Bothy Crawl
Is it possible to cross the whole of Scotland without a tent or camping equipment?
Thankfully, there are a network of bothies across the country.
My personal motivations for the bothy crawl
I want to properly connect with nature and tune my instincts to Scotland's wildlife. From foraging for food, to cooking up for any chance passer byes along the way and spotting for wild animals. I want to find and share stories from the people I meet and from scrap book notes of low budget bothy horror film.
Limitations for anyone doing the crawl
Although one can check up in an advance and make sure that a bothy is open, you shouldn't rely on there being space when you get there: particularly if elderly people are there and more in need.
Duration & rough routing
I reckon that this would take a fit person 20-27 days or event longer depending on priorities and additional motivations.
The current plan is to start from just below the border in England and cut diagonally up to the ... After this point there will be a really long 2 days with a stop in the middle at an alternative Glasgow shelter.
Equipment you should take
If I'm not taking a tent, what else can I safely leave behind. Perhaps even just a bivy bag would take the pressure off me sleeping in the bothy itself.
Respect the bothy code
Before we get too wrapped up in this, it is important to first consider the bothy code. Most of the official rules are in line with traditional guest etiquette. Although, you and your crew certainly might feel like the owners and with that you should remember that the next round of guests are coming shortly. They will arrive unannounced and expect the same comfort that you received.
As a beginner, you might firmly believe there to be no comfort in a rock-hardy bothy, but in the face of one cold slap and a chuck of rain you'll certainly feel tucked up and right at home. You wouldn't even care if the fire licked the tread off your bog-boots and smoked up your last pair of socks.
When you finally find your feet, to leave, you should scarcely consider taking anything else with you unless it's quite clearly rubbish. Yes, I forgot to mention as a guest you've been nominated on bin duties. This doesn't mean that you can't consume or leave, well dated, food items but you should remember that the next guests could well be more deserving of the welcome hamper. The same also goes for the instinct to spark a roaring fire with the last remaining dry kindling sticks.
The bothy code, itself, is a precious set of rules that you will carry with you wherever you go. It's a nice lesson in etiquette in cleanliness and opportunity for you to carry the tradition and pay some respect to the great outdoors.