Wild Spa Wowo: Sussex’s magical forest sauna retreat

For anyone who enjoys the wellbeing benefits of spa environments but craves greater connectivity with nature, Wild Spa Wowo, in the Sussex countryside, is the outdoor wellness retreat that's answering the call. Set in a magical forest glade, it is the brainchild of wellbeing creator Katie Bracher, a pioneer of the UK sauna scene, and an innovator in wellbeing experiences that help us exist in harmony with the seasons.

The new wave of sauna tradition

Having originally worked in photography and video production in London, Katie has been part of the new wave of sauna tradition in the UK for the last 10 years. Then, what began as a hobby quickly became a way of life and work.

She says: "It started after I went to a festival, where I had an amazing communal sauna experience. I knew I liked saunas, and I couldn't really find that sort of thing in London, so I got involved in projects and pop-ups, including one at the London Olympics and another at the Southbank Centre, as well as international events."

It was around that time that Katie moved to Brighton, where she had the idea of placing a Finnish sauna on the Brighton seafront. What started as a pop-up turned into the first public sauna on the beach in the UK, and with the simultaneous rise of cold water swimming, it grew powerfully, morphing into a business called Beach Box.

She says: "I think it became so popular because you're immediately connected to nature and people crave that. The saunas were always outdoors, always wood fired - and to be in nature, even if it's on a city rooftop where you're looking up at the sky, is invigorating."

She ran Beach Box for around four years, during which time she honed her skills as a sauna master, training and bringing guests over to share different rituals and practices, influenced by Baltic and Scandinavian traditions.

Into the wild: a brand new Sussex spa retreat

When the opportunity to do something unique at the Wowo Campsite in Wapsbourne came up, Katie was ready for a new adventure. On a site with history dating back to the Anglo Saxons, a woodland glade made the perfect location for a spa experience like no other - one that worked with nature and gave guests the opportunity to turn off, tune in, and wind down.

She says: "It's so nature oriented, it's easy to make that connection a key part of the offering. It's not that far from civilization, so you can come for a short while, but it feels totally disconnected. The signal is very bad, so you have to let go of your phone. The original Pagan places of worship would have been in forest glades like this, so there's a real sense of sanctuary. When you arrive, you walk through an arch and you can see people breathe out, let go, and slow down."

Working with nature at a woodland spa experience

The whole experience is deeply connected to the elements - water, fire, trees, and the open air are the framework for your time here.

It's so simple, but so restorative, taking you away from the hum and distractions of modern life. One thing that Katie has been dedicated to, is keeping the spa experiences in tune with the cycles of nature, letting them inform how it operates, from the seasonal scrubs, to the teas, and waters that are available. As a result, every time you visit, there's something a little different to enjoy.

Katie says: "Summer's great because it's an abundant time - we have a garden and grow our own herbs and plants, which we use in our botanical waters. We make a soup, for example, out of nettles and wild garlic, which we forage for. At some point we will make fresh 'whisks' for whisking treatments. These are like fans, typically made out of birch, oak and eucalyptus and used in a form of massage."

On an individual level, Katie also says how the connection with nature that she gets from Wild Spa Wowo has changed how she operates personally:

"It's changed how I eat, and I rest more when it's cold, for example. The energy of our society is eternal summer, and once you start feeding into the seasons, those instinctive changes make so much sense."

What you will find at Wild Spa Wowo

With that in mind, Wild Spa Wowo is an evolving experience. Not only does it change with the seasons, but each one brings new ideas and inspiration, which Katie works into the offering.

Its framework remains the same - there are three heat experiences:

• The Wild Sauna - an intense, Nordic-style sauna
• The Cosy Woodland Sauna - a clay-lined silent sauna
• The Forest Room - a relaxing, steamy warm greenhouse with a forest view

There is also a variety of cooling experiences, including a huge and energising plunge pool. Then, in the Autumn and winter from November to March, the greenhouse transforms into a warm space that's perfect for relaxing between sauna sessions.

Extending into the woodland, there are hammocks and chill-out areas, where you can gaze up into the trees, sipping on botanical waters. There are also natural, seasonal spa treatments available, including clay masks, body scrubs, and massages.

A destination that you can visit on your own or with a group of friends, even booking the entire place for private events, for those who want to connect with nature, this is your portal to something truly magical.