General Background Information about Culra Bothy

Culra Bothy with Ben Alder in the background, May, 2008

          Over the years Johnny and I have used the bothies scattered around the Highlands in our walking, cycling and back-packing trips.  Access to Scottish Munros would, in many cases, be really difficult if it hadn't been possible to use these bothies.  These bothies are maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association which is a charity that looks after about 100 shelters in some of the remoter parts of the UK. Most of these are in Scotland, they are owned by the landowners and are mostly disused farm buildings, hunting lodges, or estate buildings.  They are looked after and maintained by the MBA whose membership fees provide the funds necessary for their upkeep at a very basic level.

           The bothies, including Culra, are for the use of anyone regardless of whether or not they are members of the Mountain Bothies Association.  But running and maintaining the bothies is an expensive operation.  So naturally we would like you, as a member of the public using the bothies, to become a member and to help us all to keep the bothies located around the country in good order.  You can become a member of the MBA by going to the membership section fo their website for full details.  Members receive a copy of the Member's Handbook, a quarterly Newsletter which contains MBA News, bothy related stories and notification of planned work parties and projects, and the Annual Report.  The Member's Handbook includes a complete list of the bothies maintained by the MBA according to the area in which they are found with a grid reference to help you to find them easily.

          Because we have used these bothies extensively over the years we felt that it would be good to put something back into the system by becoming 'houseparents' [correctly called Maintenance Supervisors!] for one of them.  We were looking for something that was reasonably remote but still accessible by bus, train or car.  Culra Bothy eventually came up and we, along with the support of the Gay Outdoor Club to which we belong, have decided to take on responsibility for its maintenance, upkeep and cleanliness.

          Culra Bothy is beautifully situated, has easy access to 8 Munros with a few more a bit further away.  It is near to Dalwhinnie on the Edinburgh/Glasgow-Perth-Inverness rail line.  We often take our bikes from Edinburgh to Dalwhinnie on the train and cycle in to the bothy from there.  It is necessary to take EVERYTHING in with you - not just your food, sleeping bags and mattresses, cooker, etc - but matches, candles, water containers, and everything else that you might need.  NOTHING is supplied at the bothy.  There is no firewood although there are good fireplaces in the bothy.  There are sleeping platforms for a maximum of 22 people although there are no mattresses and no bedding.  Be prepared to camp or to sleep on the floor as the Bothy is often very crowded.

Then please remember to take your rubbish out with you.  If you don't take it out, then Johnny and I will have to take it all out on our bikes.  NO FUN!

            For a selection of photographs by some other visitors to Culra Bothy, go to the Mountain Bothies Culra website.

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