Bothy
Cruib (Cruib Lodge)
A former estate lodge on the north shore of Loch Tarbert, the sea loch that nearly cuts Jura in two. Cruib opened as a bothy in May 2012 after a major MBA renovation — it was the 79th building in the association's care and Jura's second, after Glengarrisdale. Three rooms, one kept locked for estate use, two for visitors, in as lonely a stretch of coast as the southern Hebrides offer.
Quick facts
- Walk-in
- 6 km· 2.5 hrs
- Sleeps
- 10
- Altitude
- 8m
- Condition
- Good condition
- Grid ref
- NR567829
- Maintained by
- Mountain Bothies Association
- Fireplace
- Yes
- Water
- No documented water supply at the lodge — treat burn water from the slopes behind, or carry in what you need.
Our take
Cruib is the quieter, stranger sibling of Glengarrisdale: no massacre story, just a renovated lodge on a sea loch where you are more likely to share the shore with otters than people. The walk-in is short on the map and long underfoot, and the fuel maths is brutal — two fireplaces, zero local wood. Carry coal, time the mudflats, and you get armchairs, a bookshelf and silence.
Getting there
From the small lay-by just beyond Tarbert hamlet on the A846, cross the mudflats at the head of Loch Tarbert, then work west along the north shore — around 6km of peat bog and tussock grass stitched together by intermittent deer tracks, with slimy seaweed-covered rock where the line drops to the foreshore. Reports range from 2 to 3 hours. The mudflat crossing is tidal terrain: Loch Tarbert's tides run hard, so plan the foreshore section sensibly.
Nearest parking: Small lay-by just beyond Tarbert hamlet on the A846
No approach GPX yet
Walked this approach? Share your track to help other bothy-goers.
Stalking season / estate access
Ruantallain Estate asks to be informed of planned visits during the stalking season (quoted as July to February). Check the MBA's Cruib page for contact details before autumn and winter trips.
What to expect inside
Two open rooms, each sleeping around five — the communal room has a sleeping platform, armchairs and a bookshelf over the fireplace. Open fires in both rooms draw well, but there is no wood on this coast and driftwood is rare: every log you burn walks in on your back. The 2012 renovation left it wind- and watertight.
Nearby hills
When to visit
Ruantallain Estate asks to be informed of planned visits during the stalking season, which the estate quotes broadly as July to February — check via the MBA's Cruib page before an autumn or winter trip. Outside stalking, the constraints are bog, tide and fuel. Early summer gives the long evenings this west-facing shore deserves.
Wildfire risk — May to October
Dry conditions increase wildfire risk during summer. Never light fires in the open. Use the bothy fireplace only, and ensure it is fully out before you leave.
Current conditions
Condition unverified
We have not received a recent visitor report for this bothy. Check the MBA bothy register for current status before relying on this bothy as shelter.
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:15
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:23
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 25 July 2026
Share your experience
Stayed at Cruib (Cruib Lodge)? Help other walkers plan their visit.
Cruib (Cruib Lodge) — common questions
- How far is the walk into Cruib (Cruib Lodge)?
- Allow about 2.5 hours for the 6km approach from Small lay-by just beyond Tarbert hamlet on the A846. From the small lay-by just beyond Tarbert hamlet on the A846, cross the mudflats at the head of Loch Tarbert, then work west along the north shore — around 6km of peat bog and tussock grass stitched together by intermittent deer tracks, with slimy seaweed-covered rock where the line drops to the foreshore.
- Is there a fire at Cruib (Cruib Lodge)?
- Yes — Cruib (Cruib Lodge) has a working fireplace. Bring your own firewood; natural wood at most Scottish bothies is scarce, and burning bothy furniture or boundary posts is not acceptable.
- How many sleeping spaces does Cruib (Cruib Lodge) have?
- 10 sleeping spaces — but bothies operate first-come-first-served and you may share with strangers. On busy weekends parties often pitch a tent outside if the bothy is full.
- Is there a water source near Cruib (Cruib Lodge)?
- No documented water supply at the lodge — treat burn water from the slopes behind, or carry in what you need.
- When's the best time to visit Cruib (Cruib Lodge)?
- April, May, June are the months to aim for. During the stalking season (August-October), contact the estate before visiting.
Bag more bothies
One email a week — new bothy and hill guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.