A Wild Sauna in Edinburgh: Soul Water Sauna at The Pitt

I’d booked Soul Water Sauna at Granton Promenade in Edinburgh and brought my fiancé along for his first wild sauna experience. He’s always up for trying something new, and I was quietly hoping he’d enjoy it as much as I have.

It was a misty start to the morning, and as we walked down towards the promenade, I wasn’t completely convinced.

First Impressions at Granton Promenade, Edinburgh

At first, it felt a bit industrial. Pebble beach, warehouses, not much else in sight. I had a brief moment of thinking, oh no…

But then we got closer.

Discovering The Pitt

We realised the sauna was part of The Pitt, and everything changed. Brightly painted containers, street food stalls, outdoor seating, a bar, even a big indoor warehouse space. It reminded us of places we’d visited in Copenhagen.

There was a real buzz with people walking dogs, cycling past, music and events being set up.

Sauna and Cold Plunge Experience

The sauna space itself was open and welcoming. You could see people moving between the sauna, plunge pools and showers. There was a big tree at the side with a shower built underneath it, which felt like a really cool touch.

There were two saunas to choose from, cold plunge baths overlooking the sea, and a relaxed seating area. We were chatting to people almost straight away and it felt social and easy.

Inside the sauna, we were given orange slices, and outside there was orange-infused water. Small touches but very thoughtful.

This time, I surprised myself by getting straight in to the cold plunge, using the breathing technique I’d learned before. My fiancé took a bit longer to build up to it, but after talking him through it, he gave it a go and was soon fully in too, laughing by the end.

We got chatting to a mother and daughter who’d tried saunas in Helsinki, including dips in frozen lakes. It sounded intense, but also made me curious to read up on how the Scandinavians do saunas.

The whole session had a really social, open feel. Not private or tucked away, but lively and full of energy.

After the Sauna

Afterwards, we sat in the lounge area with herbal tea, drying off naturally and chatting. I felt warm, relaxed, and in no rush to leave.

Final Thoughts

This felt completely different to my previous sauna experiences. Less about quiet escape, more about socialising and fun vibes.

A great option if you enjoy a lively social setting, though it’s definitely more open than secluded.