About Lochar Mill
Our Story
Step into Lochar Mill, a riverside retreat where nature and wellbeing come together.
Set just outside Strathaven in South Lanarkshire, our thoughtfully designed facilities include an infrared sauna, cold water therapy space, Danish inspired Hygge Hut for dining experiences, co-working, meetings, events and workshops; the Crannog - a sheltered yet open gathering space with views across the landscape and fire pit, the Crannog is used for shared dining, retreats, and corporate hire.
Peaceful outdoor areas — all crafted to support deep rest, recovery, and reconnection. Whether you're visiting for quiet reflection or a shared experience with others, our Retreat offers the freedom to slow down and breathe.
Our Mission
Our aim is simple: to create a one-stop space for health and wellbeing for our local community and surrounding areas.
Lochar Mill Riverside Retreat is a place for sauna and cold water, for events and gatherings, for recovery, connection and time out — a retreat that’s practical, inclusive and rooted in real life.
Meet The Team
Lochar Mill Riverside Retreat grew out of how we spend our own time.
Alan and I are outdoors people. We’re happiest in the garden, walking or cycling, swimming in cold water, or heading off in the motorhome — often with the bikes on the back and no real plan beyond getting outside. We enjoy meeting friends for days out, visiting other saunas around Scotland, and being in places that help us switch off properly.
The Idea
Over time, those experiences — particularly sauna and cold water — became something we kept coming back to. We felt better for them, both physically and mentally, and started to think about how we could create something similar closer to home.
That idea became Lochar Mill Riverside Retreat.
The retreat is based at our family home, a historic mill site beside Lochar Water, and has been developed gradually and practically. Infra-red Sauna and cold water therapy sit at the centre of what we offer, alongside spaces that can be used for events, workshops, retreats, dining and corporate days. It’s a flexible space that works for individuals, groups of friends, fitness-focused visitors and organisations looking for something different.
Our backgrounds naturally shape how the space is run. Lucy is a qualified and registered Nutritional Therapist (DipION, mBANT, CNHC) with a busy clinic in Strathaven and a strong interest in evidence-based approaches to health and wellbeing and has completed her Cold Water Therapy Practitioner certificate. She works with men and women with chronic health conditions.
Visitor Testimonials
“What a lovely hour spent in such a beautiful setting! It was an amazing experience for our first real cold water therapy session. We thoroughly enjoyed it and both felt fantastic afterward! we will certainly be back to make it a regular visit! Thanks again for a great evening!
Catharine
Fantastic night and Lochar Mill Wellness for my birthday. We all did the cold water and Lucy was amazing and supported us all through it, the sauna was the perfect way to heat up afterwards. Then wee all sat and had some drinks and food and toasted marshmallows for smores by the fire. Perfect set up so wholesome and really feeling the benefits today from the cold water and sauna.
Lucy was a brilliant host! Thanks so much
Kirsty
"A lovely hour spent at Lochar Mill Wellness. I was very well supported during the cold water therapy! Left feeling amazing!"