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Dave's Bothyworld

If you enjoy hillwalking, eventually you will encounter a bothy. A bothy is a simple, unlocked shelter made available by the estate owner. I love bothies because each one has its own unique character, and you can always meet interesting people. Plus, they are very handy for staying dry in the frequently rainy highlands. Bothies are made available through the courtesy of the estate owners, and are maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association. Their purpose is "...to maintain simple unlocked shelters in remote country for the use and benefit of all who love wild and lonely places." The MBA always needs people to help. You can contact them by clicking on their link below.

Bothy Images-Click on any of the images below to get a larger picture.

Here are a few photos of bothies that I have stayed in:

Glenfinnan bothy, about 3 miles up from the railway bridge. The interior of the Glenfinnan bothy. A bothy near Ben Nevis.

Dave's Bothy-It's really called this-look at the sign above my head! The bothy near Ben Nevis mentioned above. A bothy near Hadrian's Wall in northern England.

Sourlies Bothy near Mallaig.
Inside Sourlies Bothy.

To help you understand what staying in a bothy is like, I have enclosed some excerpts from Mountain Days and Bothy Nights, by Dave Brown and Ian Mitchell.

THE FIRE-"In many ways, the best part of the day was its end, with a roaring fire in the grate, huddled round it , poring over maps of tasks done and still to be done. Wet clothes dried out, and stiff limbs relaxed in the fireglow, as craving bellies were filled with food, food that would be unpalatable elsewhere, often as not spiced with meths or paraffin."

THE TABLE-"Mention of vension steaks took minds temporarily off the debate, and on to the preparation of the evening meal. The table was gravid with grub. Piles of tins of meat, heaps of vegetables, loaves galore, and pots of honey-all invited hunger."

THE SECRET HOWFF (Howffs are more primitive accomodations, not maintained by the MBA): "No-one could ever forget their first trip to the "Secret Howf", appetites doubtless whetted by the promise that this was something special, but ignorant of what to expect, except a long walk with pack from the road end. Eventually, it is reached: built into the back of an outcrop, and sloping towards a lilliputian door, it is invisilbe from all but a restricted angle. The walls, built from debris of the outcrop, blend into it a perfect camouflage. It is proof against the elements, crouching sheltered behind the rock, and built to last, being roofed, mortared, and guttered to a competent standard. Inside was an Aladdin's cave or delights. Though the stove has been removed to give more space, and because of the lack of fuel, it originally contributed to the antique-shop air. On the wall hung an old clock. On wet days climbers vented their frustration on it, and once it actually ticked... The hut was also decorated with old metal advertising plaques, nowadays fashionable as ornaments. These, too have been removed, possibly sold to some nostalgia-hungry American oilman. There is a wooden floor for comfort, and the uneven walls have many places on which to place candles, which create a magical flicker and glow."

More Bothy Drawings:

Here are some drawings that I found in the Mountain Bothies Association's newsletter. Click to see more.

Bothy Links

The Mountain Bothies Association
A comprehensive list of all bothies, with grid references
The Scottish Mountain Archive
The History of Mountaineering in Scotland-as recorded in a logbook in Glenfinnan bothy.

Please e-mail me! davidroland@usa.net

Back to Dave's Bonny Scotland-more photos of many other countries.