Bothy
Hutchison Memorial Hut
A small stone hut in Coire Etchachan at about 2,500 feet (roughly 760m), below Loch Etchachan and Ben Macdui (grid ref NO 023 998). Built in 1954 in memory of Dr A G Hutchison of Aberdeen, killed in a climbing accident in Pembrokeshire in 1949 (MBA).
Quick facts
- Walk-in
- Not published
- Sleeps
- Not published
- Altitude
- 760m
- Condition
- Good condition
- Grid ref
- NO023998
- Maintained by
- Mountain Bothies Association
- Fire / stove
- Stove
- Water
- Burns run down the corrie past the hut from Loch Etchachan. Treat before drinking.
- Mobile signal
- No reliable signal in Coire Etchachan. Do not count on making a call.
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead on approachLivestock on approach
Our take
The Hutchison Hut is not a beginner bothy: it sits in mountain conditions that change fast. As a base for Ben Macdui or a plateau traverse it is well placed. Carry fuel and warm sleeping kit.
Getting there
From Linn of Dee, take the track to Derry Lodge and the path up Glen Derry into Coire Etchachan. The hut sits in the corrie below Loch Etchachan. The MBA does not publish a walk-in distance.
Nearest parking: Linn of Dee car park
No approach GPX yet
Walked this approach? Share your track to help other bothy-goers.
Stalking season / estate access
Mar Lodge Estate. Stag stalking mid-August to mid-October; hind stalking October to February. Contact the estate before visiting in autumn.
What to expect inside
A small bothy with a multi-fuel stove. No local fuel — carry your own. Campfires and barbecues are banned in the Cairngorms National Park between 1 April and 30 September (MBA). Nights are cold at this height even in summer.
Nearby hills
Multi-bothy trips
Classic two-day crossing over the Ben Macdui plateau, descending to Corrour in the Lairig Ghru. A full mountain day with serious navigation.
Ambitious two-day route via the high Cairngorm plateau south into Glen Feshie. Requires good navigation and a full mountain day.
When to visit
Full winter mountaineering conditions from November to April. Snow can persist into June on north-facing approaches. In summer the high position means genuine cold nights — always carry winter-weight sleeping kit. Cloud on the plateau is the primary navigation hazard.
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
- 07:15
- Sunset
- 16:41
- Civil dawn
- 06:35
- Civil dusk
- 17:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
Share your experience
Stayed at Hutchison Memorial Hut? Help other walkers plan their visit.
Stock up at Aviemore
Nearest TripSCOT town for food, fuel, and accommodation if the bothy is busy.
Before you go
Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.
Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
We check what we publish, but we cannot check the walk in on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.
Hutchison Memorial Hut — common questions
- How far is the walk into Hutchison Memorial Hut?
- We have not found a published walk-in distance for Hutchison Memorial Hut. From Linn of Dee, take the track to Derry Lodge and the path up Glen Derry into Coire Etchachan.
- Is there heating at Hutchison Memorial Hut?
- Hutchison Memorial Hut has a stove. Bring fuel with you — usable wood near most Scottish bothies is scarce, and bothy furniture and boundary posts are not fuel.
- How big is Hutchison Memorial Hut inside?
- The operator publishes no bed count for Hutchison Memorial Hut. Bothies are first-come-first-served and you may share with strangers, so carry a tent as a backup.
- Where do you get water at Hutchison Memorial Hut?
- Burns run down the corrie past the hut from Loch Etchachan. Treat before drinking.
- What time of year is best for Hutchison Memorial Hut?
- Plan around May, June, July, August, September. Mar Lodge Estate. Stag stalking mid-August to mid-October; hind stalking October to February. Contact the estate before visiting in autumn.
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