How long is the walk-in to Uags?

5km from Toscaig pier (NG 710 378) — park at the pier itself, not at Upper Toscaig — about 2 hours at a steady walking pace. Park at Toscaig pier at the end of the Applecross coast road — the MBA is explicit that you should not park at Upper Toscaig.

Can you have a fire in Uags?

Yes — there's a working fireplace at Uags. Carry your own fuel in: dead wood is scarce around most Scottish bothies, and burning furniture or fence posts is never on.

How big is Uags inside?

There's room for 4. Bothies are first-come-first-served though, and sharing with strangers is normal — on busy weekends late arrivals often end up pitching a tent outside.

Where do you get water at Uags?

A small burn tumbles past the old crofts beside the bothy. It can freeze solid in a hard winter — check before relying on it. Treat before drinking.

What time of year is best for Uags?

Plan around April, May, June, September, October. Outside the best months, expect winter conditions on the approach and full mountain kit may be needed.

Bothy

Uags

Uags sits at shore level on the roadless south coast of the Applecross peninsula, the last standing building of a tiny former crofting township — the Gaelic name, Na h-Uamhagan, means "the little caves". Restored from a ruin by the MBA and Applecross Estate, it now has a reputation as one of the homeliest bothies on the west coast, with its own stony beach and views across to the Crowlin Islands, Skye and the Cuillin.

Quick facts

Walk-in: 5 km· 2 hrs
Sleeps: 4
Altitude: 11m
Condition: Good condition
Grid ref: NG723351
Maintained by: Mountain Bothies Association
Fireplace: Yes
Water: A small burn tumbles past the old crofts beside the bothy. It can freeze solid in a hard winter — check before relying on it. Treat before drinking.

Our take

Uags is the bothy we would send a first-timer to: a short, honest walk-in, a genuinely comfortable interior, and a shoreline setting that outclasses shelters with three times the reputation. The catch is the path — rougher and wetter than the distance suggests, and easy to lose in the woods. Go in shoulder season, carry your own fuel, and you will get one of the best coastal nights in the Highlands.

Getting there

Park at Toscaig pier at the end of the Applecross coast road — the MBA is explicit that you should not park at Upper Toscaig. Walk about 1.25km back up the road to the signed footbridge (NG 712 382) for Airigh-Drishaig and Uags, then follow the coastal path south-east through Atlantic oak woodland. Around 5km and 2 hours one way. The path is rough, boggy and indistinct in places, with several burn crossings — the largest is awkward in spate.

Nearest parking: Toscaig pier (NG 710 378) — park at the pier itself, not at Upper Toscaig

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What to expect inside

Several rooms with sleeping space in the attic plus floor room below — there is no fixed berth count, so treat four as a sensible planning number. Comfortable chairs by an open fire make it feel more like a cottage than a shelter. Driftwood collects on the beach but is often damp and slow to burn; carry fuel if you want a reliable fire.

Nearby hills

Sgurr a' ChaorachainCorbett · 793m · 9.9 km

When to visit

A year-round bothy — the approach is low-level and short, though the burns rise quickly after rain and the path gets very boggy in winter. Midges are serious here June to August; the shore breeze helps more than most spots.

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.

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Daylight Today

18h 39mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 05:06
Sunset: 21:54
Civil dawn: 04:10
Civil dusk: 22:49

NOAA Solar Calculator · 25 July 2026

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Stock up at Portree

Nearest TripSCOT town for food, fuel, and accommodation if the bothy is busy.

On TripSCOT

town

Portree

Main Skye base — Cuillin, Trotternish, Storr

26km from the bothy

tripscot.co.uk

Uags — common questions

How long is the walk-in to Uags?: 5km from Toscaig pier (NG 710 378) — park at the pier itself, not at Upper Toscaig — about 2 hours at a steady walking pace. Park at Toscaig pier at the end of the Applecross coast road — the MBA is explicit that you should not park at Upper Toscaig.
Can you have a fire in Uags?: Yes — there's a working fireplace at Uags. Carry your own fuel in: dead wood is scarce around most Scottish bothies, and burning furniture or fence posts is never on.
How big is Uags inside?: There's room for 4. Bothies are first-come-first-served though, and sharing with strangers is normal — on busy weekends late arrivals often end up pitching a tent outside.
Where do you get water at Uags?: A small burn tumbles past the old crofts beside the bothy. It can freeze solid in a hard winter — check before relying on it. Treat before drinking.
What time of year is best for Uags?: Plan around April, May, June, September, October. Outside the best months, expect winter conditions on the approach and full mountain kit may be needed.

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