Cairngorm Bothies to build six more bothies by Spring 2022

Eco-friendly holiday home firm Cairngorm Bothies is to add six more “off road and off-grid” bothies by spring 2022 in a bid to meet growing demand for staycations.

Cairngorm Bothies to build six more bothies by Spring 2022

Cairngorm Bothies

Located in the Blelack Woods in Aboyne, the business already has six bothies powered solely by renewable energy. Its sister company Cairngorm Lodges also has five individual, self-catering lodges on-site.

Due to the success of the bothies, owner Gordon Drummond is to spend £500,000 to add six more to its roster – bringing his total investment in the whole business to £1.75 million since 2009.



If demand continues, Mr Drummond, former director of the National Subsea Research Initiative (NSRI) also has plans to spend another £500,000 on six more of the bothies bringing his total to 18 by 2023.

He said: “We are delighted to be expanding the Bothy Park again and will open our next six for April 2022, with work being carried out over the winter, weather permitting.

“As they are deep in the forest, we have to transport all the materials to the site, but as we are using a local builder, he knows the area well.

“Those who have stayed in the bothies over the past two seasons have said what a special experience it was, giving them a flavour of the considerations of sustainable living, integrated into nature, whilst in the spectacular setting of an ancient woodland.”

Cairngorm Bothies to build six more bothies by Spring 2022

Visitors to the cabins enjoy an “off grid” experience with no Wi-Fi connection, to switch off from the everyday world. Solar panels generate power, with the stored energy driving a water pump to purify the water.

Wood burning stoves, supplied with logs from the estate, perform a multitude of tasks including heating the main living areas.

Mr Drummond added: “They are for those who want to enjoy and experience a remote setting. We deliberately site them as far from tie in points to existing infrastructure, such as phone, water and electric.

“You can explore and roam within the mature woodlands on what is an historic Scottish Highland estate.

“I will be delighted if we end up with 18 bothies in total by 2023, as that is a good sized development which has grown year on year, subject to demand.”

All bothies are created using an Abyone-based architect and builder and a Scottish manufacturer based in Dumbarton.

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