Bothy
Blackburn of Pattack
A short walk from the A86 near Laggan, Blackburn of Pattack is the easiest bothy to reach in the Ben Alder area. A natural first-night stop before pushing south to Culra or Ben Alder Cottage.
Quick facts
- Walk-in
- 4 km~1h 50m
- Sleeps
- 4
- Altitude
- 340m
- Condition
- Good condition
- Grid ref
- NN547833
- Maintained by
- Mountain Bothies Association
- Fireplace
- Yes
- Water
- Nearby
Our take
Blackburn of Pattack is the warm-up act for the Ben Alder range. Walk in after work on Friday, sleep here, push on to Culra on Saturday morning. It takes the sting out of the long approach to the central Highlands Munros. Small, warm, functional.
Getting there
From the A86 between Laggan and Dalwhinnie, follow the track south along the Allt a' Chaoil-reidhe. Flat, easy walking on a good track. Allow 50 minutes.
Nearest parking: A86 layby near Laggan
What to expect inside
Compact MBA bothy with a fireplace and sleeping space for 4. Well-maintained and clean. Small enough to warm quickly. A stepping stone rather than a destination.
Nearby hills & attractions
Culra bothy is 8km further south. Ben Alder (1,148m) and the surrounding Munros are the main draw. Laggan has the Laggan Wolftrax mountain bike trails for a different day out.
When to visit
Short approach makes this accessible year-round. A good winter staging post before winter Munros. The track is passable even after heavy snow.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:28
- Sunset
- 21:01
- Civil dawn
- 04:42
- Civil dusk
- 21:47
NOAA Solar Calculator · 2 May 2026
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