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The Book of the Bothy
by Phoebe Smith
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY
About the Author
Having grown up on the edge of Snowdonia National Park in north Wales, Phoebe Smith’s love of dramatic landscapes has taken her on walking and backpacking adventures all around the world – from wild camping on Scottish islands and sleeping under a swag in the Australian outback to watching the Northern Lights from a wigwam above the Arctic Circle and sleeping under the stars in Antarctica. She’s enjoyed snowshoeing in the Swiss Alps, scrambling in Wadi Rum and canyon walking in the USA. But of all the places she’s been, it’s the UK that holds the dearest place in her heart. Phoebe is adamant that you don’t need to travel far to have an adventure, and when not planning her next escapade she’s most likely to be found in the mountains with her trusty tent or beside the fire inside a beloved bothy.
Phoebe is award-winning editor of Wanderlust travel magazine and has written extensively for a range of newspapers and magazines, both in the UK and overseas. She was a finalist in the 2015 National Adventurer Awards, and in 2014 became the first woman to camp solo at all the extreme points of mainland Britain on consecutive nights. Her other books include Extreme Sleeps: Adventures of a Wild Camper; Wild Nights: Camping Britain’s Extremes; The Camper’s Friend; The Joy of Camping; and Wilderness Weekends: Wild Adventures in Britain’s Rugged Corners.
Other Cicerone guides by the author
The Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path
© Phoebe Smith 2015
First edition 2015, reprinted 2016 (with updates)
ISBN: 978 1 85284 756 2
Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs and illustrations by the author or Neil S Price unless otherwise stated.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the Mountain Bothies Association, which for the past 50 years has protected over 100 of these wonderful shelters for us all to enjoy, and to all the bothy Maintenance Officers (MOs) who work tirelessly to look after their adopted shelters. Finally, it is dedicated to every single person who has, and will, visit a bothy – just like you reading this now; I know you will also work to leave them in better shape then when you arrive, so we can all continue to enjoy them in the years to come.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to my walking companions over the years and to all the people I’ve ever met in bothies – this book would not exist without you. Special thanks to Neil for some of the wonderful photographs and illustrations within these pages.
UPDATES TO THIS GUIDE
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. If we know of any, they will be listed under the Updates tab on this book’s page on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/756/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
WARNING
Mountain walking can be a dangerous activity carrying a risk of personal injury or death. It should be undertaken only by those with a full understanding of the risks and with the training and experience to evaluate them. While every care and effort has been taken in the preparation of this guide, the user should be aware that conditions can be highly variable and can change quickly, materially affecting the seriousness of a mountain walk. Therefore, except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, neither Cicerone nor the author accept liability for damage of any nature (including damage to property, personal injury or death) arising directly or indirectly from the information in this book.
To call out the Mountain Rescue, ring 999 or the international emergency number 112: this will connect you via any available network. Once connected to the emergency operator, ask for the police.
Front cover: Shenavall Bothy, Wester Ross, Scotland
CONTENTS
Map key
Overview map
Welcome to the wonderful world of bothying
