The Cape Wrath Trail is a route best known for wild camping, but the bothies along the way can offer a very different experience. Reaching one can mean a proper roof, a dry place to cook, and the chance to cross paths with other hikers tackling the trail.
Bothies aren’t a given on every itinerary, but they often end up being some of the most memorable stops. This guide focuses on bothies on the Cape Wrath Trail: where they’re located, what to expect, and what role they can play when hiking the route.
If you’re new to bothies or unsure how they work, I’ve covered the basics and the bothy code in detail here:
In this guide:
How Bothies Fit Into the Cape Wrath Trail
The Cape Wrath Trail is by and large a solitary experience – you walk, pitch, cook, and sleep alone, sometimes without seeing anyone else all day. Bothies tend to be where most hikers cross paths. Encounters may be brief – shared stories, a few exchanged route notes – or you may end up with a new hiking partner! It makes the trail feel much more communal, and those bothy moments may end up being some of your favourite memories.
A memory from A’Chuil bothy:
After first hearing about the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) almost a decade before I found myself on the Cape Wrath Trail in 2024, I met a hiker in A’Chuil bothy who had completed it in 2023. We chatted for hours, and, long story short, I ended up quitting my job to hike the PCT in 2025! What’s funnier, though unrelated to bothies, I bumped into a hiker outside of Ullapool who I also came across on trail in Washington state – talk about a small world.
Bothies can also be a godsend in bad weather, allowing you to escape the wind and rain, or dry out your gear overnight. Their presence may inspire a spur-of-the-moment decision to cut your day short, or to push on until you reach that sweet, sweet roof over your head. Sometimes the allure is as simple as a sheltered place to make a cup of tea while you sit in a chair!
Cape Wrath Trail Bothy Locations
Explore Bothy Locations on the Map
Use the interactive map below to find bothies. Where possible I have included my own bothy pictures and added a link to the MBA website for each bothy.
Bothies By Stage
Below, I’ve grouped bothies by the three main sections of the Cape Wrath Trail. I’ve included brief notes so you have a better idea of what to expect, along with links to the Mountain Bothy Association website where applicable. These are worth checking before your hike, as they include information about stalking closures, maintenance updates, and facilities.
Distances are rounded to the nearest 0.1 mile / kilometre.
Fort William - Shiel Bridge
Corryhully Bothy
Location: 2.7 miles / 4.4km after Glenfinnan
On route: Yes
Notes: Not an MBA bothy / has electricity / often firewood provided by the estate
A’Chuil Bothy
Location: 11.6 miles / 18.7km after Glenfinnan
On route: Yes
Notes: Can get busy / has toilet
Sourlies Bothy
Location: 6.8 miles / 10.9km after A’Chuil bothy
On route: Yes
Notes: Small bothy / has toilet
Barrisdale Bothy
Location: 9.4 miles / 15.1km after Sourlies bothy
On route: Yes
Notes: Not an MBA bothy – £5 to be paid via honesty box / flushing toilet / running water / electricity
Camban Bothy
Location: 8.5 miles / 13.6km after Cluanie Inn
On route: Yes (Great Glen alternate)
Notes: Can get busy / has toilet
Shiel Bridge - Ullapool
Maol Bhuidhe Bothy
Location: 14.3 miles / 23km after Morvich
On route: Yes
Notes: Recently renovated / Can get busy
Bendronaig Bothy
Location: 5.2 miles / 8.4km from Maol Bhuidhe
On route: Yes
Notes: Not an MBA bothy / Has flushing toilet
Bearnais Bothy
Location: 7.7 miles / 12.4km from Maol Bhuidhe
On route: No – 1.1 miles / 1.8km off route from Craig variant
Notes: /
Coire Fionnaraich Bothy
Location: 5 miles / 8km from Strathcarron
On route: Yes, if headed from Strathcarron towards Ling Hut
Notes: /
Easan Dorcha Bothy (The Teahouse)
Location: 4.3 miles / 7km from Craig
On route: No – 0.7 miles / 1.1km off route from Coulin Pass variant (Craig – Kinlochewe)
Notes: Very small bothy / No fireplace
Shenavall Bothy
Location: 16.8 miles / 27km from Kinlochewe
On route: Technically yes, though you can skip the dog leg out to the bothy, saving yourself about 2.5 miles / 4km
Notes: Can get busy
Ullapool - Cape Wrath
Knockdamph Bothy
Location: 11.5 miles / 18.5km from Ullapool or 10.7 miles / 17.3km from Inverlael
On route: Yes
Notes: There has been a work party since my visit, but one of the rooms had green (moss?) on the walls and a strange smell
Schoolhouse Bothy
Location: 4.3 miles / 7km from Knockdamph
On route: Yes
Notes: Very cute and unique inside / no stove or fireplace
Glencoul Bothy
Location: 8.7 miles / 14km from Inchnadamph
On route: Yes
Notes:
Glendhu Bothy
Location: 4.1 miles / 6.6km from Glencoul Bothy
On route: Yes
Notes:
Strathan Bothy
Location: 6 miles / 9.7km from Kinlochbervie, though more direct roots may be available
On route: No, unless you don’t take the main path to Sandwood Bay
Notes:
Strathcailleach Bothy
Location: 1.9 miles / 3km from Sandwood Bay
On route: No, though this entire section is pathless, so you can rejoin the ‘route’ later
Notes: Fuel in the form of peat – cut & leave to dry for next visitors
Kearvaig Bothy
Location: 5.2 miles / 8.4km from the Cape Wrath lighthouse
On route: No, unless you are walking to the ferry
Notes: Closed during military firing
The Reality of Bothies on the Cape Wrath Trail
In practice, bothies don’t always fit neatly into a Cape Wrath Trail itinerary. Daily distances, river crossings, weather windows, and route variations often dictate where you stop more than the location of a bothy. Some are busy in summer, others are closed during stalking season, and sometimes they sit far enough off route that detouring simply doesn’t make sense on the day. Because of this, most hikers end up using fewer bothies than they expect.
I personally missed several bothies due to time constraints and route decisions, and it’s something I slightly regret (particularly Shenavall, Glencoul, Glendhu, Kearvaig). Many are tucked away in remote, scenic locations that you’d likely never visit otherwise. Still, the reality is that you won’t be able to visit them all. I advise having a look on the MBA website, to see if any in particular strike your fancy – however I think prioritising your ideal route should come first, and then consider which bothies may slot into your plan.
Final Thoughts
Bothies are places where long days often end in shared stories, damp gear gets draped over every available surface, and the remoteness of the trail feels a little more human. Even if you only use one or two, knowing where they are, and understanding how they can fit into your route, gives you more options and a deeper connection to the people who used to live in this remote terrain. They may even end up being some of your favourite memories!
Do you have any bothy experience on the Cape Wrath Trail?
Which bothies are you hoping to visit during your hike?
Let me know in a comment below!
Next Steps:
→ [ Cape Wrath Trail Food & Resupply Guide ]
→ [ Getting To & From the Cape Wrath Trail: A Practical Guide ]
→ [ Are You Ready for the Cape Wrath Trail? ]
→ [ Where to Stay on the Cape Wrath Trail: Accommodation & Campsites ]
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