Team GB ice swimmer Fenwick Ridley brings fire and ice to Northumbrian Sauna

Few people know more about the meeting of heat and cold than Fenwick Ridley. The founder of Northumbrian Sauna has swum in the Arctic Circle as part of Team GB Ice Swimming, served as its captain and a board member, and now shares what he has learned with guests at Higham Dykes, just north of Ponteland.

Northumbrian Sauna has been running since 2023 and every session is delivered by Fenwick himself, known to many as the Ice Viking. As well as being a qualified sauna master, he trains open water lifeguards, so safety and professionalism sit at the heart of the experience.

The main offer is the Sauna Barrel and Lake Dip, a one-hour outdoor session alternating ten minutes in the warmth of the barrel sauna with refreshing dips in the lake. Guidance is on hand throughout, and Viking music often sets the mood.

For those who want more of a challenge, Fire & Ice sessions swap the lake for an ice bath trailer using Brass Monkey technology, with a dip below 5C. Drum & Burn evenings are gentler and more reflective: guests bring a small note, perhaps a wish or something they are ready to let go of, which is placed in a wooden box and burned in a shared ritual to the deep rhythm of the drum.

Fenwick's journey with fire and ice began in Northumberland's wild waters and rugged landscapes. He has studied research on how the body responds to heat and cold and developed his own contrast training method, which he uses to help people build resilience and focus as well as simply relax. "I believe in community, well-being, and adventure," he writes.

With multiple sauna tents and a sauna trailer, the team can host large bookings of 20 or more, and also brings saunas to events, festivals and corporate wellness days. Living North calls it a sociable space with a refreshingly different approach.

The autumn calendar includes more Drum & Burn evenings and a Men's Fire & Ice Night on Friday 6 November, limited to 12 participants.

Sessions, gift cards and sauna hire can be booked through the Northumbrian Sauna website.