Shoreline Saunas in Eryri (Snowdonia) and Pen Llŷn
If you’re looking for a stress-busting break with your girl gang, why not let off some steam with a sauna session here in Eryri (Snowdonia) and Pen Llŷn? We’ve got a selection of saunas, each one located in a spectacular shoreline location overlooking lake or sea. The combination of wonderful watery views and intense cleansing heat will melt the tensions of the modern world away, leaving you refreshed, recharged and ready for anything.
The surroundings are just as invigorating as the saunas, including the mighty mountains of Eryri, the Slate Landscape of North Wales (one of the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Sites) and Pen Llŷn’s glorious National Landscape – formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
To help you put together your perfect break, we’ve picked out three superb shoreline saunas ideal for getaways with the girls. We’ve also suggested some great places to stay and eat, plus inspiring activities and adventures to fit around your sauna sessions.
Sawna Bach, Llanberis
Slate and steam
Sauna. Hidden away at the end of wooded lane on the edge of Llyn Padarn, Sawna Bach certainly lives up to its billing as ‘The Scenic Sauna’. With views across the lake’s shimmering waters and on to the peaks of Eryri, it’s the perfect setting for some serious relaxation. The wood-fired sauna cabin is located next to a mini lagoon, ideal for cooling dips between sizzling stretches in the sauna.
Sawna Bach can accommodate up to eight people – you can even book it out exclusively if you want a private experience with your crew. If you want to switch things up, look out for special events like full moon sauna sessions and chances to combine a steam with yoga or Welsh language classes.
Stay. Get away from it all at Crashpad Lodges at Yr Helfa, sat alone in a peaceful spot in the foothills of Yr Wyddfa (watch out for the Snowdon Mountain Railway puffing its way to the summit just above you). This eco-friendly self-catering escape comes with warming wood-burning stoves, funky whitewashed living spaces and (solar-powered) underfloor heating. It’s seclusion at its most stylish.
If you’d prefer to be a little closer to civilisation, there’s more great accommodation at Glan y Bala. This Victorian country house is just a short walk from Llanberis and can sleep parties large and small across its three comfortable self-catering properties. The views over Llyn Padarn and Yr Wyddfa are pretty good too.
Explore. Stretch your legs with a stroll around the circular Lake Walk which traces the shores of Llyn Padarn. This five-mile/8km loop shows off both man-made and natural features of Eryri’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Slate Landscape. Along the way you’ll see former quarries and historic buildings, and follow the route of the Llanberis Lake Railway – opened in 1843 to transport slate to the port of Y Felinheli on the Menai Strait.
At the northern end of the lake, look out for Craig y Llew (Lion Rock), a rugged outcrop popular with climbers, and stunning views down the length of Llyn Padarn from Pen y Llyn bridge.
Eat. For breakfasts, lunches and light bites, head to Pantri on Llanberis High Street. This friendly, family-run café serves up a tempting menu of dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients. As well as great coffees, you can also pick up plenty of Eryri-made products including honey, mustard, chutney, beers and ciders. The home-made cakes are a particular highlight (the perfect treat after a walk around the lake) and there’s a great selection of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
For indulgent evening meals, try The Royal Victoria Hotel – sat among the trees between Dolbadarn Castle and the Snowdon Mountain Railway station. Depending on how formal you’re feeling, you can take your pick from the refined Padarn Restaurant or the relaxed Eryri Bar & Lounge. Whatever you choose, you can expect a warm Welsh welcome and delicious dishes built around the best ingredients the area has to offer.
Sawna Criccieth Sauna
Castles and coastlines
Sauna. It’s steam-room with a view at Sawna Criccieth Sauna, where sweltering sessions come with vistas of sandy shores and the rugged stones of Cricieth Castle. It’s the brainchild of Canadian-Welsh husband and wife partnership Andy and Esther Woods. After catching the sauna bug on a trip to Sweden, they decided to create their own on the lovely shoreline spot where they already ran Criccieth Multi-Golf (a fun activity attraction offering several flavours of golf – alongside kayaking, paddleboarding and beach biking).
The sauna seats up to eight people in communal or private sessions – grab a spot on the upper bench if you really like to feel the heat. When you’re ready to take a break, head to the purpose-built cooldown trailer for refreshing showers and more great seaside views. If you’re feeling particularly brave, there’s even an outdoor bucket shower and cold-water plunge pool.
Stay. Head inland to Rhos Country Cottages, nestled in hedge-lined farmland just a few miles from the coast. Its four separate properties provide self-catering accommodation for parties of all sizes, from the four-berth Rhos Wen to the Grade-II listed stone farmhouse Betws Bach, which sleeps up to seven.
If you’d rather be beside the seaside, check in to The Caerwylan on Cricieth’s Esplanade. Behind the hotel’s traditional Victorian façade is a chic, contemporary escape with some of the best coastal views in North Wales. There’s a cosy bar too, perfect for a refreshing post-sauna glass of bubbly with friends.
Explore. Cricieth’s location on the Wales Coast Path makes it an ideal spot for some seaside strolling. To see a stretch of the path for yourself, hop aboard a train or bus to Porthmadog (only 10-15 minutes away) and trek back to Cricieth. Starting from Porthmadog’s harbour, this 6.6-mile/10.6 km route follows the Dwyryd Estuary as it opens into the blue waters of Cardigan Bay, before taking you past the golden sandy expanse of Morfa Bychan on your way back to Cricieth.
Eat. Conveniently located close to both Sawna Criccieth Sauna and The Wales Coast Path, Dylan’s is the obvious choice to grab a bite to eat. Housed just footsteps from the beach in a swooping, Art Deco building (designed by Clough Williams Ellis of Portmeirion fame), it’s a striking location with a menu to match.
Built around the best local ingredients, there’s a focus on super-fresh seafood (try the mouthwatering Menai mussels), plus plenty of meaty, veggie and vegan options. There’s a great cocktail menu too, featuring North Wales-inspired concoctions like the Ormestar Martini – made with Draig Goch vanilla vodka from Ynys Môn.
Sauna Môr, Aberdaron
Steam, sand and surging seas
Sauna. If you’re looking for stunning seascapes, Sauna Môr has you covered. Located on the beach in the little fishing village of Aberdaron on Pen Llŷn’s wild western tip, your view from the sauna window is wall-to-wall waves. You won’t just be admiring the sea from afar – it’s also where you’ll go to cool off between boiling blasts in the sauna’s heat. It’s a primal take on the traditional sauna experience and one of the best ways to truly immerse yourself in Pen Llŷn’s untamed atmosphere.
Stay. Keep close to the coast at The Ship Hotel, which provides cosy accommodation in Aberdaron just a stone’s throw from the beach. Bag one of its sea-facing rooms and you’ll have round-the-clock views across the crashing surf. There’s also a restaurant serving hearty meals with plenty of locally-caught seafood and a breezy bar that’s popular with both visitors and locals alike.
There’s also Gwesty Tŷ Newydd, which sits in a super spot right on the seafront. All of its beachside first-floor rooms all come with balconettes, giving you easy access to the bracing sea air, while the hotel bar’s covered terrace serves up both refreshing drinks and spectacular sunsets.
For self-catered accommodation, try Afallon – perched on the green clifftops above Aberdaron Bay. This six-bedroom cottage is ideal for a group getaway, with plenty of space for the whole gang to enjoy (and even more of those perfect Pen Llŷn sea views).
Explore. Take a tour of the glorious gardens at Plas yn Rhiw, a 17th-century manor house under the care of the National Trust. It’s hard to pick a highlight of this gorgeous green space. From carpets of bluebells and vibrant orchids in spring to kaleidoscopic wildflower meadows and fragrant white jasmine in summer, ripening autumn orchards and sparkling sprays of winter snowdrops, the changing seasons bring fresh surprises with each month. Whenever you visit, you’ll see more of those stellar sea views – are there any other kind on Pen Llŷn? ¬– this time over the raging tides of Porth Neigwl (Hell’s Mouth in English).
Eat. Enjoy a picnic on the beach with some tasty treats from Becws Islyn Bakery. There’s a savoury selection of freshly-baked pasties, sausage rolls and handmade sandwiches to choose from, plus a range of delicious cakes to satisfy your sweet tooth. For something really special, why not indulge in an afternoon tea in the bakery’s cosy first-floor café?