Lerwick is heating up this summer, with the arrival of a brand-new 20-person mobile sauna from Haar Sauna.
Known for its two wood-fired trailers currently stationed at St. Ninian’s beach in Bigton, Haar Sauna is set to expand with two more mobile units — one returning to St. Ninian’s Isle and another debuting in Lerwick, at a soon-to-be-revealed location.
This expansion will allow the company to introduce traditional Nordic sauna rituals known as aufguss, a practice that enhances the experience with heat circulation, aromatic oils, and rhythmical movements inside the sauna.
Co-founder Callum Scott shared that launching in Lerwick had been a long-standing goal. A £15,000 grant from the Scottish EDGE awards earlier this year helped fund two new sauna trailers purchased from the Netherlands, expected to be fully operational by summer.
“We needed more space not just to meet demand, but to host authentic rituals where the sauna master has room to work,” Scott explained in an interview with Shetland News.
Aufguss, though common in places like Norway, is relatively new to Scotland. Haar Sauna piloted it last year at Bigton, where their largest trailer seats just eight — and every session quickly sold out.
Scott described the ritual as “a new way to sauna,” where heat is circulated with sweeping towel movements and guests are enveloped in natural scents from essential oils and birch leaves. Birch is also used in gentle body massage to stimulate circulation.
Founders Hannah Mary Goodlad and Callum Scott have seen remarkable demand for their ritual sessions — with many guests returning for every available slot. May and June are already booked out.
“People want to try something new, and once they do, they fall in love with it,” Scott said. “It’s about reconnecting with sauna traditions in a meaningful way.”
Each session typically includes three or four 12-minute heat rounds, leaving guests feeling “energized and incredible.”
The exact Lerwick location will remain under wraps until just before opening, with hopes to launch in June or July — though August is still a possibility depending on logistics.
“We’ve outgrown our current capacity,” Scott added. “Especially for women-only and community sessions, we’re consistently sold out.”
Alongside the EDGE grant, Haar Sauna is also a finalist in the bi-annual Scottish EDGE awards — competing for a share of a £1.5 million prize pool. They’ll pitch for a chance to win up to £100,000.
Scott encouraged other Shetland entrepreneurs to consider applying for EDGE support, offering to answer questions from anyone curious about the process.
Source inspiration: This article was adapted from original reporting by Shetland News. Content has been rewritten for clarity, originality, and format consistency.
