What would you say if I told you there a way to get one for free? One of the most well-known bothies, not least because of the stories that it is haunted, which were actually made up to discourage people from going to the bothy in the 1920’s. Although only three miles from the end of the metalled road which runs up the east coast of Jura, the terrain to the bothy is so tough that it can take as much as three hours to get to the bothy. An inside look at the new prefab cabin estate of Inverlonan, located on the West Coast of Scotland where the traditional "bothy" experience gets a luxe upgrade 'Wild wellness' drives the design behind these two lakeside cabins in the remote countryside of Scotland . A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge. In one recent incident a group of hillwalkers was denied access by a "bothy full of revellers" and later had to be rescued off a hillside. Field Mag. "The MBA has developed a code of practice for bothy users, based on respect for the building, the surrounding environment and other users," he said. Forget cosy B&B’s. Think BOTHIES. Search Polular topics. Located on the shores of Loch Long at the end of the Ardgartan Peninsula, six miles south of Arrochar. A former stable block in the Cairngorms National Park, three miles south of Crathie on the Balmoral Estate, close to Lochnagar. Forget 5* hotels. The bothy is tucked away beneath the shadow of the Ben Alder massif, above a small bay on the shores of Loch Ericht, in the vast wilderness between Dalwhinnie and Rannoch. No tap, no sink, no beds, no lights, and, even if there is a fireplace, perhaps nothing to burn. On the northern edge of Scotland’s most northern peninsula. Sweeney’s Bothy on the Isle of Eigg off Scotland’s west coast is used by artists for half the year and rented out for the remaining months to help fund the non-profit organization. The bothy can be approached from the south, along a stretch of the Cape Wrath Trail starting from Sheil Bridge, west from Attadale on the southern side of Loch Carron, or from the north starting at Achnashellach. A copy of the code is found in each bothy and also on their website. Knoydart and “The Rough Grounds” have the highest concentration of bothies in the country, and it is easy to link some of them together on a multi-day expedition. When the Queen is in residence at Balmoral, there’s a chance you might even see her here. Bothies are fairly basic shelters- so don’t expect mattresses, showers or toilets- … Once home to Scotland’s oldest man, James Grieve, it is particularly popular with sea kayakers. Bothies - remote shelters in the wilderness where walkers can spend the night free of charge - have long been one of Scotland's best-kept secrets. Added to the Mountain Bothy Association list in 2011, its condition is very spick and scan, and the bothy even has a small library. The most remote bothy maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association is stuck out in the lonely territory between Loch Mullardoch, Loch Monar and Glen Carron. It is actually very easy to get to, there a metalled road to within a mile of the bothy. The old ruins of the salmon fishing station and a small area of land surrounding the property is … Oban is a very special place which, although hard-earned, is well worth getting to. A wide range of groups including Forestry and Land Scotland, the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA), local authorities and mountain rescue team volunteers are involved in the initiative. Self-catering facilitates, optimised for groups, make great value holidays. A great place to visit if you don’t have a car, because by far the easiest way to get there is by train. Boddin Bothy is a traditional bothy offering uninterrupted views over the north sea. One of Scotland’s most remote bothies sits at the head of Loch Morar, in an area of the west coast called “The Rough Grounds,” around six miles north as the crow flies from Glenfinnan. I’ve been to Staioneag eight times over the years and the bothy holds lots of happy memories. The queen of bothies sits on the far north coast of Scotland, three miles from Cape Wrath, the most north westerly point of the country, and 10 miles from the village of Durness. "This trend for the bothy has attracted a different type of user and we are concerned that health and safety on the hills is compromised and the integrity of the bothy lost.". Police said the main purpose of the buildings was to provide warmth and shelter when the Scottish weather took a turn for the worse or for an overnight stop on a long distance trek. Bothies may have a simple sleeping platform, but if busy you might find that the only place to sleep is on a stone floor. Consider bothies. No tap, no sink, no beds, no lights, and, even if there is a fireplace, perhaps nothing to burn. Normally just a simple stone structure with no facilities. You may want a totally off grid isolated cottage, a cottage on a remote farm or tucked away down a private lane in a pretty village. It has a rich documented history, including an account that Bonnie Prince Charlie used a cave on the hill above the bothy as a refuge in his escape across Scotland after the Battle of Culloden. The Glendhu bothy (on the left), in the far north-west of Scotland, is one of 83 Scottish shelters. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Any crimes can be reported via their website or directly to the police. Information about BBC links to other news sites. The Bothy Project is an initiative set up by artist Bobby Niven and architect Iain MacLeod to provide basic accommodation for artist residencies in remote locations. Alamy; Uisinis, South Uist. Most bothies are old cottages and at least several hours walk from the public road. Photography Gear Cabins Features Videos About Gift Guides. A bid is being made to stamp out antisocial behaviour, vandalism and fire-raising at remote bothies in southern Scotland. These can can be found throughout Scotland and are always free to stay in and mainly used by hillwalkers and mountain bikers. If you are looking for that true wilderness, get away from it all, experience, we have a selection of properties that fit the bill. Surprisingly comfortable three-room bothy with tear-inducing views over its very own deserted beach. Turbine House, Argyhllshire. This bothy is one of the best I’ve been to recently. It’s also the location of our next remote holiday cottage - The Bothy, which is 7 miles from Edzell. ©JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Read about our approach to external linking. 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