouraging."
