Frandy Water

Set beneath the Ochil Hills in Perthshire, The Gleneagles Hotel is taking wellness beyond its spa walls this May with the launch of Frandy Water – a wood-fired sauna and freshwater immersion experience set against the dramatic landscape of rolling Perthshire countryside. As outdoor sauna rituals and cold-water swimming continue to surge, Frandy Water offers a more private, guided interpretation of the practice, firmly rooted in the Scottish landscape.

 

The new wellness experience joins the other water-based experiences launched at Frandy Water last year, which include trout fishing, Canadian canoeing and sit-on-top kayaking.

 

WILD WELLNESS

In signature Gleneagles style, the experience begins with a private Defender drive off the grounds of the hotel, heading to the shores of Frandy Water, just 15 minutes away. At the water's edge sits a panoramic, wood-fired sauna taking up to six guests, designed to frame views across the water and surrounding hills. The crackle of a wood-burning stove and the scent of heated cedar mark the start of a 90 or 120-minute contrast therapy ritual.

 

THE BENEFITS OF FRANDY WATER’S THERMAL EXPERIENCE

Alternating between the dry heat of the wood-fired sauna and the refreshing chill of the water creates a powerful contrast, encouraging circulation and supporting muscle recovery at a gentle pace. Between cycles, a private deck serves as a place to pause, wrap up in blankets around a fire pit and rest with herbal teas and refreshments.

 

Director of Wellness, Carlos Urrutigoity explains: “Moving between hot and cold can help boost circulation, speed up muscle recovery and flush out inflammation, all while resetting the nervous system. It improves stress resilience, mood and mental clarity. The unique thing about this contrast is that guests don't just feel deeply relaxed – they feel energised afterwards too.”

 

BEYOND THE SAUNA

While the wild sauna and dip form the centerpiece of the new launch, Frandy Water also opens the reservoir for a broader programme of water-based activities. Guests can venture onto the water in Canadian canoes or sit on top kayaks, taking in the landscape as they glide along, or fish for brown and rainbow trout with expert ghillies. The setting is intentionally simple and elemental. Water, wind, wood and open sky, offering a serene setting beyond the hotel.

 

INNOVATION CONTINUES AT GLENEAGLES

Frandy Water marks the next chapter in Gleneagles' evolving approach to wellbeing, one that moves fluidly between high-performance sport, restorative spa treatments and immersion in the land itself. Following the launch of the Gleneagles Sporting Club in 2024 – a state-of-the-art facility featuring indoor tennis courts, padel courts and climbing walls – the addition of Frandy Water expands the hotel’s offering outdoors, inviting guests to engage with Perthshire’s natural elements in a way that feels both grounding and invigorating.