Saunas near Beaminster — the best beach saunas on the Jurassic Coast
A long walk along the Jurassic Coast path. The wind coming off the sea, the cliffs stretching away in both directions. At the end of it, a wood-fired sauna right on the beach, cedar-scented heat, the sound of the waves outside, the sea there for that next dip.
Follow that with a drive back to Blackbird Cottage. Light the log burner. Tuck into some delicious food and a drink of your choice.
That is a genuinely exceptional day. And from Beaminster, both of the finest beach saunas on the Jurassic Coast are within a short drive.
Here is your guide to the best outdoor saunas near the cottage.
Seaside Sauna Haus, Seatown Beach
Distance from Blackbird Cottage: 25 minutes
Address: Seatown Beach, Bridport DT6 6JU — opposite The Anchor Inn
Booking: seasidesaunahaus.co.uk · 07845 576112
Open: Every day except Wednesday, 10.30am to 7pm
Prices: From £10 per person per communal session · Private hire up to 6 people available
Positioned on the seafront, this cedar wood sauna has a small viewing window, L-shaped seating and water buckets outside for a cool down if the sea isn’t your thing. You can enjoy both sunrise and sunset here depending on the time of year.
Seatown is one of the best settings on the entire Jurassic Coast a small, beautiful shingle cove at the foot of Golden Cap, with the cliffs rising dramatically above and the sea stretching away to the horizon. The sauna sits right on the beach, opposite The Anchor Inn.
The combination of heat, cold water and that particular Seatown setting wild, dramatic and completely unlike anywhere else on the Dorset coast is genuinely extraordinary. Even in the depths of winter, when the beach is entirely yours and the contrast between the warm cedar interior and the cold November air outside is at its most dramatic, it is one of the best things you can do in West Dorset.
The full moon sauna sessions are worth planning a visit around specifically. When there is a full moon, you can enjoy a sauna at night on the beach a magic experience and one you will not forget.
What to know before you go: book in advance, particularly at weekends and in summer. The Anchor Inn is right opposite for a warming drink or lunch before or after your session. The Seatown Slice is also opposite for a beach side pizza. Dogs are welcome on Seatown Beach from 1 October to 30 April.
The Bayside Sauna, West Bay
Distance from Blackbird Cottage: 25 minutes
Address: East Pier, West Bay, Bridport DT6 4EN
Booking: thebaysidesauna.co.uk
Prices: From £12 per person per communal session · Private hire up to 8 people available
The Bayside Sauna offers an ultimate Nordic experience. The sauna gives you a relaxing sanctuary, in the calm wooden interior and panoramic views of West Bay Cliffs and the sea, yet also allows you to experience cold water immersion with the ocean being on the sauna’s doorstep. The sauna can hold up to 8 guests.
West Bay needs no introduction to anyone who has watched ITV’s Broadchurch the dramatic amber sandstone cliffs, the harbour and the beach are among the most photographed in Dorset. Experiencing a sauna session here, with those iconic cliffs above and the sea in front, is a genuinely memorable combination.
There are various car parks close by, including the West Bay Road car park and the Bridport Arms car park. West Bay is a beautiful part of Dorset as well as the market town of Bridport giving you lots to do after your sauna experience.
Shoreline Sauna, Lyme Regis
Distance from Blackbird Cottage: 45 minutes
Address: Lyme Regis harbour, Dorset
Booking: shorelinesauna.co.uk
Prices: Communal session £15 per person · Private hire up to 6 people £60
For those willing to travel a little further, the Shoreline Sauna at Lyme Regis is one of the most characterful beach saunas on the entire Jurassic Coast.
A cutely coloured sauna with porthole viewing window out onto the harbour wall and sea, with a lovely little outdoor area that includes a roll top cold plunge bath. It offers privacy yet still with views to the beach. Communal, private and full moon sessions available.
Lyme Regis harbour is one of the most beautiful settings in Dorset — and a sauna session here, with the famous Cobb curving away to the right and the Jurassic Coast cliffs above, makes for a very lovely afternoon. Combine it with a walk along the Cobb and lunch at one of Lyme’s excellent cafés and restaurants for a brilliant day out from the cottage.
Why beach saunas and Blackbird Cottage work so well together
There is something deeply satisfying about combining a beach sauna with a stay at Blackbird Cottage — and it goes beyond the obvious wellness benefits.
The log burner at Blackbird Cottage, the feather and down duvets and the deep quiet of Beaminster in the evening are, in this particular combination, exceptionally well suited to an afternoon at the Seaside Sauna Haus or The Bayside Sauna.
Several guests who have done exactly this combination have described it as one of the best days they had during their entire stay.
Practical tips for your beach sauna visit
Book in advance wherever possible, the beach saunas near Beaminster are genuinely popular, particularly at weekends and during the summer and autumn seasons.
Bring a towel and a swimsuit or trunks for the sea dip. A warm changing layer for afterwards. Flip flops for the beach.
Allow at least an hour for the full experience, heat, sea, cool down and the wonderfully floaty feeling that follows.
Drive back to the cottage rather than straight home. The combination of a beach sauna and a Blackbird Cottage evening log burner, good food, the dreamy beds.
[Check availability at Blackbird Cottage — link]