It's barely 9am, and instead of my usual chaotic morning of chain-drinking coffee and searching for clean socks, I’m soaking in a vat of warm seaweed like a budget Gweneth Paltrow because, apparently, this is self-care now. No, I'm not at some bougie retreat in Switzerland with a questionable shaman; I'm sitting in an upcycled whisky barrel looking out over the Menai Strait in Anglesey at the Halen Môn salt factory. These wild seaweed baths are a relatively new wellness offering from the award-winning salt purveyors. The idea is that visitors can tour the Halen Môn salt factory, shop in the store and soak outdoors in "wonderfully warm" 40C water filled with fresh, cleaned seaweed. It's a novel concept, but this is Wales, and things are different here. Anglesey's Halen Môn is, of course, best known for its award-winning sea salt, hand-harvested from the pristine waters of the Irish Sea. Those glistening flakes of flavour elevate everything from Michelin-starred scallops to your mate's overly ambitious sourdough. Their salt is so pure and perfect that it frankly makes mere table salt look like it should be banned under the Geneva Convention. Alison and David Lea-Wilson, the husband-and-wife team behind the successful brand, put it down to their secret weapon: the pristine waters of the Menai Strait, as the area provides perfect conditions for sea salt harvesting. The result is some of the world’s finest flake sea salt, enjoyed worldwide by chefs, food lovers, and even Barack Obama. It's been served at the London 2012 Olympics, political summits and royal weddings and is a vital ingredient in Green & Black's chocolate and Piper’s Crisps. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here In a plot twist no one saw coming (but we're all for), Halen Môn has surprisingly branched into wellness. They've turned the crystal-clear water behind their famous sea salt into an alfresco bath experience featuring nutrient-dense seaweed and warm water-filled whiskey barrels, all while you soak up views of Eryri National Park. If you visit their factory and shop site from April to October, you'll spot a row of these whisky barrels lined up on a grassy spot by the Menai Strait. Book a soaking session, and you can watch the mountain peaks loom in the distance as you settle into the warm water and unwind. According to Halen Môn, this seaweed soak delivers "rich relaxation," soothes tired muscles, and helps you "escape every day" — which, frankly, sounds ideal when your version of every day involves five deadlines before lunch and a flurry of emails from my ever-watchful editor, Kath (hi Kath, yes, I’m writing it now ). "It’s certainly one of our more unusual ideas," Halen Môn co-founder David Lea-Wilson previously told Wales Online. "Some people I know think we’re a bit mad, but that’s probably a good thing. It makes a brilliant gift for someone looking for something local and a bit out of the ordinary." The venture is also impressively sustainable. Seaweed doesn’t need soil, fertiliser, or freshwater to grow — it just does its slippery, nutrient-packed thing all on its own. Plus, the water used for the baths is a by-product of the salt-making process, meaning your soak practically saves the environment. Probably. Seaweed baths are hardly a shiny new wellness concept, though. People have been wallowing in warm, slippery seaweed for centuries — drawn to its mineral-dense oils and supposed healing powers, calming and general life-sorting. In the early 19th century, these baths were all the rage across Europe, with Ireland becoming a seaweed spa hotspot. At one point, over 300 traditional bathhouses were dotted along the Irish coast, where people would queue up to stew in salty green goodness. Some are still operating today, quietly steaming away and proving that the Victorians might’ve been onto something — even if they thought arsenic made cracking face cream. So, while this “bathe in seaweed and stare at mountains” concept might sound like peak 2025 wellness, I’m actually participating in a long-standing coastal tradition, albeit with better scenery, fewer corsets, and slightly more Instagrammable tubs. I’ll admit, I was sceptical at first. I’m usually dubious about anything that feels a bit too “woo-woo.” But it’s hard to stay cynical when you’re stewing in seaweed, taking in the sweeping views of Eryri, and—surprise!—feeling completely and utterly calm. For the first time in ages, I wasn’t obsessing over emails, looming deadlines, or the state of my laundry basket (it’s terrifying). It was just me and my long-suffering husband Luke in the adjacent tub, warm water and the dreamy horizon. The mineral-dense oils from the seaweed, which have been used for centuries to hydrate and rejuvenate, also worked their magic, leaving my skin feeling softer and more moisturised than it has in a long while. Plus, the heat did wonders for my sore muscles. Who knew a simple soak in a seaweed broth could soothe everything from my overworked brain to my aching back? Am I #blessed or what? As Alison Lea-Wilson of Halen Môn explains: "As well as leaving your skin feeling amazing when you get out, you sleep incredibly well. I can vouch personally for that." After my unusual morning bath, I had a blissful post-soak coffee and a Halen Môn salt-infused chocolate brownie from the outdoor coffee shop. It was the perfect way to cap off the ritual, feeling refreshed and genuinely rejuvenated. And honestly, if seaweed can do all that while offering epic views like this, I’m starting to wonder if there’s something to this whole “self-care” thing. Who knows? Maybe I’ll start carrying healing crystals in my pocket or get into Reiki. The world is my drum circle now. Cost: What to Bring: Facilities: Location: Ty Halen, The Anglesey Sea Salt Company Ltd, Brynsiencyn, Isle of Anglesey LL61 6TQ.