Bothy

I took my planned trip to Scotland .

A Scots friend put forward a plan to visit an edifice known as a bothy.I had expressed a preference for a youth hostel and a walk on the banks of Loch Lomond. I was overruled by the Scotsman - he wanted to introduce me to the delights of bothy culture and the Cairngorms.

I knew little of bothys and had not been appraised of the practical considerations . After my eight hour drive from London my car was deposited in a park and ride car park beside the Forth Road Bridge in Edinburgh. We set off in my companions car . It was getting dark and I had a mounting feeling of dread as snow fell on our journey north.

Bothys are described by Wikipedia as " a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge". On the journey to our first port of call there was the realisation- I was not prepared for a night in sub zero temperatures in a shed . My sleeping bag was not the mountaineering variety that my companion possessed.

The car was deposited in a farm track near Aviemore. The track was like ice and treacherous underfoot. We had a mile walk in the dark to the bothy. I was delegated to carry the coal.

By the time we reached the bothy my temper was frayed. I had not wanted an outward bound course . I wanted a relaxing walking trip . Refreshed I would return to London ready for a new challenge.

As I contemplated the deathly cold of the bothy I knew this would be a long night. I did not have a sleeping mat and the floor was freezing. The fire was hopeless and I was not in the mood to drink or sing Robbie Burns songs. I slept in a chair beside the dying embers in the fireplace. Fully clothed in my sleeping bag I wondered if I would sleep at all. The fire died out at 2am. The merciful dawn came at 7.30am. I may have slept 2 hours.

There was no toilet but thankfully a micturition was my only requirement. We set off back to the car. We would call at Aviemore to get some supplies. I heard my companion consider our next destination. He elected on a bothy deep in the heart of the Cairngorms. It was colder still and a four mile trek through hills and forests.

This would not end well