Gorton Bothy

[MildredsSmurf]

I've been to this bothy a couple of times before. Bam hadn't been so I decided to take him there. The genius that I am had remembered the breakfast this time, but had forgotten my gaiters so we stopped at the Green Welly shop where I spent an exorbitant amount on some inferior gaitors to help me cross the streams on the way. After the Green Welly shop the roads were getting quite saucy with snow and we passed a couple of accidents where folk had misjudged conditions. Luckily though we took our time and reached the parking spot for the 6-mile walk to the bothy.

It was constant sleet on our back for the two-hour walk to the bothy.

We reached the bothy soaking. It was about 2c and the bothy was freezing with a broken window to contend with. We were glad we'd bought the 10 kg of coal.

With the fire going we laid out our gear..

Bam made the scran - a nice spicy pasta.

After scran it was time for a few drinks, but I hit the hay early. I had a warm night, as did Bam, despite this bothy being a colder bothy than others we have stayed in.
In the morning I emerged to see there had been a small bit of snow.

The bothy wasn't far below the snow line...

After brekky that I'd remembered this time, we packed up, swept up and then headed home. I highly recommend that if you ever visit here that you climb the hill above the bothy and look over the wide expanse of Rannoch Moor, but we weren't in the mood for that this day and simply walked back to the car.

It's always good to be out

 

[Ark79]

Looked cracking bones So you remembered the breakfast this time eh @Bam would have appreciated that . Nice pictures and write up buddy

 

[MildredsSmurf]

Looked cracking bones So you remembered the breakfast this time eh @Bam would have appreciated that . Nice pictures and write up buddy

Cheers. I just love getting out

 

[Ark79]

Cheers. I just love getting out

cant beat it mate

 

[Bam]

Can't really add anything, it was great to get out and blow the cobwebs off. We had a night out in the fleshpots of Dollar the night before and at least there was a local Coop for some breakfast based supplies (except tattie scones, the savages !).

It was a cold bothy, not helped by the broken window but we got a chance to try out different kit including Smurf's new gaiters that took him about 10 minutes to figure out. I trialled my cheap Aldi 2 season down bag with my softie suit (Noggie top underneath) and ended up with 3 pairs of socks on and it was toasty, shamagh was drapped across my napper when needed. Weather wise it wasn't worth going to the top of the hill to see Rannoch Moor in all its splendor, as we were leaving it was closing in although we pretty much made it all the way back to the car before the weather caught up. We'll be heading out again in January, we'll put it up here once we've figured out when/where*.




*Plans WILL change when Smurf is involved......

 

[1 shot willie]

Stunning pictures guys.... And quite a walk in.....good on you
The Bothy looks lovely.... And a welcoming shelter.
How old do you reckon it is.... How long it has been there?
Thanks for sharing

Ponchos next time Ooot?

 

[Bopdude]

Nice pics and write up, good to get out into such a place and props for the extra 10kg of coal lol

 

[Bam]

Nice pics and write up, good to get out into such a place and props for the extra 10kg of coal lol

The coal is pretty essential, we only used about 6kg of it and left the rest but it would have been pretty miserable without it.

 

[Madriverrob]

Nice write up guys , cheers for sharing , Al and I always hide any unused fuel for future visits , not quite the idea in a Bothy but fits the sentiment of leaving the place usable for the next visitors

 

[Bam]

Nice write up guys , cheers for sharing , Al and I always hide any unused fuel for future visits , not quite the idea in a Bothy but fits the sentiment of leaving the place usable for the next visitors

Aye, if you're going back to a spot then its worth stashing stuff. I hide stuff at my wee spot in Devilla, thinking of taking it further and having a hidden plastic barrel with tins etc.

 

[Oot]

One things for sure the mice would have been oot in the cold that night...... Not that you two can snore for scotland...... Next time your going let me know..... Will bring my tent

 

[Bam]

One things for sure the mice would have been oot in the cold that night...... Not that you two can snore for scotland...... Next time your going let me know..... Will bring my tent

We'll give you a shout mate, hoping to get away early January. As for the rest...... balderdash and piffle neither of us snore, well maybe Smurf does a little.......

 

[MildredsSmurf]

Stunning pictures guys.... And quite a walk in.....good on you
The Bothy looks lovely.... And a welcoming shelter.
How old do you reckon it is.... How long it has been there?
Thanks for sharing

Ponchos next time Ooot?

The bothy has an interesting history. It was lived in until the 50s and there is a plaque up in the bothy with it's history. In the 50 years of MBA book there is also an article written by a man who grew up in that bothy about what life was like there - good reading!

 

[1 shot willie]

The bothy has an interesting history. It was lived in until the 50s and there is a plaque up in the bothy with it's history. In the 50 years of MBA book there is also an article written by a man who grew up in that bothy about what life was like there - good reading!

@MildredsSmurf

Thanks for that buddy......much appreciated!
I will definitely look for the book.....would love to read his story.
Life there must have been a mixture of laughter and tears.........a hard...... but hopefully a peaceful life

 

[1 shot willie]

Hi again Smurf.

Had a look around and could not find the article.
But did find this interesting.

The Mountain Bothies Association

We are an organisation who maintain simple shelters in remote country for the use & benefit of all who love wild & lonely places.

www.mountainbothies.org.uk

Wish I had found the site earlier.....I would have bought the Christmas cards for sure
Will be ordering the calendar

 

[1 shot willie]

Just ordered this book......I reckon it will make for some good reading.

Bothy Tales by John D. Burns | Waterstones

Buy Bothy Tales by John D. Burns from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

www.waterstones.com

We are off on Holiday late January so I will try to save it till then.....IF I can

 

[MildredsSmurf]

Hi again Smurf.

Had a look around and could not find the article.
But did find this interesting.

The Mountain Bothies Association

We are an organisation who maintain simple shelters in remote country for the use & benefit of all who love wild & lonely places.

www.mountainbothies.org.uk

Wish I had found the site earlier.....I would have bought the Christmas cards for sure
Will be ordering the calendar

Braw - Glad you find out. Incidentally, the January photo on that calendar is mine of the Lairig Leacach when Bam and I visited it on a snowy February!

 

[MildredsSmurf]

Just ordered this book......I reckon it will make for some good reading.

Bothy Tales by John D. Burns | Waterstones

Buy Bothy Tales by John D. Burns from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

www.waterstones.com

We are off on Holiday late January so I will try to save it till then.....IF I can

His last hillwalker book is excellent. I've got that book too, but have still to read it!

 

[1 shot willie]

Braw - Glad you find out. Incidentally, the January photo on that calendar is mine of the Lairig Leacach when Bam and I visited it on a snowy February!

Brilliant mate....must be a good feeling having it included and published.....nice one

 

[1 shot willie]

His last hillwalker book is excellent. I've got that book too, but have still to read it!

Well that sounds like number two for me then