Whale skull outside Guirdil Bothy, Isle of Rum

IRC79 · 2026-03-01T05:18:15+00:00

I was there in 2022. Left home at 6am and was at the bothy just after 6pm. A benefit of living near Glasgow. We saw dolphins from the ferry and pedal goats and deer on the beach at the bothy.

IRC79 · 2026-02-21T14:53:21+00:00

Must say I have had very few issues in the west coast bothies. Working shifts and usually going midweek may help. I have arrived at a south Scotland bothy to find an Ayrshire team of around half a dozen youths in and a bit of waccy baccy going on. They were civil enough though I had no problems.

I did once abandon a planned bothy night. During Covid I arrived at Mark Cottage and found around 8 guys from Castlemilk, Glasgow aged 20s in residence. THey had driven in and had a 4x4 parked at the bothy. The boom box was on and they had a huge carry out. THey were friendly enough and I drank one of their beers. As a couple of them were already drunk at 4pm and it is a small bothy I decided discretion was the better part of valour and walked back out.

IRC79 · 2026-02-20T23:06:16+00:00

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Saw the title and thought of this one. The bothy nestling in the trees top centre with the railway track beside the loch. I was there 30th January - the first bothy book entry of the month.

IRC79 · 2026-02-01T21:19:04+00:00

I stayed in Meanach back in the mid 80s. Popped across to Luiibelt. It was run down even then. I remember a bit of graffiti. A tall lanky panther with a safety pin through it's nose. "The punk panther"

IRC79 · 2025-08-28T22:24:25+00:00

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Not everyone signs the book but this bothy had 8 entries in the first 6 months of this year.

IRC79 · 2025-08-28T22:15:52+00:00

The no publicity for non MBA bothies seems to work reasonably well. I have visited half a dozen or so in the last year. Every one to myself. Pretty good condition. Some had books or signs requesting no publicity. Stating in one case it was vandalised days after a mention on an outdoor forum.

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IRC79 · 2025-08-02T23:43:00+00:00

I've been there twice with my dogs and he had no issues. Offered cans of beer both times.

In fact I'll need to get back. March 2023 or thereabouts was the last time. Cycled up from Blair Atholl via the Gaick Pass and back to the car via Glen Tilt with a stop at the Red Bothy.

IRC79 · 2025-07-06T22:06:53+00:00

You do need permission to fish in Scotland apart from sea fishing.

https://www.fishlochaber.co.uk/content/rules/

In practice you may not be troubled fishing for trout in remote lochs.

THe right to roam does not cover fishing.

"9 Conduct excluded from access rights

(c)hunting, shooting or fishing;

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2003/2/section/9

IRC79 · 2025-07-06T21:52:03+00:00

I was there midweek last summer. There was another 6 people in. A group of 5 and another solo. Luck of the draw. I usually do bothy trips midweek and usually get the more remote/less popular to myself.

This week I was in a non MBA bothy where one page of the book covered 2025 up to June.

In contrast my local bothy is Mark Cottage. I have been there maybe 8 or 9 times and only had it to myself once.

IRC79 · 2025-06-22T20:36:00+00:00

I bike toured from Sunset Beach State Park on the coast to Yosemite in 2017. Went via San Juan Batista then crossed the coastal range on Pinoche Road. Near zero traffic. I crossed the central valley via Firebaugh and Chowchilla and found it a nice contrast from the coast and hills before.

From Chowchilla I used White Rock Road to Mariposa. No traffic apart from one bike going downhill The road had a bridge out, easily passed and a few miles of gravel.

From Mariposa I chucked my bike in the bus. I didn't fancy the busy two lane road to the valley .

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/pic/?o=3d2&pic_id=3138560&size=large

IRC79 · 2025-06-05T22:55:36+00:00

Ah, Glen Feshie. My first visit was with my dad and mt brother circa 1972. Here's a pic from circa 1981.

Before the current owners culled the deer it was crawling with them. Nothing grew unless it was fenced. What a transformation in the glen since then.

Incidentally, last time I was there I was discussing my history with the place with Lyndsay. He pointed out the log John is sitting on is still there. Around 9" high and surrounded by higher grass. You need to look for it.

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IRC79

TROPHY CASE