Inverness sauna plan in Highland capital’s Bellfield Park could boost local wellbeing and parkland, says Community Sauna Highland

A new community sauna will be a “peaceful retreat” for the people of Inverness and profits could be pumped back into a local park and wellbeing projects, say those behind the plans.

Community Sauna Highland CIC lodged a planning application last week for the new sauna in the south-east corner of Bellfield Park.

If given the greenlight by Highland Council, the new sauna will feature two modular wooden buildings and a plunge pool surrounded by tall screening fences.

The layout proposed would see the sauna slot into the site without impacting any of the existing trees, including a small ornamental cherry tree which currently sits out in the open and will be close to the sauna enclosure’s entrance if the facility is built.

The proposals attracted a lot of interest online when The Inverness Courier first revealed the plans on Saturday morning. Responses were mostly positive, although some raised concerns over possible privacy issues or disturbance of other park users.

But now, in a formal announcement of its intentions, Community Sauna CIC has stressed that the new facility is designed as a “peaceful retreat for individuals and groups seeking relaxation and rejuvenation” and will be priced to enable all corners of the community to make use of it.

They also said that they had an “asset lock” meaning that profits from the site will be used to boost Highland wellbeing and could also be used to improve the park itself..

A spokesperson said: “An outdoor community sauna in Bellfield Park, will allow the population of Inverness to experience the physical health and emotional and social well-being benefits that regular sauna bathing can bring.

“The Bellfield Park community sauna is designed as a peaceful retreat for individuals and groups seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. [It} will feature a cabin with changing space, lockers, water and tea, a spacious sauna accommodating up to 26 individuals, a cold plunge pool, and a rest area, allowing users to cycle through phases of hot, cold, and relaxation.”

They continued: “A sauna host will be onsite at all times welcoming sauna bathers and running sessions that are open to all, or open to families or for specific groups of people. We hope to build a diverse community of sauna bathers here in the Highlands. A sauna proverb says, “all people are created equal but no more so than in the sauna”.

“Community Sauna Highland are especially dedicated to improving accessibility to the health benefits of authentic sauna throughout the Highlands.

“We are committed to offering a varied pricing structure to allow a wider membership and to working in partnership with community link workers to facilitate social prescribing and with local third sector organisations to co-host sauna sessions for people who might experience barriers to accessing sauna bathing.

“Profits could also be used to improve the area of Bellfield Park near the sauna site, for example by increasing biodiversity on the sauna site or improving the outdoor gym.”

Bellfield Park Sauna information: https://communitysaunahighland.co.uk/community-sauna- highland/

Two of the directors behind Community Sauna Highland are Fergus Weir (49) and Pippe Hembry (45).

The pair are convinced the health benefits of using a sauna will ensure the site proves a winner if it gets the go-ahead.

Fergus said: “I started authentic sauna and winter swimming around four years ago to help my recovery from chronic fatigue. Sauna bathing and cold plunging several times a week was a game changer for my health and wellbeing.

“Sauna bathing delivers incredible benefits to which everyone should have regular, affordable access, and a not-for-profit community sauna in Inverness will be the start of realising this potential. I can't wait to introduce more people to the incredible, healing world of sauna.

And Pippa added: “I discovered the relaxation of authentic sauna in London. Visiting the local community sauna in the middle of the working week left me feeling refreshed and happy. As if I had a weekend and not just 90 minutes of hot and cold outdoors.

“This made such a difference to my quality of life and I’ve been motivated to share sauna ever since. Opening a similar community interest sauna in Inverness has been a dream. I can’t wait for people to feel the relaxation, community and joy that outdoor sauna and Löyly can bring.”

Löyly is a Finnish word which describes the steam that is produced when water is poured on the heated stones. It can also be used to describe the atmosphere an relaxation within a sauna.

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