The Lake District is by far the most visited national park in the UK. An estimated 18 million people visited the area in 2022 alone. Despite this, it is still easy to escape the crowds, feel totally alone and detach oneself from the fast pace of life. It seems only fitting then that there are four mountain bothies in The Lake District, which offer basic accommodation in some truly memorable locations.
I have been lucky enough to visit all four and found them so amazing and memorable that I thought it was only right that I wrote about them. Here is hoping you find this article interesting and enough of a motivator to make you want to load your back pack and head to one yourself.
What Is A Mountain Bothy?
Many times I have read articles about bothies, which describe them as being like stone tents. This is a perfect depiction in my eyes, as it shows them to be the basic shelters that they are. Upon entering one, you will find a wind and rain-proof building, almost always offering wooden sleeping platforms, some basic chairs and often a fireplace or stove. There is likely to little to nothing else available. If you want electricity, central heating and internet connection, then you might as well just stop reading now. Keswick or Ambleside are more likely to provide what you’re after!
The adjectives used to describe a bothy will vary widely from person to person depending on how well they tolerate conditions which are as basic as they can get. Sit an outdoor enthusiast in front of a roaring bothy fire with some like-minded folk for company and words such as special, relaxing and memorable may well be used. On the other hand, pick a cold wet day and a person who enjoys their home comforts and they will say the total opposite. I have several friends who won’t even entertain the idea of sampling one, despite having never visited. They aren’t for everybody, however myself and many others would say that these people are missing out. You’ve got to try one at least to find out for yourself.
I shan’t add any more about what bothies are, as I know this isn’t why you’re reading this article. If you wish to find out more, then this article is well worth the read. It focuses on the Scottish bothies, which is where the idea of these basic shelters was born.
Bothies In The Lake District- Some General Information
This article will focus on the four bothies in The Lake District maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association ( MBA ). This voluntary organisation helps with the upkeep of many open shelters across rural Wales, northern England and of course Scotland. It is amazing what an incredible job the volunteers do, often giving their own time and money to help protect a place battered by the elements. It is well worth exploring the MBA website if you haven’t done so already. You’ll find a location map, details about how you can volunteer yourself and much more.
There may be other bunkhouses or even non-MBA bothies in the area, which I currently don’t know about. If there is, then nothing has been published about them online. I suspect that is how the regular visitors would like it to stay.
Bothy One- Lingy Hut
The appeal of Lingy Hut is its remote location. Positioned high on a windswept moor in the northern fells, this area is little visited compared to other areas of the national park.
The bothy itself is the smallest and most basic of the four. One look at the photo below will show you that it has a distinct resemblance to a garden shed. I promise it is more comfortable than one and also offers less cobwebs than spiders than the little building you perhaps have at the end of your garden.
The building is well insulated and still offers excellent protection from the wind and rain. Sitting at around six hundred metres above sea level, you are likely to experience winds up there like I did. Laying there in the dark listening to it whistling around the building is actually a very relaxing experience. At least I found that to be the case.
Despite its small size, there are three sleeping platforms on which to bed down. You won’t get many of you in and you can totally forget privacy in the one room shelter. Hopefully you’ll be lucky like me and get the place to yourself. I think the video clip below will do a good job in showing you exactly what you can expect upon visiting Lingy Hut. If you wish to read more about the bothy, including its location and my experience staying there, then please click here.
Bothy Two- Warnscale Head Bothy
Of the four mountain bothies in The Lake District, this one is by far the most visited and loved. I’d read about the place and admired many photos before actually visiting myself for an overnight stay. I now understand exactly why Warnscale Head is so special. I challenge anybody to find such a quaint bothy with the incredible views this one has. It’s hard to beat.
The journey to the bothy is something special no matter which route you take. It’s almost pointless playing the bothy spotting game on the way in though. With the tiny building located on the site of an old slate mine and being constructed from the same material, it blends into its surroundings like a polar bear in the Arctic. You might even second guess yourself and think you’re on the wrong route. Stick with the maps. You’ll almost stumble across it about a hundred metres or so from its door.
Only slightly larger than Lingy Hut, the old nature of the cottage means that you may well get to experience what everyday life is like for an NBA centre. Stooping is needed on two occasions just to enter the main room, but thankfully your head will be safe from injury once inside. I couldn’t help but wonder how many folk have brained themselves on the woodwork over the years after one too many drams of whisky.
Once again I have included a video clip below, which will give you a tour of the bothy and go some way in showcasing the beauty of the landscape surrounding it. If you wish to read more about my night there, including the route in and my experience meeting the resident mouse, then please click here.
Bothy Three- Dubs Hut
What is odd about Dubs Hut is that it’s located only around a kilometre away from Warnscale Head Bothy. There are usually much greater distances between mountain bothies in the UK. You do need to ford the river when travelling between the two shelters, however it still only takes around twenty minutes at most to make the journey.
Most folk opt to stay at Warnscale Head, owing to its reputation and more impressive views. Dubs Hut shouldn’t be totally overlooked though. You are still blown away by the rugged and wild beauty of the landscape surrounding it and there is a relatively easy route in from Honister Slate Mine car park.
Inside The Bothy
Dubs Hut is a much larger space than nearby Warnscale. It therefore does make a great backup option should you find Warnscale Bothy full.
The bothy is still a one room affair, but there is far more room to unpack, settle in and relax in front of the stove. Several chairs are also available as well as two sleeping bunks and several trinkets left by previous occupants on the mantle piece.
I haven’t had the opportunity to stay at Dubs Hut myself yet, but have included an entertaining video link to show you what you can expect if you decide to spend the night here. The flashing disco lights are an optional extra!
Bothy Four- Mosedale Cottage
This bothy feels very different to the other three owing to its location and size. Mosedale Cottage has served estate workers for some considerable time and so is a much larger building. It is a multi-room affair, so there is little chance of finding the place full upon arrival.
It’s location also feels the wildest and remote of the four mountain bothies in The Lake District. The landscape here is wide, open and pretty bleak. There is certainly a very different feel here compared to Warnscale and Dubs Hut, but it is still beautiful in its own unique way.
How To Reach Mosedale Cottage
There are several options when heading to Mosedale Cottage. I visited during a long circular walk, which saw me approach from the east and the end of The Old Corpse Road.
For natural beauty and time efficiency, I’d suggest parking at the end of Haweswater and hiking in via Gatescarth Pass. Yes there is fair bit of climbing to endure right from the off, but the views make it more than worth it.
Inside The Bothy
Mosedale Bothy is well equipped with a good stove, chairs, a table to cook and eat at and of course several rooms complete with sleeping platforms. I can well imagine this would be a great place to visit if part of a larger group.
Each to their own of course, but I’m not sure I’d fancy staying here by myself. I’d find the size and location of the place a little spooky if I’m honest. If you are easily scared, then this bothy might be worth visiting with somebody else in tow.
To Wrap Things Up……
I hope you have found this article interesting and informative. Most importantly, I hope it has inspired you to visit one of these remote open shelters if you haven’t done so already. It might be an experience you sample only once or like me you may well be planning the next trip straight after getting back to the car. Either way you’ll have some interesting stories to tell and friends and family telling you that you’re mad and lucky to still be alive! They don’t know what they’re missing.