Mountain Bothies ⋆ Ross and Cromarty Heritage

Mountain Bothies

Attribution: Jim Macdonald and David Ritchie (Shenval bothy)

Mountain Bothies

For many, many years walkers in the Highlands have made use of remote mountain buildings – bothies. These buildings, often in remote locations, are used for shelter in poor weather and for extending trips into remote areas without the need to carry tents and other camping gear.

Many of the bothies would once have been dwellings, probably used as such till the late 19th or early 20th centuries.

They vary greatly in style and ‘facilities’ offered. Some are very simple indeed with maybe four walls, a roof and a wooden floor. Others can be surprisingly comfortable with rooms, sleeping platforms, fireplaces and, even in a few cases, working toilets. Some estates maintain the bothies they own but many others are maintained by the volunteers of the estimable ‘Mountain Bothies Association’ set up “to maintain simple shelter in remote country for the use and benefit of all who love wild and lonely places” (subscription in 2010 is £20/year and if you’ve building skills you’d be a very welcome member).

Culags bothy Attribution: unknown

I’d like to quote from their website to give a flavour of bothy life:

“When going to a bothy, it is important to assume there will be no facilities. No tap, no sink, no beds, no lights and, even if there is a fireplace, perhaps nothing to burn …. If all this sounds rather rough, you are beginning to get the picture. Your comforts have to be carried in.”

David Ritchie
August 2010

Bothy life Attribution: unknown

Bernais bothy – outside and inside Attribution: unknown

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Pan Ross » Pan Ross Environment » Pan Ross Flora

Cuckooflower or 'lady's smock'

Common Name Cuckooflower or 'lady's smock' Latin Name Cardamine pratensis Gaelic Name Habitat Wet grassland, damp meadows and pond margins

Dog rose

Common Name Dog rose Latin Name Rosa canina Gaelic Name Ròs nan Con Habitat Hedgerows, woodland, and grassland

Elderberry

Common Name Elderberry Latin Name Sambucus nigra Gaelic Name Habitat Hedgerows, woodland, scrub and wasteland

Lesser spearwort

Common Name Lesser spearwort Latin Name Ranunculus flammula Gaelic Name Glaisleun Habitat Pond edges, river banks and wet places.

Meadow Vetchling

Common Name Meadow Vetchling Latin Name Lathyrus pratensis Gaelic Name Peasair Bhuidhe Habitat Grassland, meadows and hedges

Northern Marsh Orchid

Common Name Northern Marsh Orchid Latin Name Dactylorhiza purpurella Gaelic Name Mogairlean Purpaidh Habitat Wet coastal dune areas and in machair

Primrose

Common Name Primrose Latin Name Primula vulgaris Gaelic Name Sòbhrach (derivation obscure) Habitat Open grassland, hedgerows and sea cliffs

Ragged Robin

Common Name Ragged Robin Latin Name Lychnis flos-cuculi Gaelic Name Habitat Wet grassland, damp meadows and wet woodlands