We are Haar Sauna. Scotland's original outdoor sauna company.
At Haar, we are driven by a passion for nature, people and the healing power of deep heat
It's a mindset and at the core of everything we do.
Located at 60° north in the wild Shetland Islands, we offer the UK’s closest experience to a traditional Nordic sauna.
Welcome to our Islands, welcome to @haar.sauna
United Kingdom's Best Nature Sauna Award Winner
United Kingdom's
Best Nature Sauna
​@haar.sauna is delighted to have been voted the UK's Best Nature Sauna.
We know what we have at our sauna locations is pretty special - crystal clear Atlantic waters, seals playing in the waves, soft golden sand that your toes will fall in love with, small fish that will tease you in the shallows and sometimes (if you're lucky!) even Orcas have been spotted far out in the bay.
At Haar, we believe that nature is for everyone - it's there to be explored and loved by all. So come in, get cosy, and let nature work its magic as you unwind.
Founders
Callum and Hannah Mary are the passionate team behind Haar Sauna.
Having lived and worked in Norway for many years, it was the couple's dream to bring the best bits of Nordic culture back home to Scotland. At the top of this list was sauna, second was the relationship with nature. So they combined them. The result was Haar Sauna.
As Shetlanders, the importance of creating community spaces that are inclusive and wild is deeply rooted in Callum and Hannah Mary's values. Guided by this, the couple's vision was to create a new experience that reconnects people - with themselves, with one another, and with nature.
From the top of the UK, Haar Sauna has created a movement that has swept south across the country to revive Scotland's forgotten relationship with heat.
May Sauna Spotlight
We’re off to Edinburgh for the Scottish EDGE finals, pitching our wild sauna vision to Scotland’s top business minds.
Then it’s straight to Iceland Innovation Week, where we’ll introduce our mobile sauna concept to the Nordic market — taking Shetland and Scottish sauna culture international!​
April Sauna Spotlight
We’re thrilled to share that Haar Sauna is featured on the front cover of Wild Sauna : A Guide to the Best Places to Sweat and Dip in the U.K. — a new book celebrating the UK’s most beautiful sauna spots.
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Written by a true sauna enthusiast Emma O'Kelly and now available for pre-order, the book showcases wild sauna culture across the country — and we’re honoured that our Shetland sanctuary made the cover!
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#wildsaunabook #haarsauna #saunaculture
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March Sauna Spotlight
Cal and I (Hannah Mary) packed our bags (and our Haar Sauna mission) and headed off to the Regional EDGE Awards supported by HIE - an initiative dedicated to accelerating businesses across the Highlands and Islands.
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We’re delighted to bring this national award back home to Shetland!
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This wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible team and you - Our Haar community.
Our team delivers one of the best sauna experiences out there, with safety, care, and wellness at the heart of everything they do.
And to our community - thank you for welcoming Nordic sauna culture back home to Shetland in such spectacular style!
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Ready to turn up the heat even more? We’ve got big plans...
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PS: Use this 10% DISCOUNT code EDGE as a thank you!
February Sauna Spotlight
Shetland with Laurie Experiences the Haar Sauna Aufguss Ritual
The older I get, the more I crave experiences that ground me, that allow me to truly connect with the natural world. I find myself increasingly seeking spaces that offer respite from the constant hum of digital noise and the demands of modern life. Believe it or not, but I spend most of my days sitting at a computer – not the open spaces and horizons that you see on my Instagram stories!
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So, when Haar Saua invited me to visit their sauna on the beautiful St Ninian’s Isle beach for an Aufguss session, I didn’t have to think twice. In Nordic cultures, there is a term that embodies this kind of immersive experience – In Sauna. It refers to the profound, almost spiritual feeling you get from the intense heat of a sauna, a place where time slows and everything else fades away.
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In Finland, the spiritual home of sauna, the sauna is more than just a retreat for the body; it’s an essential part of life. It’s where business is done, friendships are forged, and communities are nurtured. It’s not just a luxury, but a necessity – an intimate space for renewal and connection.
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Here in Shetland, Haar has their flagship sauna on St Ninian’s Isle Beach, tucked in beneath the dunes, sheltered from the worst of the wind, and with incredible views that tease you from the door’s window. St Ninian’s is the ideal location for a sauna, and the small footprint it takes up on this sweeping tombolo simply adds to the experience of visiting this iconic South Mainland beach. With another sauna in the north at Brae, and more deep-heat ideas in the pipeline, Haar has firmly planted the seed of Nordic culture back in Shetland.
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The benefits of sauna are well-known and wide-ranging, from improving circulation and reducing stress, to cleansing the body and boosting heart health. But perhaps the most transformative aspect of the sauna experience, particularly the Aufguss ritual, is its ability to restore and calm the spirit. It’s a practice that goes beyond physical health – it’s deeply grounding, reconnecting us with the earth and allowing us to feel truly present in the moment.
Haar Sauna is a true haven of tradition. The comforting crackle of a wood-fired stove envelops you in its warmth as the door closes on the cool winter air. Haar Sauna is an experience that feels timeless and authentic.
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As you approach the beach, the sight of its chimney puffing smoke amidst the dunes and the Atlantic Ocean's backdrop immediately draws you in—a perfect contrast to the landscape's raw, wild beauty.
January’s days are sharp and short, and with the biting wind nipping at our exposed ankles, we made our way to the beach, against the cold, sharp air – the sight of the smoking sauna chimney and open beach fire surrounded by benches kicked any thoughts of winter’s grey gloom into the salty air and chill Atlantic waves beyond.
January Sauna Spotlight
Every month, we share a story from our small business.
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This month, it’s lights, camera, action as we welcome the BBC’s: Jules and Greg's Wild Swim for an unforgettable wild swim and sauna adventure!
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Back in August, we had the pleasure of hosting Jules and Greg for a true North experience. Situated just 600 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Shetland offers the UK’s closest taste of the Arctic. Our waters are wild in every sense – cold, clear, and deeply cherished by those of us who call Shetland home.
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Jules and Greg had a great time - and so did we! Don’t miss the episode 5 featuring Haar Sauna on BBC One, airing at 9pm.
The new series begins on 6th January 2025!