The Scotsman

Bothy made from shipping container for £200 a night

● Lochgoilhe­ad listing on Airbnb ridiculed as being like a prison cell

- By CATHERINE SALMOND catherine.salmond@jpimedia.co.uk

A bothy made from a shipping container with no toilet or kitchen has been listed on Airbnb for nearly £500 for two nights – with sleeping bags for rent.

The Remote Container Bothy, near Lochgoilhe­ad in Argyll and Bute, was yet to receive reviews yesterday on the short-term let website.

Photograph­s accompanyi­ng the listing show a metal container with a futon inside that converts into a “comfortabl­e mattress” and an interior consisting mostly of plywood.

The bothy is available for £195 a night. However, outraged social media users suggested £20 would be more appropriat­e.

Guests are provided with “amenities such as toilet paper, tea and coffee, a starter pack of canned and dried foods, 5ltr water and a spade for bathroom requiremen­ts”.

The word “basic” is used twice in the blurb – once to describe it as “basic, but comfortabl­e” and also to describe the enamel tableware provided.

No electric kettle is provided but guests can heat a metal one on the stove, although there is no smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector.

Sleeping bags are available to rent and the service charge is £66, pushing the cost of two nights towards £500.

The cost prompted ridicule on social media, with some people suggesting a shipping container could be bought for the price of a couple of nights’ stay.

It was also compared to a prison cell. The owners are managers of the Carrick Castle Estate on the west shore of Loch Goil .

However, the listing does say guests will be given breakfast.

Some people joked that a tent would be just as comfortabl­e, while others suggested that a traditiona­l bothy which would be free to stay in would be “nicer”.

Maggie Christophe­r wrote: “Basically offering a prison cell in a nice area for a STUPID amount of money, they’ll go out of business even before they start, it boils down to pure greed on their part.”

Sean Fitzharris added: “Wow that place looks awful – cannot believe the price they are charging £195 per night for something that has been furnished and decorated to such a poor standard.” The listing said: “This bespoke-made Container Bothy is a unique space to enjoy the outdoors and beautiful views over a secluded lochan in the picturesqu­e Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park.

“The bothy is basic yet comfortabl­e – a good combinatio­n of camping, but not quite glamping.”

One or two guests could fit in the 10ft by 10ft metal container.

The blurb said: “The interior has been carefully panelled to create a cosy and rustic feel and furnished with a folding down double bed.”

Carrick Castle Estate was yet to respond after being contacted for comment yesterday.

 ??  ?? 0 A converted shipping container at Lochgoilhe­ad is being let out on Airbnb
0 A converted shipping container at Lochgoilhe­ad is being let out on Airbnb

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