This old shepherd's cottage on the Southern Upland Way is another highly recommended beginner's bothy, not least because it is very accessible from the M74 motorway.

Dining – Wentworth Garden Centre

If you are looking for an authentic bothy experience which is not too arduous, look no further than here.

Glas-Allt-Shiel is a quirky wee bothy tucked away in an outbuilding of a large granite house on the Balmoral Estate, which Queen Victoria built in 1860 after the death of Prince Albert. Remember not all bothies have the same facilities available, so it’s worth checking the MBA’s map of bothies in the South of Scotland to avoid under preparing. Nomadic people visited the bay for the rare bloodstone, a type of green chalcedony, which they mined from the rock. In the summer months its also worth thinking about taking a lightweight tent, just in case the bothy is fuller than you would like, though bothy etiquette dictates that there is always space for one more person, however much a squeeze. With the MBA maintaining these shelters and allowing their use free of charge, it is only right that a few rules should be followed to respect their hard work, the bothy itself, and future users.

About bothy books…. - Mountain Bothies

Two bright, whitewashed rooms form the ground floor, with a large open sleeping space in the attic, accessed by a wooden ladder. Scotland’s bothies are a loose collection of shepherds’ cottages, estate houses and abandoned crofts that have been saved from ruin and renovated. A small stonewalled outbuilding with a window in its west end has been constructed on the north side of the apartment. We are also delighted to offer “The Scullery”, our beautifully atmospheric private dining room, for intimate weddings, celebrations and events. A small room by the entrance has been transformed from a cold uninviting storage space into a comfortable snug with a sleeping platform for a solo traveller.It is also important to know if the bothy in question is open at the time you’re thinking of visiting, or if access to the bothy is restricted due to it being stag stalking or lambing season. They are maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association [also known as the MBA], but it’s expected that guests staying will do their part to ensure the bothy stays clean and tidy for the next lot of visitors. The Scottish Bothy Bible, published by Wild Things Publishing, is the first ever complete guide to Scotland's bothies.

10 best bothy walks | OS GetOutside 10 best bothy walks | OS GetOutside

A visit to the spectacular 200m waterfall Eas a’ Chual Aluinn (waterfall of the beautiful tresses), the highest in the UK, is a must. Donating to, or joining, the MBA is a good way to pay our way and help keep the bothies alive for the future. We came here for our 10th anniversary and also to have a wee look at the place for a potential wedding venue.Don't let that put you off though - this is one of our favourite bothies, or indeed, shelters of any kind, anywhere in Scotland. The hike to the bothy from Inchnadamph is known as one of the hardest sections on the Cape Wrath Trail, and strong navigation skills are needed. Sadly, Wentworth’s own original Bothy was demolished long ago but its heritage lives on through our restaurant. Wander along the coast in either direction to discover a wealth of impressive geological features, from tunnels and caves to natural rock arches, and enjoy the beautiful view from the slopes of Bloodstone Hill. I have many childhood memories of bothies as a place of laughter amongst friends who had travelled together into the wilderness, strangers arriving off the hills late at night and being welcomed into the warmth, places that made you feel safe and secure no matter what was going on outside or what sort of conditions you had come in from.