Bothy Blessings

WE love a good adventure at The Scots Magazine and in May, I had a cracker! My friend Alex and I spent a fortnight backpacking across Scotland in the TGO Challenge.

The annual event sees 300 people hike coast-to-coast, starting at one of 13 locations in the west, ultimately ending up at Montrose.

Routes are of the participants’ design. Ours started at Lochailort and climbed across a number of Corbetts and Grahams along the way. We camped, stayed in bothies and even enjoyed a bit of luxury in a couple of hotels.

I’ve stayed in plenty of bothies but never before have I been so thankful for them. Day after day of 30km (18-mile) routes, ascents of 2500m (8200ft) while hauling 15kg (33lb) packs becomes quite tiring. So when you spot a wee cottage in the distance, all alone in some remote glen, that you know will be your shelter for the night, it raises the spirits and gives you energy for a last big push.

Most of those we used are maintained by the Mountain Bothy Association. Their volunteers deserve huge credit for keeping the buildings weather-tight, as do the estates that allow their use as open shelters. I always enjoy having a read of the “bothy book” found in most of the shelters, in which people leave messages and sometimes advice for those who follow.

In Luib Connell bothy (pictured), in upper Glen Roy, was perhaps the best entry I’ve read. It was dated February and written by a guy from London. He’d got the Sleeper train straight after work on a Friday, arriving at Tulloch Station early the next morning.

From there, he hiked over the Rough Burn Munros and made his way to the deserted bothy where he got a fire going and spent a lonely night.

Next day, he wrote, he planned to hike out over Creag Meagaidh and catch the Sleeper back to London just in time for work on Monday.

Now that’s making the most of your weekend! Share your adventures on social media, using #Outandaboutscotland and we’ll feature the best each month in these pages.

@Scotsmaged

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