For James, Collieston has always been more than just a beautiful stretch of the Aberdeenshire coast.
From childhood beach trips and summer days jumping off the pier to regular sea swims during lockdown, it’s a place that has stayed close to him. Now, he’s bringing together that connection to the outdoors with his love of sauna through Teth Sauna, a wood-fired sauna experience where the focus is simple: heat, sea, fire and time to switch off.
In this latest Seashell Spirit feature, we caught up with James to hear how a pod of dolphins helped inspire the leap into business, why he believes sauna should be about doing less, and what the North East of Scotland has taught him about appreciating the outdoors in every season.
What was the moment you thought, “Collieston needs a sauna,” and what made you want to turn that idea into Teth?
I've always felt a special kind of connection with Collieston, and there has always been something that has felt right about being there. Growing up in Ellon, my Mum would take us out to Collieston to play on the beach, walk the dog, and look in the rock pools. As I got older, my friends and I spent a lot of Summer days there jumping off the pier. Then, as the first lockdown was eased, I was on furlough through Spring and Summer, so I was going out to swim in the harbour multiple times a week. Fast forward to my mid-20s and I'd been contemplating the leap away from my job to start an outdoors-inspired business for a while. My girlfriend Ruth and I went for a paddle to Hackley Bay in 2023 and I said before we went out, "If we see dolphins today, it's a sign, I'm starting the outdoors thing". It was our first proper SUP of the year and as we arrived at Hackley Bay, a small pod of dolphins was feeding right by us. That was probably the one moment when I thought, let's start the process. We had enjoyed many sauna sessions at Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Findhorn, St Andrews, and even abroad, but Collieston has always been my "place" so it felt right.
You’re a keen outdoor adventurer yourself. How much has your own lifestyle shaped the experience you’ve created at Teth?
What I've tried to create with Teth Sauna is exactly what I prefer from an outdoor sauna session. It's quite basic in terms of what we offer but that is the intention. I don't think it needs to be all singing and all dancing, I believe you get the best experience when it's kept simple - you, the fire, and the sea. That's how I see the perfect way to "switch off". An hour of heat surrounded by a beautiful stretch of coastline with no phone, and the only noise is that of the waves, the wind, and the birds.
What is it about combining wood-fired heat with the cold North Sea that you think people connect with so strongly?
Even those living slightly inland are not too far from the North Sea, and most of us in the area will have that one favourite beach, cliff-walk, sea swimming spot, or nowadays maybe even a sauna, that connects us to it. I think the beauty of a wood-fired sauna session on the edge of the North Sea is that it gives you a feeling that no two people would describe the same way. You get the warm, inviting hug from the sauna, contrasted with the cold, brutal awakening from the North Sea. You don't need to be a marathon runner or an ironman to enjoy it either, it's a low pressure, but highly rewarding combination.
We live in a world where so much of wellness is about optimisation - fitness trackers, cold plunges, supplements, routines. Is sauna actually about doing less?
Definitely. Having worked in sport & exercise science, and in professional sport, a lot of my education and experience is based around monitoring metrics for health and performance, periodising training schedules, trying to tick every box with regards to sleep, nutrition, recovery, preparation etc. In recent years, I've definitely seen the "performance mindset" of athletes shift to the general population and I'm not convinced that the impact of this is net positive. It can create a lot of anxiety if your sleep/recovery score isn't perfect, or your watch can tell you that you should be doing a really intense workout today when in reality, you're knackered and stressed out. There is a place for all of that stuff but I don't believe sauna belongs in that category. It doesn't matter about the exact sauna to cold plunge timing ratio, or if your HRV score improved after the session. Sauna for me is about how you feel in the moment. It's about forgetting everything else and enjoying where you are. Embracing the heat, listening to the fire crackling, being still, and allowing your thoughts to fade away.
What’s the best thing the outdoors has taught you?
Probably to enjoy and appreciate being outdoors whilst you can, no matter the weather. Most of us prefer the sunshine and warmer days, but in the North East of Scotland it is important to look for things to admire throughout the seasons. If you are willing to go out and seek it, there will always be a sunrise, a wave, a stormy sea, a clear sky, a dolphin, a bird of prey, a castle ruin, an aurora, or a beautiful beach for you to appreciate and enjoy.
Thanks for sharing your Seashell Spirit with us, James! Book your next coastal sauna trip at Teth, here.
