Judith Dunlop first had the idea for Elie Seaside Sauna at Christmas 2021. At the time it was a novel concept, with few people in Scotland aware of it. After discovering The British Sauna Society, she was inspired to start working on Elie Seaside Sauna right away, then came Cellardyke Seaside Sauna and now is expanding with the St Andrews Seaside Sauna.
Like Elie Seaside Sauna’s two saunas, Dune and Shore, and Cellardyke Seaside Sauna, St Andrews Seaside Sauna was born out of The East Neuk’s tradition of sea-swimming. Scottish Seaside Saunas founder, Judith Dunlop’s grew-up swimming in the now gone St. Andrews Step Rock Pool, where she was first taken, as a baby, by her parents and grandmother.
Judith commented, “It has taken nearly three years and much determination to make this happen. The health and social benefits of regular saunas are beginning to be well known. Saunas create a safe space, where you can connect with yourself, with others and in the beautiful context of East Sands, connect with nature. St. Andrews Seaside Sauna is the latest sauna from umbrella Scottish Seaside Saunas. More spacious and more seating than the Shore Sauna at Elie Seaside Sauna, it is located next to the East Sands Leisure Centre, a short walk from St. Andrews town centre, on the famous surfing and wild swimming beach of East Sands.”
Here visitors can enjoy hot drinks and snacks from local cafes along with a swim and a sauna or walk further along the beach to The Cheesy Toastie Shack. There is also ample parking and access to the toilets in The Leisure Centre. St. Andrews Seaside Sauna faces Northeast, out over the famous St. Andrews Bay.
Judith has also collaborated closely with Fife Sports and Leisure, Fife Council Planning Services with advice from Business Gateway Fife and Welcome to Fife and will hopefully start making a significant contribution to improvements in the health and wellbeing of the St Andrews and local communities. The seaside saunas can be found under the umbrella site www.scottishseasidesaunas.com
