Just west of Fort William is an area of The Highlands which is vast, remote and beautiful. Other than a train line running across Rannoch Moor, there are literally tens of miles between the main roads. It is very easy to escape the hustle and bustle of every day life in these parts but thankfully there are several bothies and even a youth hostel you can stay at if you so desire. I’ve visited most of them and can confidently say that a stay at Meanach Bothy is up there as one of the best. Let’s take a look at why this is the case.
The Journey In
Just like half of the appeal of Christmas is the build up to the big day, so the journey to any bothy is often as important as the stay itself. Whichever way you decide to travel in to stay at Meanach Bothy, you will likely be blown away by the beauty of the landscape.
Many people decide to stay at Meanach Bothy while hiking between Fort William and Corrour station. You can complete the journey in either direction and either way can expect to walk between twenty five and forty kilometres. You can stick to the glen bottoms or scale several summits along the way like this keen explorer did.
If you aren’t up for being out for multiple days or hiking quite as far as this, then I highly recommend you start your hike from the remote Corrour Train Station. You may not recognise that name, but the photos below may look familiar especially if you’ve seen The Trainspotting movies.
My Route In From Corrour
The OS map below shows the route I took to reach Meanach Bothy. At around twelve kilometres in length, this is without doubt the easiest way to reach the bothy and there is so much to keep you entertained along the way.
The paths are clear all the way along, but the first couple of kilometres away from Corrour are possibly the hardest due to the bog fest that ensues. After exploring the area more on the return leg, I’d suggest hiking down to the hostel and then using the clear tracks marked on the map to take you all the down to Loch Treig. Yes it is further, but you ‘ll keep your feel drier for much longer. You might even be lucky enough to catch a ride some of the way like I managed to do. It appears workers on the estate are very friendly and prepared to pick up solo hikers.
Highlights Along The Way
Other than Corrour Station itself, the next highlight must surely be Loch Treig. You approach it at its southern end and get excellent views up its entire length. As you walk around the shore you will also pass close to the home of Davey McDonald, a hardy chap who has been living in tented accommodation for over a decade. It is hard to believe when you see his home, but the video link above shows how happy he is. With the view he has, it is hardly surprising. He must love his solitude though that’s for sure. Another famous hermit called Ken lives in woodland further along the loch and he has been there for forty years. Unbelievable really. Click here to find out more about him.
From Loch Treig To Meanach Bothy
This is where you’ll leave the clear track behind and the harder work begins again. There is a little climbing involved, but most of this section follows the river. It’s a real delight and you are treated to calm sections, rapids and some waterfalls too just for good measure. If completing the walk on a warm day, then you’ll certainly want to stop and take a dip at some point.
The path will take you past Staoineag Bothy, which sits on the other side of the river. There are some stones placed in the flow to help you cross, but I still think there is a strong chance you’ll need to remove your boots before crossing. All hopes of crossing can also be forgotten if it has rained heavily and the river is in spate.
After the bothy, the hike just continues to deliver view after view. You don’t have to worry about keeping sight of the path, as it is well trodden and sticks close to the bank. All you are likely to hear is the cascading water in the burn and the wind if there is any in the long grass. Just perfect!
Eventually you pass around a small outcrop at Meanach Bothy reveals itself in the distance. The scale of the landscape it sits in will really impress you. Either side of the river is a large plateau area with tall mountains rising above it to the north and south. Many of these parks qualify as munros and offer great climbing opportunities for those who seek them.
The Bothy
After three hours plus of hiking and probably more photos taken than you can keep track of, you will finally reach the bothy. What will greet you inside though? Let’s take a bit of a look at that one.
Hopefully the clip above shows what a great bothy it is. Now that I’ve visited many across Wales, Scotland and England, I believe that each one has its own character. Some feel a little unwelcoming and I’ve even spent the night in one, where I had the unnerving feeling of being watched for much of the time even though I was alone. Others like this gem in The North Pennines felt homely the moment I stepped through the door. A stay at Meanach Bothy felt much the same. The Mountain Bothies Association ( MBA ) have surely done a brilliant job in maintaining this shelter. If you a volunteer reading this, then thanks for all of your amazing work.
It was initially a little spooky knowing I was so far from other people and the silence was absolute when the stags weren’t calling to each other. A little scotch, an excellent dehydrated meal and the TV ( fire ) being turned on certainly helped though and I was soon completely relaxed. The stresses of everyday life felt a million miles away. Perfect!
As you can see in the photo above, I decided to pitch my tried and tested OEX Bobcat tent. There were two reasons for this. Firstly, I don’t always sleep well in bothies, especially when alone. A very active imagination helps exaggerate every creak and other sound into something far worse than it is. Secondly, it was the end of the rutting season and the stags were still very vocal. Being outside in the tent would allow me to drift off listening to them, while also having the distant river as a backing track too.
Every time I use the Bobcat I am impressed with how easy it is to pitch and its strength too. The wind did get up during the night, but the tent was faultless and provided me with a good nine hour sleep. Clearly it was needed. Click here to find out more about it.
The Infamous Luibeilt Lodge
Across the river and around four hundred metres from Meanach sits the old ruin of Luibeilt Lodge. It does look a little spooky both close up and from afar. Read some stories about the experiences of others who were brave enough to stay there in the past though and it takes the spookiness to a whole other level. I’d tell you more about it here, but think you’d be far better off just reading one of the famous tales of two young climbers here. Enjoy!
To watch a great video about two chaps who decided to camp beside the abandoned lodge please check out this link. Murray, who is the producer, makes excellent videos and you may well want to check out more of his material if you haven’t discovered him already. His videos have certainly inspired some of my trips.
To Wrap Things Up…..
For my first night on this four day Scottish adventure, I really couldn’t have picked a better place to stay. A stay at Meanach Bothy offers a perfect combination of an excellent shelter together with incredible views and a true sense of solitude in all directions. Enjoy your visit.
