Cairngorm Bothy To Rise From The Ashes

Good news from Scottish bothy fans - the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has given the go-ahead for the reconstruction of Bob Scott's bothy which was burned down in December 2003.

The original Bob Scott's bothy - named after the stalker who used to live there - on the Mar Lodge estate near Braemar was used by walkers and climbers between 1952 and 1986 when it was unfortunately destroyed in a fire - can you see a pattern developing here? The bothy was rebuilt nearby and was again a popular facility with bothyers until the 2003 fire.

The CNPA Planning Committee overwhelmingly agreed that full planning permission should be granted for the reconstruction of the bothy with Planning Officer Neil Stewart commenting: "We are supportive of this application, not only because it is part of the local heritage - featuring in mountaineering literature - but it will bring back into use a popular recreational resource for the area, providing a resting place for walkers and climbers."

Local member Douglas Glass said: "I very much support the proposal to rebuild Bob Scott's bothy. The bothy has a long history and for years has provided shelter for climbers and hill walkers. However, it is important that a condition of this planning permission be the guarantee that the bothy and toilet are well maintained so that it can be enjoyed by generations of users to come."

Bothying has a long tradition north of the border where isolated mountain huts, sometimes maintained by local clubs and often kept secret, are open to free use by walkers and climbers.

You can read the full planning report at the Cairngorm National Park web site.

More information about bothies from the Mountain Bothies Assocaition official web site and the Cairngorm Bothy Network.