UserInfo &FAQs

Everything you need before your visit

Plan a safe, relaxed session

Find practical arrival details, what to bring, facilities, session guidance, safety information, refunds and answers to common questions.

Day-before checklist

70-minute sessions•Arrive max 10 min early•Minimum age 16

What to bring

Swimwear, two towels, water and warm layers

Where to go

The Boat House, Scorrybreac Slip

Sea swimming

Optional and entirely at your own risk

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Day-before checklist

A quick reminder for the day before your Portree Sauna session. This section is intentionally separate so it can be shared directly with booked guests.

Tomorrow's essentials

Bring swimwear, two towels, your own water bottle, warm clothes and suitable outdoor footwear.
Use one towel to sit on inside the sauna and keep the second for drying afterwards.
Parking near the sauna is limited. Car share where possible or, if practical, park in Portree and walk.
Arrive no more than 10 minutes before your session. Late arrival will not extend your finish time.
Do not block the slipway, boathouse access, gates, access road or emergency access.
Do not attend while intoxicated or acutely unwell.
Sea swimming is optional, unsupervised and entirely at your own risk. There is no lifeguard.

Find us

Portree Sauna
The Boat House
Scorrybreac Slip
Portree, IV51 9QU

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At a glance

Quick facts

Session

70 minutes

Capacity

Up to 8 guests

Minimum age

Arrival

No more than 10 minutes early

Staff

A team member is on site

Sea swimming

Optional and unsupervised

Before you set off

Plan your visit

Arrival & parking

Please arrive no more than 10 minutes before your booked session. Sessions start and finish at the advertised times; arriving late will not extend your session.

Several spaces are available along Scorrybreac Road, but parking close to the sauna is limited. Park considerately and allow extra time.

Never block the slipway, boathouse, gates, access road or emergency access.

What to bring

Swimwear
One towel to sit on inside the sauna
A second towel for drying afterwards
A water bottle
Warm, loose clothing for afterwards
Suitable outdoor footwear
A changing robe or extra warm layer if you plan to enter the sea

Towels are not currently included with bookings.

Facilities

A small changing area is available inside the sauna unit. A toilet and warm shower are available inside the boathouse.

A cold outdoor shower is fitted to the rear of the sauna. Drinking water is available from the tap directly opposite—please bring your own bottle.

The current waterfront site is not wheelchair accessible and may not suit guests with significant mobility difficulties.

The sauna is on a working waterfront shared with Skye Sailing Club. Outdoor surfaces, paths and the slipway may be wet, uneven or slippery. Wear suitable footwear and take extra care in poor weather.

70 minutes overall

How your session works

The full 70 minutes includes check-in, changing, sauna time, cooling down and changing afterwards. It is not a target for continuous heat exposure; most guests move in and out several times.

1Arrive no more than 10 minutes before the start time.
2Check in with the Portree Sauna team member.
3Change outside, in the sauna changing area or in the boathouse toilet.
4Place a towel on the bench before sitting down.
5Use the sauna at your own pace and take breaks whenever needed.
6Cool down outside, use a shower or choose to enter the sea.
7Return to the sauna only when you feel comfortable and well.
8Leave enough time to change and depart at the booked finish time.

Put your wellbeing first

Sauna & sea safety

Sauna safety

Use the heat at your own pace and take regular breaks.

Drink water before and after your session, and during it if needed.
Do not treat heat exposure as a competition.
Stand up slowly and move carefully.
Leave immediately if you feel dizzy, faint, nauseous, confused, unusually short of breath, develop chest pain or simply feel too hot.
Tell staff immediately if you or another guest feels unwell.
Do not touch the stove, flue, stone cage or hot metal surfaces.
No glass, smoking, vaping or intoxicated sauna use.

Guests may add small amounts of the approved fresh water to the stones. Do not use oils, fragrances, alcohol, seawater or any other liquid.

Sea safety

Entering the sea is optional. The water is open, unsupervised and not lifeguarded.

Enter slowly and cautiously. Do not jump or dive.
Take time to control your breathing and stay close to a safe exit point.
Do not swim alone or while intoxicated.
Check the weather, tide and visible water conditions before entering.
Keep immersion brief and appropriate to your own experience.
Leave immediately if you become distressed, unusually breathless, numb, weak, confused or unable to coordinate your movements.

Portree Sauna staff are not lifeguards and do not continuously supervise swimmers. Your decision to enter the sea is based on your own health, ability, experience and assessment of the conditions.

In an emergency

Alert the Portree Sauna team member immediately. If there is an immediate threat to life, call 999. For someone in difficulty at sea, ask for the Coastguard; for a medical emergency, ask for the Ambulance Service.

The nearest known defibrillator is at Cuillin Hills Hotel reception, approximately a three-minute walk away. Call 999 first and follow the call handler's instructions.

Useful details

General FAQs

Who can attend?

The minimum age for standard public sessions is 16. Guests aged 16 or 17 must attend with a responsible adult aged 18 or over. The adult remains responsible for the young person's wellbeing, behaviour and any decision to enter the sea.

What if I have a health condition, take medication or am pregnant?

Do not use the sauna if you are acutely unwell, have a fever or have symptoms that make heat exposure unsafe or uncomfortable.

If you are pregnant, have a heart or circulatory condition, blood-pressure problems, a history of fainting or seizures, a condition affecting temperature regulation, or take medication that may affect hydration, blood pressure, alertness or heat tolerance, seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional before attending.

Portree Sauna staff cannot provide individual medical advice.

Can I pour water on the stones?

Yes. Use only small amounts of the fresh water provided and check that everyone is comfortable first. Do not pour oils, fragrances, alcohol, seawater or any other liquid onto the stones or stove.

Can I take photos?

Considerate photography is allowed outdoors when it does not intrude on other guests. Photography and filming are not permitted inside the sauna or anywhere inside the boathouse.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

You may cancel for a full refund up to 72 hours before your session. Refunds are not automatic: email Portree Sauna with your name, booking reference, session date and time.

Cancellations less than 72 hours before the start time are non-refundable. Late arrival and non-attendance do not entitle you to a refund. If Portree Sauna cancels, you will be offered a full refund or another available session.

What happens in bad weather?

Portree Sauna may delay, change or cancel a session if weather, site conditions, fire safety, equipment failure or another operational issue means the sauna cannot be operated safely. Operating the sauna does not mean the sea is safe for swimming.

What about belongings and lost property?

Bring only what you need and avoid unnecessary valuables. Personal belongings are brought to the site at your own risk. Contact us with your session date, time and a description if you leave something behind.

What can staff help with?

A Portree Sauna team member operates the sauna, welcomes guests, explains the session, gives reasonable safety instructions and responds to incidents within the limits of their training. Staff are not lifeguards, do not continuously supervise swimmers and cannot assess whether sauna or cold-water exposure is medically suitable for you.

Still need help?

For questions, refund requests, feedback, complaints, incident reports or lost property, include your name, booking reference, session date and time, and a clear description.

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