Wellness morning at Scorrier House, Cornwall
Penned on the 18th August 2023
On a tranquil mid-August morning, we were kindly invited to a peaceful wood-fired sauna and cold water swimming experience in the beautiful gardens at Scorrier House and Estate in Cornwall. Surrounded by ancient trees and herbaceous plants, it was the most idyllic setting for a wellness morning. We left feeling utterly relaxed and totally rejuvenated, ready to conquer the day ahead.
“An oasis of calm”... Scorrier’s pool garden is such a magical spot to practise self-care and to take some time out. The grounds remind us of a time gone by. Laura greeted us at the entrance and showed us through the house, originally built in 1770 by John Williams, it embodies an important period of Cornish history. The Willams family still reside here seven generations later, after being praised for their ambitious entrepreneurism during the early industrial revolution when Cornwall’s tin and copper industry prospered. Today, the House and Estate has become a popular venue for weddings, parties and conferences. And if you’re a music lover, they also host their very own festival, The Great Estate.
We wandered past the magnificent staircase, through the beautiful orangery and out to the stunning gardens. The tranquil pool sits peacefully amongst the gardens, an inviting sight on a warm summer's day. We embraced a cold shower before dipping in the pool, then it was time to head into the bespoke wood-fired sauna. The cold-water pool compliments the sauna, an ancient Nordic spa treatment with many health benefits - it helps to boost circulation, release toxins and reduce inflammation, not to mention it leaves you feeling utterly dreamy. It is recommended to spend 15 minute intervals in the sauna to reap the benefits of this hot-to-cold ritual - there’s a sand hourglass timer in the sauna, to track your time.
The sauna itself was made by Wildspace Carpentry in 2023 using fallen timber from the estate in both its construction and heating. There’s a large window utilising the beautiful garden view, which allows natural light to fill the space with ease. Nestled beneath the trees, it’s an utterly lovely wellness experience in nature's paradise! After 15 minutes in the sauna, we used the alfresco cold-water shower and then went for another dip in the pool, before using the sauna one last time to reap the rewards of this unique spa experience. The transition between one extreme temperature to another is an ancient restorative tool traditionally practised in Finland to help support the overall function of the mind and body.
To finish off our heavenly morning, we hopped out of the sauna and embraced one final cold water shower. Showering beneath the trees was a magical experience. We made use of the two naturally invigorating scrubs - coffee and almond oil, which gently exfoliates the skin and assists with lymphatic drainage and an oat scrub made with rosemary and lavender from the estate, which deeply moisturises the skin and relaxes the mind. Just the antidote for our wellness morning! After, we refreshed in the quirky wagon changing room and headed inside the house for tea and cake. We had the choice of traditional or herbal teas by From Trees and got our sugar fix with an indulgent brownie… delicious!
Scorrier’s Pool Garden is open all year round and is idyllic no matter the season. Spend a leisurely morning by the pool on a summer’s day or immerse yourself in this wood-fired sauna experience on a cold winter’s day. As well as private hire, there are a number of events that take place in the pool garden. Find out more here. We’d like to thank Laura and Ollie for inviting us to experience this wonderful wellness setup and we can’t wait to return, perhaps for a spot of yoga!