Regarded as the best book on Scottish bothies, The Bothy Bible is a no-brainer if you want to explore from your armchair before venturing out. A simple shelter in remote country for the use and benefit of all those who love being in wild and lonely places.” When can I go to a bothy? Bothies are fairly basic shelters- so don’t expect mattresses, showers, or toilets- but that is all part of the charm of bothies. They are maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association [also known as the MBA], but it’s expected that guests staying will do their part to ensure the bothy stays clean and tidy for the next lot of visitors. The Bothy Code: What to know before you go From the bothy door enjoy stunning views of the mountain ridge extending from Corbett Sgùrr an Fhuarain (901m) to one of the most remote Munros, Sgùrr Mòr (1,003m). A bothy is a mountain shelter in Scotland available for anyone to use for free. It will usually consist of one or more bedrooms, with a common area that has seating and a fireplace.

Scottish Bothy Bible book by Wild Things Publishing - Issuu

Phoebe Smith’s book marks the 50th. Anniversary of the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA), to whom the book is dedicated, it is a worthy tribute for without that gallant band the bothy estate would be so much poorer than it is today, it would be hard not to share the author’s enthusiasm for the MBA. The format of the book is simple and effective, our country is divided into its national constituents, unsurprisingly Scotland gets the lion’s share of attention – with 18 bothies covered, add to this four bothies each for England and Wales and the book describes 26 bothies out of 100 or so officially cared-for by the MBA. There are many other commercial “bothies” around, but that’s not what this article is about. How many bothies in Scotland? When going to a bothy, it is important to assume that there will be no facilities. No tap, no sink, no beds, no lights, and, even if there is a fireplace, perhaps nothing to burn. Bothies may have a simple sleeping platform, but if busy you might find that the only place to sleep is on a stone floor. You will need to make your own arrangement for water and should be aware that there may not be a suitable supply near the bothy. If there is no fire then on a cold night you may have trouble staying warm. The great majority of nights in Britain are on the cool side and remember that most bothies are up in the hills. Few bothies have toilet facilities apart from a spade and the advice is that you should walk at least a couple of hundred metres from the bothy and 60metres from the water supply before excavations and evacuations commence. If all this sounds rather rough, you are beginning to get the picture. Your comforts have to be carried in. You can also reach Glencoul bothy from Kylesku. You will continue past Glendhu bothy and continue around the loch, making your way through an unmarked trail uphill before joining a clear path that leads to Glencoul bothy. Sensational new photography– of Scotland’s wilderness and its bothies, coupled with engaging travel writing.

At the other end of your stay, make sure you take any perishables and all your rubbish with you. Have a clean up too. How long can you stay in a bothy? Bothies can look romantic, but in reality they can be cold, dusty, damp, and pretty dark. Yet in the evening, with the fire blazing, candles burning, hot food on the table and a glass of wine at your elbow, the place is transformed. Some (myself included) just like to go ‘bothying’ – setting off for the weekend without any other objective in mind – and many bothies have been adopted as a home from home. Evenings can be peaceful or convivial, so respect other users as well as the bothy itself. Each shelter has at least one dedicated MBA maintenance officer who volunteers their services to look after the fabric of the building and when major renovations are required, the MBA organises work parties. I would wholeheartedly recommend joining the MBA to support all their good work. The following, chosen by Geoff Allan, author of The Scottish Bothy Bible represent just a handful of the mountain bothies in use throughout Scotland, but they are undoubtedly among the most spectacular. The Mountain Bothy Association bothies are open to all and for no charge. Donating to, or joining, the MBA is a good way to pay our way and help keep the bothies alive for the future. Bothy books Bothies will sometimes have a fire that you can use. This involves bringing your own fuel in and ideally leaving some for others on your departure. At least try to leave some dry kindling.

BOTHIES IN SCOTLAND - Huts and Cabins Glamping

Know what to take, where to get water and fuel, how to cross a river when in spate and what to do in an emergency. Think of it as camping without a tent and you won’t be disappointed. It’s a non-canvas tent. You may have to share your tent with others and that’s part of the appeal.

Respect the bothy

The hike to the bothy from Inchnadamph is known as one of the hardest sections on the Cape Wrath Trail, and strong navigation skills are needed. As you inch closer to this bothy the landscape unfolds around you. When you reach the bothy you will be rewarded with grand views of Loch Glencoul and the surrounding mountains. Bothy is pronounced how it is spelled. Say the “both” bit as if you were saying; cloth, sloth, or moth. Scottish accent is optional. K A/Camban Bothy in 1983 What is a bothy? What is a bothy? Many people think of them as exclusively Scottish, but in fact old farm buildings, cottages and crofts used by walkers are referred to as bothies throughout northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland too. The name is believed to come from the Scots Gaelic or Irish bothan, meaning 'hut', or the Welsh bwthyn, meaning 'cottage'. A surge of interest in mountain bothies has lead to problems, so make sure you are well aware of the Bothy Code before staying in any of these bothies: An excellent read and kept me interested throughout. I'm so overjoyed I am immediately going to buy a copy for my friend.

Bothy? - Mountain Bothies Association UK What is a Bothy? - Mountain Bothies Association UK

Stop off at Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist monastery west of the bothy; the tea room is decorated in traditional Tibetan style. By the end of the 1920s, rumours about the bothy being haunted were spread by head stalker Finlay MacIntosh and novelist Ian Macpherson in an attempt to frighten away unwelcome visitors. Over the years the anecdotes were embellished, with various accounts of a poltergeist moving furniture and the mysterious heavy tramp of hob-nailed boots outside the bothy. Ghost stories tend to fire the imagination, and many who visit the bothy leave feeling slightly spooked. Don't let that put you off though - this is one of our favourite bothies, or indeed, shelters of any kind, anywhere in Scotland. There are a handful of bothies in England, one of the more famous and popular ones being Warnscale Bothy in the Lake District. The Bothy offers an unparalleled level of dining within the locality, set within a contemporary ‘Arts & Crafts’ environment. Absolutely not. A bothy is a shelter and resting place for travellers. Do not take up residence, and ask the landowner if you want to stay more than 2 nights. Can you camp outside a bothy?The Bothy Bible will give you a much better idea of what to expect at your chosen bothy. This book is well worth buying if you like to know what to expect before you get there. Do Bothies have beds? In principle, bothies are open all year round without restriction. However, sometimes the bothy you turn up at may be closed. A table and a couple of chairs complete the scene. The larger right hand room has a fireplace and an ancient iron bunk-bed; it is mainly used for wood sawing and storage. Neither room has any insulation, and the bothy can get pretty cold once the stove has gone out. Upstairs is a large area used for sleeping, and a little wood-panelled room at the east end with a small window. Key Attractions: In one of my earliest jobs in residential childcare in North-East Scotland (c1990), I would occasionally take the young people in my care away for a night or two to the bothy up in Glen Feshie in the Cairngorms. I remembered it from my childhood as a place where you could step out of your troubles, step in from the cold, step away from the day-to-day.

Scottish Bothy Bible: The complete guide to Scotland s

An artist,photographer and surveyor, he is alsoa maintenance officer for Dibidil – aMountain Bothy Association’s bothy onthe Isle of Rùm – and your perfect guideto exploring Scotland’s wild places. For those who aren't aware, a bothy is a basic building which is free for use by walkers for shelter or to stay one or two nights. Most don't have toilets and no running water so is basically a step up from a tent. Many are ex-miner cottages and have a historic story to tell and many are in places with fantastic views. Most are in Scotland but there are a few in the Lake District, Northumberland and Wales. The majority of Bothies are maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association are were relatively secret until a few years ago. The best bothies for Munros, beaches, seclusion, families and beginners, wildlife, romantic hideaways, wild and remote and stunning scenery. The view of Loch Glencoul is the reason this bothy tops the list of best mountain bothies in Scotland! Heavily influenced by the textile designs of William Morris, The Bothy has a look that draws on the British Arts & Crafts movement of the late 19th Century. The wallpapers dance with intricate patterns featuring both avian and botanical imagery whilst the fabric choices were inspired by classic ‘trellis’ pattern designs, a perennial favourite of Morris. Victorian ‘glasshouse’ style flooring allied to distressed woods and eclectic combinations of banquet and ‘tub’ chair seating create a relaxed, lived-in feel, all contributing to a unique dining experience.

Kinbreack Bothy

Downstairs to the right is a rough-and-ready working area. The exposed interior stonework has been whitewashed and the floor retains much of its original cobbling. To the left, an interior door leads into a communal, wood-panelled room, a little cramped owing to a low ceiling but homely nonetheless.