Bothy bagging gone wrong! Day 3

DAY 3



In the final part of my walk, I head for The Shieling of Mark bothy, climbing over Hill of Rowan towards Invermark. From Invermark I take a side trip to Queen's Well before passing through Glen Lee to visit the Glen Lee Hut and The Stables of Lee bothy then I continue uphill towards the Shieling of Mark. But do I make it to my destination?? Watch to find out!

Bothy bagging gone wrong! Day 2

DAY 2

I continue my walk to the next bothy heading West to Glen Esk and navigating my way over Clachnaben and Mount Battock. The plan on day 2 was to camp at Tarfside sports ground but I never made it that far and ended up wild camping by a river about 1.5 miles from Tarfside.

Bothy bagging gone wrong! Day 1

DAY 1

In my first hike of 2016, I head to Deeside in Aberdeenshire on another bothy bagging trip. The original plan was to visit 6 bothies starting from Banchory in Deeside and finishing at Crathie in Balmoral. I planned out my route on Google Earth. Things didn't quite go to plan. I couldn't find Shieling of Mark bothy (yet I was so close) this also meant that I couldn't navigate my way to the next place, which would have been Glen Muick. I became stuck in a valley and had to turn back the way I came. My quickest escape route was a climb over Mount Keen (939 m ascent) from Invermark, to follow a path towards Ballater but the Ballater path wasn't clear so I ended up walking 16 miles from the top of Mount Keen to Aboyne (a route that was familiar to me). I did not film this because I was not in the mood after my mistake. During my expidition I passed through Banchory, Aboyne, Glen Esk, Tarfside, Invermark, Loch Lee and climbed Clachnaben, Mount Battock, Hill of Rowan and Mount Keen for a second time. I visited three bothies including Charr, Glen Lee hut and Stables of Lee. I must have walked about 70 miles up and over the hills but failed at my challenge.

Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 3 and 4

 Day 3 - I ascend over the hills from Loch Callater to Loch Muick where the next bothy is located. I enjoy a few Beers, sitting out by the loch until the sun goes down. Then I get the fire sparked up inside the bothy.

Day 4 - Walked along Loch Muick to the Spittal of Glenmuick and went in search of Shieling of Mark bothy, walked up the Glen for about 3 miles but couldn't spot it so returned to the spittal of Glenmuick and walked to Ballater (8 miles) where I caught the bus home.

Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 2

Day 2 - Had breakfast in the bothy before walking 9 miles back to Braemar where I grabbed supplies from the shop before making my way to the next bothy at Loch Callater. 7 miles.

Bothy bagging in the Cairngorms - Day 1

I begin a three day adventure, backpacking through the Cairngorms, visiting several bothies en-route. The original plan was to visit the highest village, Tomintoul but due to frosty condictions Plan B (for Bothy) was initiated.

Day 1 - Got bus to Braemar, walked 6 miles to the Linn of Dee and a further 3 miles to the first bothy, Bob Scotts. Some other people were there so I pitched the tent up outside before joining them for a drink. Afterwards I stayed up for a while and made a small campfire outside, using an existing firepit.

Please note, I have since been informed that campfires are not permitted at the Bob Scotts bothy or anywhere in this area. I apologise to have offended anyone, lesson learned.