A new bothy in the Scottish Highlands is now open for overnight stays following two years of renovations.
Ruighe Ealasaid, or The Red House, is located deep in the southern Cairngorms, in a prime spot for hillwalkers.
According to the Mountain Bothies Association, which carried out the work, it is also in an important position for those following one of several long distance routes through the mountains.
The bothy includes amenities such as a multi-fuel stove, a composting toilet, and sleeping bunks.
According to the Mountain Bothies Association, Ruighe Ealasaid is believed to have been built in the late 1700s or early 1800s, most likely as accommodation for a shepherd. It fell out of use in the first half of the 20th century and over the years became an informal bothy.
It was used in this way until the 1960s and gradually became increasingly derelict. It got its name, The Red House, from its corrugated iron roof which rusted.
Chair of the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) Simon Birch commented: "I want to thank the volunteers who have made this project happen. They have transformed a former shieling which had become derelict and in a dangerous condition into a wind and watertight bothy complete with adjacent toilet facilities.
"It will be a valuable resource for walkers visiting this remote area, one where poor weather regularly occurs, best instanced by the fact that over the two years of work parties these volunteers have come to the aid of a number of walkers who have found themselves in difficulties.
"We are extremely grateful to the owners of the building, The National Trust for Scotland Mar Lodge Estate, for allowing us to undertake the project and for the considerable practical assistance that they provided."
Those interested in The Red House who have never stayed in a bothy before should be aware that it is not a holiday cottage. Bothies are typically small buildings that have minimal furnishings, and so visitors must provide their own fuel and sleeping bags, and make their own provision for drinking water.
More information can be found on the Ruighe Ealasaid page on the Mountain Bothies Association website.
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