A few rules to consider before you strip off and heat up

What to wear?

Unlike other sauna cultures where nudity is compulsory, among British bathers, anything goes, from wetsuits to running gear, to hen and stag-do fancy dress. Anything, it seems, is better than nothing!

Rinse first

Start with wet, clean skin. The first sweat is the dirtiest one, so wash this (and subsequent sweats) off under a shower or in the sea, not in a communal pool.

How long?

Ignore time limits on hot and cold immersions. Even if you only last a few minutes, that’s okay. A sauna session is not a test. Listen to your body and leave when you’re ‘comfortably uncomfortable’.

Etiquette

Remember to close the door when you step in and out. Don’t bag a spot by putting your towel down; the sauna is a shared space and everyone should expect to move around. Speaking quietly and being mindful of what is discussed is basic courtesy. In Finland and Estonia, thorny issues such as politics and religion are kept firmly outside the sauna walls. In Nordic nations, it’s rude to throw water on the rocks without asking or to create mass evacuation by steaming everyone out.

These guidelines are from our November issue feature, Scenic Saunas, which is an extract from Wild Sauna: The Best Outdoor Saunas In Britain by Emma O’Kelly (Wild Things)