Don’t get in a bothy bother. Here’s all you need to know about staying in a simple shelter
Bothies are simple shelters, scattered across Scotland, Wales and Northern England. They often amount to little more than four walls and a roof, usually with a fire or stove and sometimes a platform on which to sleep. They were originally built for workers on estates - shepherds, farmers, gamekeepers and the like. As they weren’t originally designed to house groups of hikers, respecting the Bothy Code will help everything go smoothly. But if you’ve never stayed in a bothy before, here are a few questions you might want answered.
What do I need to take to a bothy?
Pack as though you’re camping, just without the tent. Or sometimes the toilet block. Don’t forget matches and fuel for the fire or rubbish bags so you can take everything away and leave it exactly as you left it. Drinking water and food will be needed and a camping stove if you want to cook.
What? No loo?
Nope. Usually no loo. This is a ‘long walk with a spade’ situation. If you don’t like the thought of spiky leaves, bring your own (biodegradable) loo roll. Okay, okay, some bothies do have a squat toilet available, but only the ‘five star’ ones.
What about sleeping arrangements?
Some bothies have a sleeping platform but it really will just be a slab of wood each so bring sleeping bag, camping mat etc and a pillow if you want one.
What if it’s occupied when I arrive?
Then you’re about to make a new friend! You can’t ‘book’ a bothy so if you turn up and there’s someone already in residence you’ll have to cosy up or move on. It’s not really a case of first-come-first-served either; if an extra person turns up the expectation is that you will make room for them (and hopefully make them a brew, too). The Bothy Code asks guests to stay no longer than two nights maximum and each bothy may have its own rules about size of group and length of stay so check that first. Groups of more than five usually need permission. If the bothy really is packed to the rafters, it’s handy to have a pop-up tent with you so you can camp just outside for the night and hope someone moves on in the morning.
Is it ok to leave things behind?
Thoughts differ, but useful things like tinned food, matches, loo roll and the like are usually welcomed. Fresh food or anything that rodents might eat, such as rice or dried pasta less so. Rubbish, absolutely not.
If you’d like to learn more about bothies, you might like to read The Enduring Appeal of Simple Shelters in our June issue.
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