Bothy
Glengarrisdale
A white-walled bothy above a sheltered bay on Jura's far north-west coast, looking out to Scarba, the Garvellachs and Mull. Glengarrisdale carries the darkest story in the bothy network: in 1647 the Campbells of Craignish surprised and killed the Maclaines here, and a skull said to be from the massacre — examined by the geologist Archibald Geikie, who noted claymore cuts — lay in a cave on the shore for three centuries before vanishing in the 1970s. The cave is still marked "Maclean's Skull Cave" on OS maps. The last permanent resident, Kate Johnson, left in the 1940s.
Quick facts
- Walk-in
- 5 km· 2.5 hrs
- Sleeps
- 6
- Altitude
- 9m
- Condition
- Good condition
- Grid ref
- NR644970
- Maintained by
- Mountain Bothies Association
- Fireplace
- Yes
- Water
- Water comes off the boggy hills behind the bothy and runs peaty after rain — expect a yellow tint. Treat before drinking.
Our take
Jura is the hard-mode Hebride — one road, one distillery, five thousand deer — and Glengarrisdale is its reward: a genuinely beautiful bay, total quiet, and a 17th-century massacre story you will retell by stove-light. The approach punishes optimism (5km that walks like 10), and the estate permission rule is real, so phone ahead. Combine it with Cruib for one of the best two-bothy expeditions in the west.
Getting there
From the public road end north of Ardlussa (very limited verge parking at NR 669 927), head north-west across the island: about 5km, but budget 2 to 3 hours — the line follows an extremely rough, wet ATV track and open ground with only faint paths. Navigation skills are needed in poor visibility. This is the easy way; everything else on north Jura is harder.
Nearest parking: Road's End north of Ardlussa (NR 669 927) — limited verge parking
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Stalking season / estate access
Ardlussa Estate (01496 820 323). Seek permission before visiting at any time; the bothy is unavailable during stag stalking, mid-August to mid-October.
What to expect inside
Two rooms downstairs and a boarded-out attic that makes a spacious sleeping area — six is a comfortable planning number with floor space beyond. Heating is a multi-fuel stove. Driftwood on this coast is now scarce, so carry your fuel in. The bothy can feel damp after a spell empty; the stove sorts it quickly.
Multi-bothy trips
Jura's two MBA bothies, about 16km apart in a straight line across trackless bog and hill — linking them is a proper expedition for confident navigators, not a stroll.
16 km
When to visit
The bothy is on Ardlussa Estate stalking ground and is not available during stag stalking from mid-August to mid-October — and the estate asks that visitors seek permission at any time of year (01496 820 323). Outside those months the constraints are weather and the rough ground; the walk-in is wet underfoot in every season.
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
- 04:37
- Sunset
- 22:08
- Civil dawn
- 03:36
- Civil dusk
- 23:09
NOAA Solar Calculator · 10 June 2026
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Stock up at Oban
Nearest TripSCOT town for food, fuel, and accommodation if the bothy is busy.
Glengarrisdale — common questions
- How far is the walk into Glengarrisdale?
- 5km from Road's End north of Ardlussa (NR 669 927) — limited verge parking — about 2.5 hours at a steady walking pace. From the public road end north of Ardlussa (very limited verge parking at NR 669 927), head north-west across the island: about 5km, but budget 2 to 3 hours — the line follows an extremely rough, wet ATV track and open ground with only faint paths.
- Does Glengarrisdale have a fireplace?
- Yes — Glengarrisdale 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 people does Glengarrisdale sleep?
- 6 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 water at Glengarrisdale?
- Water comes off the boggy hills behind the bothy and runs peaty after rain — expect a yellow tint. Treat before drinking.
- When can I visit Glengarrisdale?
- Best months: April, May, June, July. During the stalking season (August-October), contact the estate before visiting.
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