#9. Would you Stay in a Bothy?

The Black Factory Team was recently up in Scotland investigating development sites, when the potential inclusion of Bothies arose.

The word ‘Bothy’ originates from the Scottish Gaelic word ‘bothan’, which means hut or cottage, and has evolved into the name of the small buildings and shelters that you can find in the Wilderness across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Bothies are small, spacially limited buildings that are designed to sink into their surroundings, so as not to obscure nature’s landscape. They often consist of just one open room, self-catered and individual in their character. Classic Bothies are historically built with natural resources such as stone and wood, with the potential for a tiled floor. Although most obviously a nod to their age, the Bothies material identity also lends to their surroundings and symbiosis with nature.

Managed by organisations such as the National Trust or Mountain Bothies Association (MBA), Bothies are used widely by hikers and campers who are visiting the area for more than just a day trip. If a Bothy can be found on an organisations website, then they are easily and cheaply rentable for your stay. However, there are many more Bothies to be found which are not reservable, operating on a first-come first-serve basis, and thus lending to their exciting and adventurous spirit. You could stumble upon a Bothy anywhere you hike!

On top of this, the trending nature of Bothies, and their older sister, small luxury, cabins, have been taking the holiday market by storm over the past few years. Sites such as the Scottish Inverlonan and the Cornish Kudhva are two excellent examples of the way the intimate and isolated, off-grid structure of Bothies have influenced guests to seek something more disconnected and nature driven for their trips. It is also proving to be an excellent way to stay in the UK, but still feel like you’re somewhere else entirely, if travelling abroad isn’t an option.

Here at BFS we are fully behind this surge in Bothy popularity, and hope that not only does it encourage more people outdoors, but also that more of us see the beautiful way in which nature and architecture can work in harmony!

If you would like to chat some more, or have a general enquiry, feel free to drop us an email or fill out the form under the ‘Enquiry’ tab of our website. Happy hiking!