Throughout upland areas of the UK, one can find buildings that provide shelter for passing climbers and walkers. They’re usually left unlocked and are available for use, free of charge. Known as ‘bothies’ (from the Gaelic word bothan, meaning small or makeshift dwelling), they’re spartan places. Over the years, I’ve ascended many of Britain’s higher peaks of the British Isles, but I must admit that I’ve never actually spent a night at a bothy. That’s because I’m a sybarite (‘softie’, in plain-speak), preferring to end a day’s hillwalking or climbing at home, or in a hotel, with a shower, drinks, a decent meal and a comfortable bed!
People have experienced anomalous phenomena at bothies. Take, for example, the Corrour Bothy in the Lairig Ghru, a prominent pass that cuts though the central Cairngorms in a northsouth direction. The late Affleck Gray had an odd experience there one night in August 1932. He was dozing in front of a fire when he heard the open outer door close and the locking bar swing into its keepers. He managed to get out by squeezing through a window. Looking around, he saw no sign of any person or animal. During subsequent visits, he tried, in various ways, but without success, to get the door to slam shut and lock In the mid-1970s, David Trainer was alone in the Corrour Bothy when he sensed a presence and heard footsteps approaching. But no one came in, and when he went outside, there was no one about. Later that night, while he was lying in his sleeping bag, he again heard footsteps coming up to the door.
