The Bothy Code: Rules, Etiquette and How Bothies Work

Quick Summary

• The bothy code is a set of six principles published by the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) that governs how you use the 100+ open shelters they maintain across Scotland
• Key rules: leave it cleaner than you found it, no exclusive occupation, dogs on a lead near livestock, human waste buried 30m from water, no vandalism or unauthorised alterations
• Bothies are free and need no booking — they are a privilege, not a right, and landowner permission can be withdrawn if the code is ignored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 bothy code has six principles: leave it as you find it (or cleaner); remove all rubbish; bury human waste 30 metres from water; never occupy a bothy exclusively — share it; don't light fires where there is no established fireplace or where there is a sign asking you not to; and report any damage to the MBA. Bothies are a privilege maintained by volunteer labour — the code is what keeps them open.

What the bothy code actually says

The Mountain Bothies Association publishes the code in six points:

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. Groups larger than six should not use bothies as 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

Human waste must be buried at least 30 metres from any watercourse, path or building. Dig a cathole 15cm deep with a stick or trowel, bury the waste, and replace the soil and vegetation. 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 — if yours does, use only fallen or cut wood from the surrounding area, never strip living trees. Use only the amount of fuel you need.

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 a dry wood store, use what you need and try to replace it. Some MBA bothies have a small chainsaw available for this purpose; others rely entirely on walkers bringing in a bundle or splitting what they find.

5. Dogs

Dogs are welcome in most bothies. The code asks that you keep them under control around livestock and other users, and that you clean up after them as you would their human waste. If there is a no-dogs sign — occasionally seen where livestock pressure is extreme — respect it.

6. Respect the bothy structure

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.

If you find structural damage, leaking, or a problem with the stove or other fittings, report it to the MBA via their website. They depend on users to act as their eyes and ears.

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 £28/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?

Most MBA bothies sleep 4-10 people depending on size. The largest have multiple rooms with separate sleeping platforms. There is no formal limit, but groups larger than six are discouraged by the code as they typically fill smaller bothies to capacity and displace individual walkers.

If your group is larger than six, 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 maintains a list of its bothies but does not publish a public map showing exact locations — the policy is that people find them through guidebooks, OS maps and word of mouth, which filters for walkers who have done some preparation. The Scottish Bothy Bible 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 a set of six principles published by the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) covering how to use the unlocked shelters they maintain across Scotland. The core principles are: share the space, leave it cleaner than you found it, bury human waste 30m from water, only light fires in established fireplaces, keep dogs under control, and report any damage. 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 (£28/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?

The MBA does not publish a public GPS map of bothy locations as a matter of policy (it filters for prepared visitors). Use the Scottish Bothy Bible by Geoff Allan, OS maps (bothies are marked as a small black square), or our bothies section which covers 80+ bothies with approach routes and conditions. Word of mouth from other walkers is also traditional.

Can I have a fire in any bothy?

Only in bothies with an established fireplace or stove, and only with locally gathered fallen or cut wood. Never strip living trees. If there is a sign asking you not to light a fire, do not light one. Always leave a window cracked when using a fire or stove — carbon monoxide from a sealed stone building is a real danger.

How big are bothies?

Scottish bothies range from tiny two-person shelters (single room, stone floor, one fireplace) to substantial two-storey buildings sleeping 12-16. Most fall in the 4-8 person range. 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?

Legally and ethically, the occupants must make room for you — no group has exclusive use rights. In practice, most bothy users are cooperative and will rearrange to fit extra arrivals. In rare cases where this genuinely is not possible (unusually large group, all floor space occupied), 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