FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sauna

  • Sauna Etiquette

    At Savu, we believe good sauna etiquette makes the experience better for everyone. To help keep things comfortable and enjoyable, please follow these simple guidelines:

    • Towel — Please bring a towel big enough to sit on and fully cover the benches. Make sure you’re sitting on your towel at all times.

    • Footwear — Shoes aren’t required. If you’d like, feel free to bring sliders or flip-flops for walking on the outdoor bark surface. Please leave all footwear at the bottom of the steps, as no shoes are allowed inside the sauna.

    • Noise — We encourage a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere, so please keep your voice low and chatting to a minimum inside the sauna.

    • Water —Please do not pour water from personal bottles onto the sauna stones.

    We keep the ladle and water bucket outside the sauna. The sauna supervisor will manage adding water to maintain an optimal atmosphere for everyone’s comfort and safety.

    • Phones — To help everyone disconnect, phones aren’t allowed in the sauna or on the shelf outside. If you’d like to take a quick photo, just check with the sauna supervisor first.

    • Space — Be mindful of others and make use of both the top and bottom benches. When you leave the sauna to use the cold plunges, please take your towel with you to show that the spot is free.

    • Shower — We recommend showering before you enter the sauna. Please be sure to shower each time before using the cold plunges, after exiting the sauna.

    Thank you for your cooperation 🙏

  • The Finnish Sauna Society recommend a temperature of 80 to 100 degrees Celsius.

    This is the temperature range that we strive to achieve, although this can fluctuate depending on a number of factors.

    When using the sauna we advise that you listen to your body and take regular breaks.

  • Sauna hats are a traditional way of cooling the head in a hot sauna environment.

    The versatility of materials used for sauna hats make them equally suitable for indoor sauna use and outdoor cold plunging.

    Sauna hats protect your head from the heat, especially if you are sat on one of the upper benches.

    Sauna hats also help to regulate your body temperature, decreasing the risk of dizziness.

    Feel free to grab one and give it a go!

  • Please do not pour water from personal bottles onto the sauna stones.

    We keep the ladle and water bucket outside the sauna. The sauna supervisor will manage adding water to maintain an optimal atmosphere for everyone’s comfort and safety.

    The 'löyly' (hot steam that rises from the stove) will partly determine the humidity level and intensity of the heat within the sauna.

    The act of generating löyly is considered a means of purifying the body and soul. The ritual of throwing water on heated sauna stones and the mystical nature of the steam that arises is more than a mere physical phenomenon. It's an awakening, a release of the sauna's spirit which envelops you, penetrates deep into your muscles, and touches your soul.

    At Savu we routinely add essential oils to the water that are drizzled onto the hot stones. These aromatic additions not only infuse the steam with a pleasant scent but also add therapeutic qualities , as well as create a more immersive sauna experience.

  • We have 3 filtered and chilled cold plunges and 1 cold shower in the Savu area.

    Two of our plunges are set to a steady 12 degrees which we think is just about perfect to reap the benefits of contrast bathing therapy.

    For those who love an even colder dip, our latest tub is set to a chilly 6 degrees. Ideal for seasoned cold water lovers.

    Our cold shower is a great way to ease yourself into cold water exposure. We recommend this option as a starting point before trying the cold plunges.

Booking

  • You can book here

    • 45 minute community sauna sessions.

    Our community sessions are a shared experience with up to 6 people in total.

    • 45 minute private hire sauna sessions

    Our private hire sessions allow exclusive use of the sauna for up to 6 people in total.

    All bookings are available on a first come, first served basis.

    The system will not reserve your booking until all details have been completed and the booking is paid in full.

  • Cancellations

    We require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for cancellations to qualify for a refund. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice are not eligible for a refund, credit note, or rescheduling under any circumstances.

    Rescheduling

    If you need to reschedule your sauna session outside of the 24-hour cancellation window, please use the ‘Change/Cancel Appointment’ button in your booking confirmation email.

    Please note: if you have multiple bookings, you’ll need to reschedule each one individually by repeating the process for each appointment. Please follow the cancellation instructions in your booking confirmation email.

  • You must be 16 or older.

    Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to use the sauna.

  • If you have pre-booked a sauna session (via our website) then you will not be required to pay to enter Buckland Park Lake.

General

  • The SHAC operate and supervise all water based activities.

    You must be part of a SHAC pre-booked activity to use the lake.

    For all enquiries and bookings please contact The SHAC directly.

  • Buckland Park Lake lies between Reigate and Dorking in the beautiful Surrey Hills. The Park entrance is opposite Lawrence Lane.

    Buckland Park Lake, Park Lake Drive, Buckland, Betchworth, RH3 7FE

    The park entrance is located opposite Lawrence Lane.

    Please note: the postcode may not work reliably in all navigation apps. For more accurate directions, use the following What3Words location, which brings you directly to the gate entrance:

    what3words.com/elder.sang.goats

    This is a relatively new system but links easily to Google Maps and Waze.

    The sauna is situated adjacent to The SHAC, very close to the car park.

    There is free secure parking on site for 150 cars.

    There toilet facilities at two locations. Both of these facilities offer disabled access and baby changing facilities.

    There are male and female changing rooms with three showers in each.

  • > Anappropriate bathing suit.

    > A towel to sit on in the sauna.

    Bringing a towel to sit on is compulsory. You may also wish to bring a spare towel to dry yourself off with.

    > A bottle of water.

    > Sliders or flip flops so that you can remove your footwear easily before entering the sauna and/or cold plunge.

    The following must be removed before entering the sauna:

    > All hanging jewellery. This is to prevent burns.

    > Eyewear. Both contact lenses and/or glasses. This is to prevent damage to your eyes and/or eyewear.

    > Footwear. Please leave footwear at the bottom of the steps and rinse your feet in the bucket provided before entering the sauna.

  • We have a small, sheltered but open shared space, where you can change and store your belongings.

    If you prefer more privacy then feel free to use the main changing rooms provided by Buckland Park Lake.

    For a quicker and smoother start to your sauna session, we advise arriving with your swimwear on underneath.

  • No Dogs Policy

    Dogs are not permitted anywhere on the grounds of Buckland Park Lake, including dogs left in vehicles. This policy is strictly enforced to protect local wildlife and nesting birds, which are highly sensitive to disturbance.

    Only registered guide and assistance dogs are permitted.

    We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping to preserve this special natural environment.