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Truly off-grid, Carn Dearg Bothy is set on the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, high in the heather-clad Perthshire Hills, surrounded by stunning views. This secluded converted Shepherd’s Bothy featuring a Dutch tub with a view is situated just under 3 miles off the main road in the heart of Ashintully Estate and the famous Cateran Trail.
Quick Info
| Sleeps: 2 | Bedrooms: 1 |
| Changeover Day: Fri | Pets Allowed: Yes (2) |
| No smoking | |
| Licence No: Exempt |
With over 40 miles of uninhabited wilderness to the North it makes for the perfect base for walking, mountain biking and wild swimming with just deer, sheep and birds as your neighbours.
Carn Dearg Bothy is eco-friendly and completely sustainable; with water supplied via its own natural spring, a compost toilet and solar power supplying low level lighting and hot water; the Bothy provides the ultimate off-grid low impact break.
A traditional bothy, you will find everything in one cosy room, apart from the loo with a view! This tastefully designed space has everything you need to relax and unwind after a day exploring its stunning surroundings
Cooking and heating are provided via a wood-burning stove, there is also a small, portable gas hob available with two burners (gas provided), or you can barbeque on the fire bowl outside. All the wood you might need for cooking, and heating and the Dutch tub and fire pit are provided for your stay. There is a dining area, and strategically placed armchairs for enjoying the stunning views with the warmth from the stove adding to the experience.
The bothy sleeps 2 with a cosy double bed on the mezzanine floor, accessed via a vertical stair, with barriers installed at the edge of the bed for your comfort.
There’s an outdoor (hot water) shower and a wood fired Dutch tub to relax in and take in the spectacular panorama. You can truly feel at one with nature in this delightful remote location. At night, as there are no streetlights for miles, you can enjoy the stars from the comfort of your Dutch tub, or stay cosy at the fire bowl.
If you enjoy hillwalking or mountain biking, this is the perfect spot, with easy access to the Cateran Mini Trail, a 20-mile (32 km) loop that follows the northern part of the main Cateran Trail, there is also a range of trails and routes to be found around the estate and beyond.
Access from the parking point on the estate is either on foot or bike with the bothy located just 1.5 miles away, along a well-defined part of the Cateran Mini trail. Alternatively, the hosts can take you from the parking-point and drop you with your provisions, then pick you up at a pre-determined time at the end of your stay.
Book Carn Dearg for the ultimate off-grid highland bothy experience!
Discover the vast expanse of the Ashintully Estate, spanning 3,000 acres, offering endless opportunities for exploration and adventure.
Kirkmichael, 4.8 miles away in by road, or 3.2 miles via a footpath, you'll find a village shop and a welcoming pub. Here you can also visit the Cateran Ecomuseum sites, the innovative museum without walls. Crafted by the local community, this cultural destination unveils the rich heritage of Perthshire and Angus. Delve into the tales of its people, the charm of its places, and the beauty of its landscapes.
Embark on an adventure along the Cateran Trail, a scenic long-distance walking route stretching from Blairgowrie (15.5 miles) to Spittal of Glenshee and back, covering a total of 64 miles. For a shorter trek, opt for the 'mini trail,' a 20-mile path easily accessed from the cottage.
Golfers can tee off at Blairgowrie's renowned golf club (15 miles), offering two exceptional 18-hole courses and a charming 9-hole 'wee course.' Blairgowrie also boasts a choice of supermarkets, and a range of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes.
If you enjoy fishing, you have the choice of fishing on the Loch on the Ashintully Estate, or there is river fishing available within 5 miles. Visit Pitlochry (16 miles) to witness the fascinating salmon ladder.
For something completely different, experience the magic of a beaver safari by kayak on White Loch near Blairgowrie. Here you will learn the history of beavers in Scotland, and why they are so important to the ecology of our rivers and wetlands.
Glenshee (19 miles), welcomes skiers, snowboarders, hikers, mountain bikers, and geocache enthusiasts to explore the resort via chairlifts, for memorable adventures and breathtaking views.
Local Events and Attractions
Please note: while we make every effort to be as accurate as possible, the actual position of the cottage indicated on the map above and the proximity of the amenities in the Local Info section cannot be guaranteed to be precise and should be used as a guide only.
Accommodation
Downstairs
Open plan living area with wood-burning stove, gas cooking stove with 2 burners (gas provided) and large cool box
Mezzanine
Double Bed
Outside
Hot water shower
Compost WC
Wood-fired hot tub.
What's included
- Linen (Double Bed)
- Free
- Dutch Tub
- Free
- Pet
- Free
- Sets of towels (per person)
- Free
Services
Bed linen and towels are INCLUDED. Electricity is from battery pack and solar panels only (INCLUDED). Heating is by wood-burning stove (logs INCLUDED). Water is from a private source which is regularly tested; however (as is typical in many parts of Scotland) it can become discoloured particularly after heavy rainfall. Guests may therefore prefer to bring bottled water to drink. A maximum of 2 dogs are welcome (2 large, 2 medium, 2 small), if you wish to bring any other pets please contact us and we will see what we can do. No smoking.
Please Note: Due to the remote location of the bothy, there is no vehicular access during your stay, therefore it's not suitable for those with mobility limitations.
Reviews
(Supplied Independently through Feefo)
Amazing, magic place. Recommended for anyone who love peace and quiet. Host very friendly and helpful. Dreaming to back...
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We had a super stay at the bothy. We like places that are remote and present a challenge to even get to. We drove up (we...
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The Bothy is in an amazing secluded location on the moor which we walked up to (we had been offered a lift up, but wante...
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Lovely Bothy, Location is amazing , just great in every way
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most frequently asked questions about Carn Dearg Bothy. If your question has not already been asked you can contact our booking team.
Question: How do we get there?
Answer: Lots of options…access for 4x4 vehicles, alternatively you can park up at our farm steading with WC and kitchen facilities and walk (approx. 1.5 mile easy walk on a well defined footpath) or alternatively we can drive you and your stuff up there and pick you up at a predetermined time.
Question: Can we drink the water?
Answer: The water to the kitchen sink and outdoor shower are provided via a new dedicated hill spring. The water is tested annually by the council and is delicious to drink so no need to bring water.
Question: What cooking facilities are there?
Answer: You can BBQ on the fire bowl outside, in addition there's a 2 x hob gas stove (Gas provided) There's plenty of kit in the kitchen to cook some simple meals, see inventory. Salt and pepper and olive oil provided and some eggs when our chickens are laying.
Question: How is the Bothy heated?
Answer: Heating is provided from a woodburning stove inside the Bothy with all logs provided. The roof is insulated and so it gets toasty warm with minimal effort.
Question: What power and lighting is there?
Answer: Power is provided by a Jackery battery pack with solar array for top up. This heats the water and provides some low level lighting and can also be used to charge some devices but heavy consumption devices such as hair dryers will not work.
Question: Is there hot water?
Answer: Aside from the hot tub, limited hot water is also supplied via a battery pack and solar array to the kitchen sink inside the Bothy as well as the outdoor shower.
Question: Where is the Bothy located?
Answer: It's located in the Northern part of Ashintully Estate in a secluded hill location with nothing and nobody around you, just deer, sheep and amazing birdlife for company. There's 50 miles of nothing due North of you and it makes an amazing spot to see the Northern Lights.
Question: What clothing should we bring?
Answer: Swimmers for the tub and wild swimming in the burn or nearby hill Loch. Shoes / slippers for indoors, walking boots or wellies and wet weather just in case.
Question: How does the dutch tub work?
Answer: The tub is wood fired. It takes approx. 2hrs from cold and with the lid on, it retains heat well overnight after initial heat up.
Question: How does the loo work?
Answer: The loo is a composting loo in a separate shed with a proper seat and an amazing view! 2 x rolls of paper provided.
Question: How do we refrigerate food and drinks?
Answer: A large cooler is provided with cool blocks.
Question: What can we do during our stay?
Answer: The Bothy is situated on the Southern edge of the Cairngorms national park and in the centre of the Cateran Trail so plenty of options for long or short walks, wild swimming, birdwatching or sit in the tub and do nothing at all!
Question: Is there any mobile reception?
Answer: Good reception on EE and O2, some Vodafone a short walk away if you really must keep in touch.
Question: Is there crockery?
Answer: Yes, you will find all you need for basic cooking, there will be glasses, cutlery, plates, pots, pans and a selection of cooking utensils.
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