Part two of our series leaves the city behind, trading traffic for open roads and a restorative sauna in the Westmeath countryside
After the Urban Reset in our last edition, where city driving inside the luxury of the Defender 110 and a social sauna in Dublin’s Docklands offered a way to find calm and balance, the Rural Reset takes things a step further.
This time we follow the quiet pull of the countryside to continue our commitment to habit stacking, as the wellness world likes ot call it; this isn’t about doing more, but about letting one good thing lead into the next. It can look as simple as taking some time out for yourself on a beautiful drive and listening to your favourite podcast before taking in the restorative heat of a sauna.
What’s interesting is how this shift has moved beyond the individual and into something more cultural. Forget pub crawls, Ireland’s rediscovery of its ancient sweathouses has fast become our nation’s favourite new way to socialise and switch off. Proof of the modern sauna boom is evident all across the island, from beachside barrels to wooden huts tucked away in the forest.
On this occasion, we make our way to The Sauna Society, located on the shores of Lough Ennell in Co Westmeath. With the Defender 110, we are instantly travelling in pure comfort with plush interiors.
Adventures like this one are well catered for, with the option of seven seats and generous loadspace if it turns into a group trip. On top of that, its terrain response system is a dream for off-road driving, adjusting seamlessly to whatever the journey demands. Paired with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, it delivers smooth control and steady power wherever you’re headed. With high ground clearance and strong wading depth, it’s built to handle whatever the road throws at it.
Making the journey even more seamless, the Pivi Pro infotainment system allows you to connect your phone via Apple CarPlay, use satellite navigation, or play music through the Meridian sound system. On selected models, you can also add features like wireless charging or a centre console fridge for added luxury.
Meanwhile, from tighter roads to open countryside, the Defender is set up to keep visibility clear and manoeuvring straightforward. A 360° camera system gives an all-round view, making it easier to navigate rural routes and confined sections. The optional ClearSight rearview mirror streams a live feed from a roof-mounted camera, so the view behind remains unobstructed, even with passengers or a full load. There’s also an underbody camera, useful on narrower or uneven country roads.
Other useful features, particularly for a warm summer’s day, include Defender’s simple and intuitive climate control, with easy dials for temperature and airflow. An air purification system helps filter allergens and monitor air quality, while the InControl Remote app lets you pre-heat, cool or defrost the cabin before you get in.
By the time we arrive at The Sauna Society, we already feel a noticeable shift – shoulders dropped, head clearer, the drive having done its work quietly in the background. Before making our way into the sauna, we sit by a firepit and take a few minutes to focus on our breathing. It’s quiet, with the fire crackling and birdsong carrying through the trees.
Inside, the sauna is framed by glass that looks out onto the lake. The heat gathers gently, while outside, the water stays still and uninterrupted. That is, until a bevy of swans come into view.
After alternating between the ritual of heat, cold plunge, rest and repeat, our body adjusts, our busy thoughts settle, and we feel a sense of having properly reset. As we prepare to hit the road for home, the Defender feels like a calm, contained space to hold onto that shift just a little bit longer, letting it linger rather than slip away the moment we step back outside.
To find out more, visit landrover.ie/defender
