Tucked into the gardens of Mill End Hotel at Sandy Park, Chagford, Wilder Sauna offers something increasingly rare: a genuine wood-fired sauna just steps from a wild river. Warm yourself by the fire, watch the River Teign drift past through the picture window, then plunge into cold, clear moorland water.
Just fire, cold water and the peaceful sounds of Dartmoor.
Why Mill End?
When Wilder Sauna were searching for their second home after Dartmeet, they felt an intuitive pull to get in touch with the Mill End Hotel despite never having been there. The hotel sits right on the banks of the River Teign, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, surrounded by ancient trees and birdsong. Herons, kingfishers and dippers are regular company. When they arrived, they discovered a natural place for a sauna with a view of the river and its own sandy path down to a riverside beach.
The river here is perfect for cold water immersion: clean, refreshing and easily accessible from the sauna door. When you add the walking routes on the doorstep, such as Castle Drogo, the Teign Gorge, Fingle Bridge and Chagford itself, it’s hard to imagine a better setting for hot and cold therapy. A sauna session before a riverside walk, or a plunge after a day on the moor, is Dartmoor at its restorative best.
The Benefits of Sauna and Cold Water Therapy
Sauna bathing has been practised for thousands of years, and modern research keeps confirming what the Finns have always known. Regular sauna use is associated with:
- Improved circulation and cardiovascular health: heat exposure raises heart rate similarly to moderate exercise
- Muscle recovery and pain relief: ideal after a long moorland hike
- Deeper sleep and reduced stress: heat triggers relaxation and endorphin release
- Immune support: contrast therapy (hot sauna followed by cold plunge) is linked to improved resilience
- Mental clarity and mood: cold water immersion delivers a natural rush of dopamine and noradrenaline
Alternating between the heat of the wood-fired sauna and the cold of the River Teign, known as contrast or hot-and-cold therapy, is where the real magic happens. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll never look back.
About Wilder Sauna
Wilder Sauna was founded by Primrose Russell, a naturopath and health advocate who lives on Dartmoor with her family. Having visited a local sauna regularly while living in Dorset, and with the nearest now a half an hour drive away, Primrose wanted one on her doorstep that allowed cold plunges in the River Dart. The community on Dartmoor is like nothing she had ever known, and she felt a sauna could be a real asset in supporting that community and its health and wellbeing.
Launched in August 2025, Wilder Sauna was born from a simple idea: that the ancient ritual of fire and ice (wood-fired sauna paired with cold-water immersion) belongs in the wild heart of Dartmoor, amidst a strong community who appreciate the magical beauty of this place. It has quickly become a sanctuary for those seeking clarity, vitality, and restoration, drawing regulars from their mid-twenties to mid-seventies.
Now, in partnership with the Mill End Hotel, Wilder Sauna is bringing that experience to the River Teign — with guided sauna rituals, sound therapy, and cold plunges from the hotel’s own stretch of riverbank. Whether you’re here to reconnect, restore, or simply slow down, Wilder Sauna offers a portal into Dartmoor itself.
Visiting Wilder Sauna at Mill End
Location: In the garden of Mill End Hotel, Sandy Park, Chagford, Devon TQ13 8JN
Open: Monday, Saturday and Sunday, 9am–8pm
Communal sessions: from £15 per person for 50 minutes
Private hire: available for groups — perfect for celebrations, retreats and hotel guests
What to bring: swimwear (required), towel, water bottle and a sense of adventure
Hotel guests can simply wander down the garden and will receive a discount on their sauna booking. Visitors are warmly welcome too and can park at Mill End Hotel in Chagford. Book your session in advance at wildersauna.com.