Scottish Bothies: What They Are, How They Work and Safe Planning

A Scottish bothy is a simple, unlocked shelter in a remote rural area, made available for short stays without advance booking. Most have few facilities, and visitors must arrive prepared to look after themselves. Bothies matter because they preserve historic buildings while supporting Scotland’s long tradition of responsible access to the countryside.

They are not hotels, hostels, or guaranteed emergency accommodation. A bothy may already be full, temporarily closed, or affected by estate work, severe weather, damaged paths, or other local conditions. Anyone considering a visit should begin with current information from the Mountain Bothies Association, usually known as the MBA.

What is a Scottish bothy?

In modern outdoor use, a bothy is a basic building left open for temporary shelter. The MBA maintains more than 100 bothies, principally in Scotland, with additional shelters in northern England and Wales. They are generally free to use and cannot be reserved.

Facilities vary, but visitors should expect a weatherproof structure rather than furnished accommodation. A bothy may have sleeping platforms, benches, or a fireplace, but it may have none of these. Running water, toilets, lighting, bedding, waste collection, and cooking equipment should not be expected.

How old buildings became bothies

Scottish bothies do not share a single origin. Some occupy former cottages or farm buildings, while others began as estate houses, school buildings, shooting shelters, or structures connected with shepherding and other rural work. Population change, shifts in farming, and the decline of isolated settlements left many buildings without their original purpose.

The Highland Clearances form part of this wider history, but it would be inaccurate to describe every bothy as an abandoned Clearance croft. The history of each building must be established individually through estate records, maps, local histories, and other reliable evidence.

The MBA was founded in 1965 to help preserve remote shelters that might otherwise have deteriorated. Volunteers continue to inspect and repair buildings with the permission and cooperation of their owners. The association does not own most of the shelters it maintains, so continued public access depends on responsible behavior and agreements with landowners.

What should you expect inside?

A bothy offers four walls and a roof, not a guaranteed bed or private room. Other visitors may arrive at any time, and the MBA asks occupants to make room for everyone. Its guidance also recommends carrying a tent when visiting popular areas because a shelter may be crowded.

Some bothies contain visitor books in which people record their stay, conditions, or maintenance concerns. These records can provide a vivid picture of a building’s recent use, but casual entries should not be treated as verified historical evidence.

The official Bothy Code

The official Bothy Code explains the conduct that keeps these buildings available. Its principles are practical:

• Respect the building, other users, the surrounding land, and agreements with the estate.
• Carry out all rubbish. Do not bury it or leave food behind.
• Use toilet practices that prevent pollution and avoid areas close to the bothy or a water source.
• Never cut live wood or damage fences, buildings, or estate property for fuel.
• Observe restrictions connected with deer management, lambing, forestry, or other estate operations.
• Keep stays short. Longer use requires the owner’s permission.
• Do not use bothies for commercial groups or parties of six or more.

Where a fireplace or stove exists, the MBA says fuel should be used sparingly and only clearly designated firewood should be burned. Local notices and restrictions take priority. Visitors should never assume that a fire is permitted or safe.

How to plan responsibly

The MBA’s official location map is the best starting point. Open the individual bothy page, read its access notes, and then check the association’s latest news for closures or repairs. Information in books, older articles, social-media posts, and saved maps may no longer be accurate.

Check the current status

Availability can change quickly. As of July 15, 2026, the MBA reports that Ryvoan Bothy is closed until further notice following the Glenmore wildfire. It should not be treated as an available destination unless the MBA later announces that it has reopened.

Peanmeanach provides another warning against relying on old recommendations. The estate withdrew it from the MBA’s open-bothy network in 2020. The building subsequently became locked, bookable accommodation rather than a free, open shelter. Its present arrangements should be checked through the Ardnish Estate’s official information.

Assess the route and weather

Many bothies stand in remote country reached across rough or pathless ground. Weather can alter river levels, visibility, and the condition of paths. The presence of a building on a map does not make the journey suitable for every visitor.

Use current forecasts and authoritative mapping, match the journey to the group’s experience, and leave clear plans with a responsible contact. The MBA emphasizes self-sufficiency and advises visitors not to rely on a bothy for survival. Mountaineering Scotland’s river-crossing guidance also warns that watercourses can become impassable and that mapped bridges may no longer exist.

Respect estate activity

Scotland’s access rights depend on responsible conduct. Seasonal deer management, lambing, forestry, and conservation work may affect a route or shelter. NatureScot directs hill visitors to current access information, including the Heading for the Scottish Hills service during deer-stalking periods. Always follow signs and official local notices.

Choosing a bothy without relying on an outdated list

Named lists can become obsolete when a shelter closes, an estate agreement changes, or access is disrupted. A safer approach is to choose from the MBA’s live map and evaluate each possibility using the same questions:

• Is the bothy currently open according to its official page and the latest MBA notices?
• Are there estate restrictions or conservation concerns?
• Is the route appropriate for the group’s skills, health, equipment, and daylight available?
• What will the group do if the shelter is full or inaccessible?
• Can every visitor follow the Bothy Code and remove everything brought in?

This method is less romantic than choosing a photograph from a guidebook, but it respects the realities of Scotland’s remote landscapes and the volunteers who keep the network functioning.

Why Scottish bothies matter

Bothies preserve modest buildings that tell stories of rural labor, changing land use, and settlement in places where permanent communities have declined. They also demonstrate an unusual partnership among property owners, volunteers, and visitors.

The tradition survives only when each visitor treats access as a responsibility rather than an entitlement. Checking present conditions, following the Bothy Code, and leaving no burden for the next person are not optional courtesies. They are what allow these simple shelters to remain open.

Official resources

• Mountain Bothies Association
• The Bothy Code
• MBA bothy location map
• NatureScot: outdoor access rights
• Mountaineering Scotland: safety and skills

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About the Author

Terry Donlan is the founder of Irish Scottish Roots and has researched his Irish and Scottish family history since 1985. He has made six research trips to Ireland and Scotland. He writes about genealogy, heritage travel, historical records, and the people and places that shaped Irish and Scottish family stories.