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Club Bothy

Before you join the club, you should be sure that you really know what we do or that it is interesting to you, and accounting essay writing service are ready to help you with this. Dundee University Rucksack Club maintains an open bothy on the Balmoral Estate at Glas-allt-Shiel on the shores of Loch Muick (location NO 276 824). This is close to the popular mountain Lochnagar and below a spectacular waterfall. The bothy is within an outbuilding adjoining the rear of the royal lodge. A stream runs down from the waterfall into the loch passing by the bothy, providing a convenient water source. There is also a composting toilet behind the building.

History

In 1988 a member of our club, Graham Leaver, died tragically in a climbing accident on Askival, on the Isle of Rum. In his memory the club converted this outhouse of the Glas-allt-Shiel royal lodge into an open bothy. The work was carried out during the summer of 1990 and the summer and autumn of 1991, and the bothy was officially opened in November 1991 by Graham's parents, together with many club members who had been his friends, including those who had been on the trip to Rum nearly three years earlier.

The main work included excavating the earth floor and replacing it with concrete and wood, installing a staircase to a new first floor, laying floorboard and wall linings on the first floor, cutting two large holes in the roof and installing two velux windows, and replacing the lintel above the ground floor window.

Since the opening the club has had many maintenance visits to do various additional work such as routine repairs and replacements, regular whitewashing of the inside walls and installing a toilet. The club still looks after the bothy today and our annual bothy meet is now a well-established event in the club calendar that we always look forward to.

The Glas-allt-Shiel bothy has also benefited greatly from the efforts of third parties, and in 2012 a stove was fitted thanks to Neil Findlay and others.

Use of the Bothy

This is an open bothy, meaning it is left unlocked for anyone to use free of charge. We do ask however that you respect the hard work our members have put in over the years and look after the bothy during your stay. We also ask that you report any maintenance issues to us directly as we are unable to make frequent visits to check on the condition of the bothy throughout the year.

In order for everyone to enjoy the bothy as much as possible, please follow the "bothy code" below:

Respect other users:
  • Please leave the bothy clean and tidy; sweep areas you have used and wipe surfaces
  • Leave dry kindling for the next visitors where possible
  • Don’t crowd out the bothy; be prepared to camp in busy periods, especially if in a group
Respect the bothy:
  • Guard against fire risk when using both your own stove and the bothy fireplace
  • Don’t cause vandalism or graffiti
  • Please take out all rubbish that you don’t burn
  • Avoid burying rubbish, as this pollutes the environment
  • Please don’t leave perishable food; this encourages pests and vermin
Respect the surroundings:
  • For health reasons, never use the vicinity of the bothy as a toilet; there are facilities provided behind the building
  • Fuel is not provided – you must bring your own.  Please conserve fuel and never cut down live wood
  • Please ensure that the fire is out and the door properly shut when you leave
General Points:
  • Bothies are used at your own risk
  • This bothy is available through the kindness and generosity of the landowner.  In order to ensure the continued good relationship with the Estate, it is important that the cleanliness and condition of the bothy is maintained by all who use it. Thank You.

On behalf of the club, enjoy your stay and please come again.

Please report any maintenance issues to us via our committee contact form. We also welcome any general feedback you may have regarding your visit to the bothy.

Here are some more photos of the bothy and surrounding area taken on our maintenance trips in recent years:

Bothy Location