SPENDING the night in a Scottish bothy is like She stepping back in time. I offer the chance to stepping back in time. It offers the chance to meet without the distraction of screens. And bothies provide a serene refuge from wind, rain and biting midges - all hallmarks of Scottish summer!
The walk to Allt Scheicheachan bothy begins from Glen Tilt car park, part of the sprawling Atholl Estate, encompassing 58,679 hectares (145,000 acres) of woodland, rivers and moorland. The bothy, the name of which translates to "animal hides", is thought to be an old stalkers' stable originally used for tanning deer skins.
As my partner Jim and I set off with our two dogs, pipe music played in the distance. The path wound gently up through lush forest of Sitka spruce, larch trees and moss. It then opened on to a moorland bustling with black grouse and the song of skylarks. I was grateful for the good track, aware of how much weight coal adds to a rucksack!
The track rose steadily to over 500m (1,640ft), and a herd of red deer eyed us from a ridge across the river.
After a surprisingly tough 10km (6 miles), the path dipped into a fold in the hills for the final descent.
Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The Bliss Of A Bothy
After a strenuous walk, a mountain shelter can offer all you need
The Long Way Round
When you can only just see the stepping stones under a river in spate, it's time to re-think the route, as two Highland adventurers found out
The New Oyster Cult
A community is helping to restore the once rich biodiversity of Loch Craignish, one species at a time
A Poet's Sanctuary
Hidden on a hilltop, writer Dominic Cooper is inspired by the wild, stormy winters of the Ardnamurchan peninsula
A Rural Housing Crisis
Across Scotland, locals are being priced out and crowded out - but communities are now working hard to address the issue
A Historic Centre
Glasgow's Mercat Cross may not be as old as it appears but it's still seen many changes, along with an ebb and flow in prosperity
A Bird With A Brain
Jim's encounters with the raven in several northern countries have only increased his respect for its intellect and ingenuity
The Warrior King
On the 750th anniversary of his birth, Robert The Bruce's legacy as cultural keystone and historical enigma continues to fascinate
All Going Swimmingly
From Tutti Frutti to Shetland, Monarch Of The Glen to Granite Harbour, Dawn Steele's heart will always be in Scotland - and the sea
Following The Coos
The latest charity art trail aims to a-moos-e and delight visitors to Perth and Kinross this summer
