Bothy
Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House)
The newest bothy in the Cairngorms — Ruighe Ealasaid ("Elisabeth's shieling", long known as the Red House for its rusting corrugated-iron roof) opened to walkers over the winter of 2022-23 after a two-year MBA renovation. The building itself is far older: a cruck-frame house from the late 1700s or early 1800s, most probably built for a shepherd, lived in by an estate family until around 1900. It stands on the Geldie Burn on NTS Mar Lodge Estate, perfectly placed for the Braemar–Blair Atholl through-route and the remote Tarf Munros.
Quick facts
- Walk-in
- 6.5 km· 1.7 hrs
- Sleeps
- 8
- Altitude
- 400m
- Condition
- Good condition
- Grid ref
- NO003869
- Maintained by
- Mountain Bothies Association
- Fireplace
- Yes
- Water
- The Geldie Burn runs past the bothy. Treat before drinking.
- Mobile signal
- No phone signal at the bothy — nearest reception is back towards White Bridge, about 2.5km east.
Our take
The Red House is what happens when a bothy renovation is done properly: two years of MBA work parties, a specialist mason, archaeology surveys — and the result is arguably the most comfortable free shelter in the Cairngorms, an easy 90-minute track walk from Linn of Dee. That accessibility cuts both ways: expect company, especially at weekends. Go midweek, claim a bunk, and use it to unlock An Sgarsoch and Carn an Fhidhleir without the usual monster day.
Getting there
From Linn of Dee car park take the excellent track west along the Dee for about 4km to White Bridge, then a further 2km up the Geldie to the ford, with the bothy roughly 500m beyond — about 6.5km of easy track walking in all. The Geldie ford just before the bothy is a genuine wet crossing; expect to get your feet wet outside dry spells.
Nearest parking: Linn of Dee car park (NTS, paid), west of Braemar
No approach GPX yet
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Stalking season / estate access
National Trust for Scotland (Mar Lodge Estate). The NTS manages stalking with open access in mind — no documented bothy closures, but check Mar Lodge notices in autumn.
What to expect inside
A living room with chairs, tables and a multi-fuel stove; a separate bedroom with eight bunk beds; an internal porch; and — the detail everyone remembers — a four-seat composting toilet in its own outhouse behind the building. The renovation preserved the original cruck-frame stubs, visible behind glass panels in the back wall. By bothy standards this is luxury.
Nearby hills
Multi-bothy trips
Both shelters work from the same Linn of Dee car park — Red House up the Geldie, Corrour up the Lairig Ghru — so a weekend can link the two with a night in each and the Devil's Point in between.
12 km
When to visit
The track approach makes this one of the most reliably accessible bothies in the massif year-round, and a strong winter choice. Mar Lodge Estate manages stalking with public access in mind — no documented bothy closures, but check estate notices in the autumn. The Geldie ford rises fast after rain.
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
- 05:00
- Sunset
- 21:43
- Civil dawn
- 04:05
- Civil dusk
- 22:37
NOAA Solar Calculator · 25 July 2026
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Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House) — common questions
- What's the approach to Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House) like?
- The walk-in runs 6.5km from Linn of Dee car park (NTS, paid), west of Braemar, roughly 1.7 hours at a steady pace. From Linn of Dee car park take the excellent track west along the Dee for about 4km to White Bridge, then a further 2km up the Geldie to the ford, with the bothy roughly 500m beyond — about 6.
- Does Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House) have a fireplace?
- Yes, a working fireplace. Pack your own firewood for Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House) — usable wood near Scottish bothies is scarce, and bothy furniture and boundary posts are not fuel.
- How many people does Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House) sleep?
- Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House) sleeps 8. No bookings — it's first-come-first-served and you should expect company. Carry a tent as backup for busy weekends.
- Is there water at Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House)?
- The Geldie Burn runs past the bothy. Treat before drinking.
- When can I visit Ruighe Ealasaid (The Red House)?
- Best months: March, April, May, June, September, October. During the stalking season (August-October), contact the estate before visiting.
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