Approaching The Schoolhouse bothy, Sutherland

Glencoul bothy, Sutherland

 

Preface

From sea to forest, beach to mountain, this assortment of 26 bothies represents a snapshot of what’s out there in some of Britain’s wildest areas – hopefully enough to whet your appetite and make you want to go and check them out for yourself. I wanted to provide a big enough selection for everyone to find a bothy that was not too far away, so that you could actually go and stay there. Conversely, I didn’t want too large a spread so that there were no new ones for you to discover yourself – that is, after all, the joy of bothying.

The initial basis of the selection was geographical – I don’t think anyone would have wanted to read about 26 bothies all within the same mountain range. But within that, it was a personal choice – bothies, much like mountain summits or waterproof jackets, are subjective. One that I might rate highly, others may never want to stay at. The result is a selection in which each bothy offers something slightly different, be it back-story, structure, size or views from the window.

Some bothies described here set the scene for some of the most memorable nights of my life and, as such, are just too good to keep to myself. Other bothies are included because I want more eyes on them – more good people looking out for them so that they remain for years to come. So I share them here, hoping that, like me, you’ll discover the magic that bothies can create.

You may disagree with my selection – but that’s half the fun. So go forth, find your favourite bothy, share your own adventure in the book you find inside it, and then tell me which bothy you would have included. You can get in touch through Cicerone’s Facebook and twitter. I can’t wait to hear from you all...

Phoebe Smith, 2015

Strathchailleach (aka Sandy’s Bothy) nestles in the hills beyond Sandwood Bay