Finding comfort in the uncomfortable: Cold to hot therapy on the shores of the Gower Peninsula
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- February 23, 2024
Hot and cold therapy has exploded onto the wellness scene in recent years and has emerged as the new wellness trend for 2024. And the gorgeous Gower Peninsula is fully embracing the concept and arguably becoming one of the most beautiful spots in the UK to get in on the action.
From Nordic saunas and Japanese hot springs to Turkish hammams and Korean Jjimjilbangs, cold and hot water therapies take many forms across the globe. In the UK, coastal communities and stay-caytioners alike are embracing the cold British waters by swimming in some of the most idyllic coastal waters and natural pools this corner of the world has to offer.
And as wild swimming has quickly become one of the most trendy (and effective!) ways to boost our wellbeing, the evolution of shore based saunas has thrived right alongside it.
The perfect antidote to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find respite in nature, there’s no better place to do it than the UK’s first area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Gower Peninsula, where the sand glows golden, and a little bit of magic runs in its crystal clear waters.
Why cold to hot therapy and what are the benefits?
There are a range of health benefits associated with hot and cold therapy, but it’s when the two come together that we experience the full extent of them on our health and wellbeing.
Also known as contrast bathing or contrast hydrotherapy, cold to hot therapy benefits occur when the body is exposed to cold water following heat therapy, usually from saunas and steam rooms – like the popular Tŷ Sawna and Caswell Saunas perched on two of Gower’s most stunning beaches.
Alongside the physical benefits to contrast bathing reported by cold to hot therapy enthusiasts, like improved circulation, muscle recovery and pain relief, the psychological benefits are often what draws people to the shores and to Gower for a sauna session and a dip in the sea. As an area of the world that perfectly encapsulates the splendour of our natural world, you can hardly blame them.
Location, location, location.
Gower is famous for a reason. Far before the arrival of two independent wood-barrel saunas and before cold swimming was cool, people flocked from all over the world to walk, cycle, swim, surf and unwind in this haven of South West Wales. The arrival of Tŷ Sawna and Caswell Saunas over the last two years has only amplified the appeal of the Gower Peninsula and given yet another reason to visit its picture-perfect beaches.
Nestled in the neighbouring bays of Caswell and Oxwich, both have enhanced the wild swimming experience and showcased the wide ranging benefits of immersing oneself in the natural world around us.
Located in the idyllic location of Oxwich Bay, Tŷ Sawna was launched in 2022 by Harri Barker after a trip to a beachside sauna in West Cork, Ireland which inspired her to open Wales’s first beach sauna and encourage people to get outside and enjoy the Welsh coastline all year round.
Perched between the sand dunes and the sea, Ty Sawna is a place for people to come together to relax and socialise.
The barrel sauna is fired by a Harvia wood burning stove and boasts views of the beach through a half-moon window. The spot is so serene that it can make the sometimes cloudy skies look just as magical as sunrise at the summer solstice. This stripped-back sauna experience is perfect for sea swimmers, surfers, and wellbeing enthusiasts to warm up and recharge after a cold dip.
Perched between the sand dunes and the sea, the sauna seats up to 8 people, so friends, families and strangers can come together to relax and socialise in this technology-free meditative space. You can choose between a private session or opt for a communal experience, perfect for meeting like-minded people. Tŷ Sawna also offers unique events like their Full Moon Sauna & Breathwork, where you can engage in self-discovery and deep relaxation under the spellbinding light of the full moon. There’s also a weekly Thursday Club complete with warm drinks and good company as the sun sets. If you’re lucky enough to live nearby, grab a Thursday Club pass for only £20 a month to work cold water and sauna therapy into your weekly routine.
New to Gower in 2023, Caswell Saunas is the ideal place to revitalise in a slightly more secluded spot. Tucked away just behind the beachfront of another popular swimming spot, Caswell Bay, you can sweat with a view of the shoreline through the full-circle window. To maximise the contrast bath therapy element, Caswell Saunas features cold-water plunge barrels – so if sea swimming isn’t your bag, you don’t need to miss out on an icy adrenaline hit. Caswell Saunas also offers both private and communal sessions for up to 8 people.
Both saunas are passionate about the transformative power of sauna and cold to hot therapy – not only the wealth of physical health benefits, but how they act as hubs for togetherness and community, sparking friendships and connections between people and nature.
Make a trip of it
If you’ve never been to Gower, or even if you have, why not stay a while and soak up the rest of what the area has to offer? In fact, why not make a restorative weekend of it?
Set off on a walk along the Gower Coast Path to Caswell Bay from the nearby Langland Bay, known to be a good location for stand-up paddleboarding in Gower. The 2-mile route takes you from one sandy beach to another, passing picturesque beach huts from the 1920s and 1930s and featuring spectacular views from limestone cliffs across the Bristol Channel . When you return to Langland Bay, treat yourself to lunch at Langland’s Brasserie, a speciality seafood restaurant just around the corner from Mumbles. Even when it’s chilly, you can wrap up warm and sit on the terrace that looks over the seemingly never-ending bay.
If you opt for Oxwich, you can stay in one of Oxwich Bay Hotel’s Secret Garden pods. As the name suggests, these private pods are nestled away amongst walkways and winding hedges, where you can dream deeply among nature with the sound of lapping waves as the only soundtrack. And there’s no need to leave the serenity of the bay in search of a great meal – try Gower’s very own Michelin star restaurant, Beach House, just a stone’s throw from the hotel and Tŷ Sawna and serving exquisite seasonal and sustainably sourced cuisine.
The Gower Peninsula has long been one of the most enchanting corners of the world but in recent years it has also emerged as a haven for those seeking the transformative benefits of cold to hot therapy. Tŷ Sawna and Caswell Saunas have become integral to this experience, offering moments for physical and mental revitalisation, and fostering a sense of togetherness and developing new communities. When will you take the plunge?
This feature was written in collaboration with Visit Swansea Bay – visit the website for more information on holidays and short breaks in Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower – and plan your next coastal escape.
