I braved a sauna and cold plunge experience in Northamptonshire – here’s what I really thought
As dusk settled over the picturesque Northamptonshire countryside last Friday evening, I braved an up-and-coming sauna and cold plunge for the very first time.
SUKU Saunas, a Scandinavian-inspired experience set on Pury Hill Business Park just outside of Towcester, began as an invitation to slow down in nature in May 2024 – and has grown into one of the county’s most-loved wellness spots.
Brothers George and Josh Taylor opened SUKU after noticing a lack of wellness facilities in the area and having experienced the benefits of sauna culture abroad in cities like Amsterdam.
The business has become known for its accessibility as a self-serve sauna, stunning parkland views, and focus on community-led wellness. The sauna seats up to 10 people and features a traditional stone set up, a cold plunge pool and cold water buckets.
Regular sauna goers describe SUKU as a place to switch off, breathe deeply and reconnect with themselves – while others enjoy group sessions and use it as an opportunity to catch up with loved ones.
With the rise in demand, the brothers also opened The Shire, a retreat and events destination on the same grounds at Pury Hill Farm.
The space offers nature-based retreats for corporates and the public, and a programme of workshops designed to extend SUKU’s vision beyond the sauna and cold plunge experience.
SUKU Saunas offer solo, couple and group sessions, with bundles for people who want to make visiting the sauna a weekly wellness activity. It was a 50-minute private couples session that my partner and I enjoyed, which was the final slot of the day last Friday (May 8).
Despite the fact we have enjoyed the use of saunas at hotels and spas previously, we nervously anticipated our first experience of a cold plunge pool – but were determined to give it a try after seeing the list of benefits.
Taking to the high temperature of a sauna boosts circulation and gives your system a light workout as the heart rate rises. It also increases blood flow and sends vital oxygen to the muscles, drops cortisol levels while serotonin and endorphins rise, and calms the nervous system to prepare for better sleep.
Taking a dip in the cold plunge then amplifies these benefits, including a norepinephrine release that sharpens concentration and mental clarity. Cold exposure also strengthens the body’s natural defences, and the hot and cold contrast kickstarts the metabolism for an immediate boost.
Along with the above, I have been told by the SUKU Saunas team that regular sauna use can lower blood pressure and support overall cardiovascular health – and that saunaing with cold exposure can raise dopamine levels by up to 250 percent.
We decided to follow the advice on how to make the most of our 50 minutes, which was detailed on the highly useful SUKU Saunas website. We opted for 10 minutes in the sauna followed by a dip in the cold plunge. We attempted this twice over followed by a final 10 minutes in the heat.
We were blown away by the views upon arrival at Pury Hill Business Park, as the sauna looks out on the rolling Northamptonshire countryside. As the sun continued setting throughout our 8pm session, the landscape just kept getting better.
Staying in the sauna and cold plunge for the recommended time was a challenge, more so for me than my partner, but I hope to have reaped the benefits after giving it my best go. Going from one extreme heat to another is unlike anything I have experienced before, and the numbness of the cold plunge was enough to make me jump out in seconds.
Upon my partner’s second successful attempt in the cold plunge after a full 10 minutes in the sauna, he said the experience made him feel alive. That’s how I felt underneath the shower after coming out of the sauna, let alone the cold plunge…
We can totally see the appeal of SUKU Saunas and with the clear benefits, it is understandable as to why people persist with regular sessions and brave the hot and cold contrast.
With the addition of individual changing cubicles at the end of the tennis court as a result of feedback from regular visitors, SUKU Saunas is nearing the perfect wellbeing experience on all of our doorsteps in Northamptonshire.