The Bothy Code: Rules, Etiquette and How Bothies Work

Quick Summary

• The bothy code is the Mountain Bothies Association's (MBA) guidance on how to use the open shelters it maintains, organised under 'Respect' headings
• Key rules: share the space, leave it clean, bury human waste out of sight and well away from water, never cut live wood, follow estate restrictions, keep groups small
• Bothies are free and need no booking — they are a privilege, not a right, and landowner permission can be withdrawn if the code is ignored
• Browse all bothies on OutdoorSCOT — our bothies section covers approach routes, conditions and seasonal notes for 80+ MBA shelters

Scotland's bothies — unlocked, unmanned shelters maintained by volunteers — are one of the finest things about the Scottish outdoors. Around 100 of them are managed by the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA). They are free to use, require no booking, and will sleep you in the hills on the worst night of weather you will ever experience. They stay open because walkers use them responsibly. The bothy code is the short set of principles that makes that possible.

Quick Answer: The MBA's bothy code is organised under 'Respect' headings — other users, the bothy, the surroundings, the agreement with the estate, and the restriction on numbers. In practice: share the space, take all rubbish out, bury human waste out of sight and well away from water, never cut live wood, follow estate restrictions such as stalking, and keep groups small. Bothies are a privilege maintained by volunteer labour — the code is what keeps them open.

What the bothy code actually says

The MBA organises its code under 'Respect' headings — other users, the bothy, the surroundings, the agreement with the estate, and the restriction on numbers. The full wording is on the MBA's bothy code page. Here is what it means in practice.

1. Respect other users

Bothies are shared shelters. No one has the right to exclusive use — if you arrive to find it full, a group that got there first cannot turn you away. Equally, if you are the first to arrive, you must make room for latecomers, even if that is uncomfortable. The code also restricts numbers: groups of six or more should not use a bothy, because they displace individual walkers who may genuinely need the shelter.

If you arrive to find a bothy occupied, the social convention is to knock or call out before entering, then share the space as if you were strangers sharing a train carriage — politely, with minimum disruption to each other.

2. Leave it as you found it — or better

Take all rubbish out with you. This includes food packaging, tins, bottles, candle stubs, toilet paper and anything else you brought in. Many bothies are several hours' walk from the nearest road — their remoteness is why they are there, but it also means the MBA cannot send a regular cleaner. Everything that accumulates was left by someone who thought someone else would deal with it.

If there is rubbish already there from a previous visitor, take that out too if you can carry it. It takes fifteen minutes of additional inconvenience to undo hours of another walker's thoughtlessness.

3. Bury human waste properly

Where there is no toilet, bury human waste out of sight, well away from the bothy, paths and water supplies — dig a shallow hole, bury it, and replace the turf. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code adds that you should pee at least 30 metres from lochs, rivers and burns. Do not leave toilet paper on the surface — either bury it with the waste or pack it out in a sealed bag (the latter is better practice in heavily visited areas).

Most bothies do not have toilet facilities. The ones that do (usually a separate stone outhouse) have a composting system that relies on correct use — always check for a sign explaining what to do.

4. Minimise your impact — fire and fuel

Only light fires where there is an established fireplace. Many bothies have an open hearth or a wood-burning stove. Never cut live wood, and use fuel sparingly. Bring your own fuel rather than counting on finding it: some estates ask walkers not to collect deadwood at all (Ryvoan in the Cairngorms is one), and deadwood is habitat.

If there is a sign asking you not to light a fire — perhaps due to dry conditions or because the landowner has requested it — do not light one. Bothy fires are a privilege, not an entitlement.

Leave firewood for the next person. If you arrive to find dry wood or kindling, use what you need and leave some dry kindling for the next visitors.

5. Dogs

Check the bothy's own page for any notice about dogs. Keep them under close control around livestock, wildlife and other users, and clean up after them. If there is a no-dogs sign, respect it.

6. Respect the bothy — and the estate

Bothies are maintained entirely by MBA volunteer work parties. Do not damage the structure, carve into the walls or furniture, remove fixtures, or make alterations without MBA approval. Even well-intentioned modifications — building a new shelf, altering the stove, blocking a hole in the roof — can cause problems if not done correctly.

Bothies sit on private estates by agreement with the landowner, so observe any restrictions the estate asks for, such as during stalking or lambing, and get the owner's permission before any extended stay. If you find structural damage, leaking, or a problem with the stove or other fittings, report it to the MBA via their website.

Can I book a bothy?

No. Bothies operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. This is deliberate — it prevents any group from monopolising a shelter and ensures that someone genuinely caught in deteriorating conditions can always use one.

The practical consequence is that you cannot rely on a specific bothy being available. Always have a tent or bivvy bag as a backup plan if you plan a route that depends on a bothy overnight.

Are bothies free?

Yes. There is no charge to use an MBA bothy. The organisation is funded by membership fees (currently £25/year for individuals) and donations. If you use bothies regularly, joining the MBA is the single most useful thing you can do to keep them open — it funds the volunteer work parties that maintain them.

How many people can use a bothy?

Bothies vary a lot in size, from a single small room to multi-room buildings — check the individual bothy's page. The code says groups of six or more should not use a bothy, as they fill smaller bothies to capacity and displace individual walkers.

If your group is six or more, consider whether you all need the bothy — some members could camp nearby and use the bothy just for cooking and shelter from extreme weather.

What should I bring to a bothy?

Bothies provide four walls, a roof, and usually a fireplace or stove. They do not provide bedding, food, water, heating fuel or lighting. Bring:

• Sleeping bag and sleeping mat — platforms are hard wood or stone
• Food and a stove — some bothies have a fire grate but you should not rely on it for cooking
• Water filtration — most bothies are near a burn but water should always be filtered or treated
• Head torch — bothies have no electricity
• Candles or a gas lantern — candles are traditional and create bothy atmosphere; carry a few
• Firewood or firestarter — don't assume there will be dry wood there
• Rubbish bag — for your waste and any left by previous visitors

Finding bothies in Scotland

The MBA's website lists its bothies — check it for closures and notices before you go. Guidebooks and OS maps help with planning, and the Scottish Bothy Bible(affiliate link) by Geoff Allan is the standard reference.

Browse our bothies section for approach routes, photos, seasonal notes and local conditions on 80+ bothies across Scotland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the bothy code?

The bothy code is the Mountain Bothies Association's (MBA) guidance on how to use the unlocked shelters it maintains. It is organised under 'Respect' headings — other users, the bothy, the surroundings, the agreement with the estate, and the restriction on numbers. In practice that means: share the space, leave it clean with dry kindling for the next visitor, bury human waste out of sight and well away from water, don't cut live wood, observe estate restrictions such as stalking, and keep groups small. The code is what keeps landowners willing to allow free public access to these shelters.

Are bothies free to use?

Yes, MBA bothies are completely free. There is no booking system and no charge. The MBA is funded by membership fees (£25/year) and donations — joining is the best way to support the bothy system if you use it regularly. Some private bothies maintained by estates or clubs may have different arrangements, but the vast majority of Scottish hillwalking bothies are free and open.

Can you stay in a bothy without a sleeping bag?

Technically yes — but very uncomfortably in any season and dangerously in winter. Bothies provide only a roof and walls. The stone buildings hold cold, dampness penetrates, and platforms are hard. A sleeping bag and mat are essential. In winter, a 3-season bag minimum and a good mat are non-negotiable — you will lose more heat to the floor than to the air.

How do I find bothies in Scotland?

Start with the MBA's own website, which lists its bothies, and check it for closures and notices before you go. The Scottish Bothy Bible(affiliate link) by Geoff Allan, OS maps (bothies are marked as a small black square), and our bothies section, which covers 80+ bothies with approach routes and conditions, all help with planning.

Can I have a fire in any bothy?

Only in bothies with an established fireplace or stove, and never by cutting live wood. Bring your own fuel: some estates ask walkers not to gather deadwood at all — Ryvoan in the Cairngorms is one — and deadwood is habitat. If there is a sign asking you not to light a fire, do not light one. Always leave a window open when using a fire or stove — carbon monoxide builds up in a closed stone building.

How big are bothies?

Scottish bothies range from tiny single-room shelters with one fireplace to larger multi-room buildings, and the code asks that groups of six or more don't use a bothy at all. Check the MBA bothy database or our bothies section for capacity notes on individual shelters before planning a group trip.

What happens if a bothy is full when I arrive?

No group has exclusive use, and the code asks you to share the space. In practice most bothy users are cooperative and will rearrange to fit extra arrivals. Where it genuinely is not possible, you may need to camp nearby. Always carry a tent or bivvy bag on any route that relies on a bothy overnight.

Related articles

• Scottish Bothies: A Beginner's Guide — everything you need for your first bothy trip
• Wild Camping in Scotland: Access Code Explained — the legal framework that also governs bothy access
• Best Bothies in Scotland — 80+ bothies with approach routes and conditions
• How to Start Hillwalking in Scotland — the broader beginner guide

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This article is for informational purposes only. The Mountain Bothies Association bothy code is the authoritative source — see mountainbothies.org.uk for the current published version. OutdoorSCOT is not affiliated with the MBA.

Sources

• The Bothy Code — Mountain Bothies Association
• MBA membership — Mountain Bothies Association
• Scottish Outdoor Access Code — NatureScot