Solo Hiking One of Scotland's MOST ICONIC Trails (pt. 1) || Lairig Ghru | Corrour Bothy

[@alangauld6079]

Sorry about the bothy experience, bringing a group of 20 in is not sensible and the early morning visitors were just badly behaved, no respect for the occupants. Sadly as bothies become better known they are becoming overloaded and not everyone follows the bothy code. Corrour especially is very popular, last time I visited in 2021 there were 24 tents outside(including our 3!) and the bothy itself was packed, you can see why they installed toilets there! My first visit was in the winter of 1982 when we recorded the coldest ever UK temperature of -27C. We had heavy snow and it took us 6 hours to cover the 6 miles out to the (now demolished) Sinclair Hut on the north side of the pass. But I love the Lairig Ghru, I've done it half a dozen times in both directions and in every weather, and in fact, I'm going back into Corrour in a couple weeks to climb the Munros above it. Your return route is much less popular, you should find it a lot quieter. I'm really looking forward to your TGO experience I do hope you filmed it!

[@ellihikes]

Wow, 24 tents! That's crazy, can't even imagine how you could fit them in the vicinity of the bothy as the area is not very level and seemed tough to set up a tent in some spots...😳 They were from abroad and maybe not too familiar with the Bothy Code (like putting away food to prevent mice etc.). Also, they didn't have the "best" gear for the conditions and I think they were cold and just "had" to stay inside as much as possible. Totally agree on the toilet, can't imagine the area without one and can totally see why that was a growing issue and health hazard! But the area is so stunning and I was so happy that I finally got to explore it, it's incredible :) As for the TGOC: Yes, I've filmed it - mini series coming very soon (starting next week I think). Thank you for following along, that means so much :)

[@alangauld6079]

@@ellihikes We were camped on the south side of the Dee just beside the bridge. And there were another 3 tents over beside us, the rest were scattered around on the north side. But it is the busiest I've seen it, I reckon a total of maybe 40 people staying overnight. (It was the May holiday weekend though)

[@sirius-8709]

Great video! I live nearby and it was wonderful to see how much you enjoyed walking through the Lairig Ghru. Your place name pronunciations were also quite endearing. It's a shame that the big group spoiled your stay in Corrour Bothy - bothies can be a bit hit and miss. I'm looking forward to watching the second part of your adventure.

[@Anna-uh7qx]

It was so wonderful to hear you say "happy" so many times, and see you constantly smiling. Happy Trails to you and Otto :)

[@ellihikes]

Aww 🥹 thank you so so much! It's easy to be happy when the landscape is so stunning 🥰

[@frankalexander6629]

Was in doing the 3 Munros above Corrour Bothy a few weeks ago and always a busy place. some people never adhere to the Bothy Code sadly. I've walked from the bothy through the Lairig Ghru a couple of times and it's tough going but you managed it well. Look forward to the next part.

[@cheekuenbird38]

Really enjoyed seeing Otto, so happy in the snow. Another beautiful episode, you both really cheer me up ❤ Thank you for you for sharing your journey ❤

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so so much for following along and always leaving kind and supportive comments :) That means a lot!

[@RenateSchneider-d8w]

Wieder ein sehr schönes Video, landschaftlich sehr reizvoll - und Otto hatte sichtlich viel Freude am Altschnee. 🎉🎉❤

[@jameskelly2559]

Beautiful hike. Otto is such a trooper- up for the adventure over any terrain! I will miss your Scottish walks. Hopefully you keep posting your adventures!

[@ellihikes]

He really is 🥰 thank you so much for following along, that really means a lot! It’s not the end yet ;) I’ve participated in the TGO Challenge, so there will be a few more Scottish hikes coming up 😅🥰

[@MainstreamDB]

That bothy situation seemed crazy! Was Otto disturbed by such a large group?

[@ellihikes]

Yes, it was wild 😅 Luckily no, Otto usually isn't scared of people/groups and he just slept on my sleeping bag not being bothered.

[@outdoorsincornwall2060]

Beautiful ... thank you for the time and effort you spent filming this. You've definitely inspired me to put the Cairngorms on my wishlist too

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following along! The Cairngorms are stunning and definitely worth a visit. Incredibly beautiful hikes there :)

[@stephenvicary9243]

Absolutely stunning scenery Elli. Great video shots 🎥 👍🏻 Thank you for sharing (Famous Bothy = popular Bothy = crowded Bothy = not fun Bothy) Pitching up early by the Loch was a wise move 🏕️

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much, Stephen :) I really appreciate you following along! I feel like it is hit and miss with the bothies. I've had some very popular bothies to myself and generally didn't have any bad experiences so far. And that wasn't bad either, they weren't rude or anything. Just didn't seem to know the Bothy Code :)

[@racheledmondson4003]

So relaxing to watch your videos ☺

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much, that's a very kind thing to say 😊😊

[@mikePNW]

Really beautiful area! Unfortunate about the inconsiderate group, but you handled it with class. Always a joy to watch you and Otto on the trail.

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for your kind words and always leaving supportive comments and following along! That means so much 😇

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Well, that snow storm coming in part 2 looks bad for you. Hello Elli and Otto, you looked like you had a great time on this first leg. Lots of smiles and laughter, (and coffee of course) just a shame about the inconsiderate hikes who attacked the Bothy. ✌😜

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following our adventures, I really appreciate your kind and funny comments ☺️ yes, this hike really stood out despite some harsh conditions as it was just so incredibly beautiful! We had such a great time exploring the area :)

[@barkingatthemoon6256]

I walked from Aviemore across the Lairig Ghru as part of a 100 mile trek last month. Hearing about your experience in the bothy made me glad i pushed on to derry lodge to camp. There were alot of people i spoke to on the route that intended to stay at the bothy so id imagine it would have been a similar situation to what you experienced.

[@martinforrester8249]

Well done Elli, some tough ground you've covered. It was unfortunate to have a large crowd at the Bothy, was no-one in charge of them ? I never see you feed Otto, does he eat dried food ?

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much :) There were two teachers (?) with them, but hard to look after 18 teenagers at the same time 😅 to be fair, they were kind (no alcohol etc.), just not realising how small the bothy was and just being teenagers 😂 Otto is a bit food-sensitive (malnutrition issues when he lived in the shelter), so I try not to change his diet too much. He mainly eats kibble when we're out hiking, but I always try adding something that he really likes (like sharing some chips, fruit or veggies, a bit of cheese,...)

[@BrokenBackMountains]

Only ever camped outside Corrour, well away from it. It used to have no toilet and an earth floor. After the snow melted it was really shite....literally.

[@alangauld6079]

Yes, I stayed a couple of times when it was the old bothy. I was quite surprised when I arrived a few years later to discover a toilet block had been added. But it is so popular now that the problem of sanitation and human waste was becoming a serious health hazard as well as environmentally damaging. The National Trust have done a good job of managing it IMHO, especially now the new Red House bothy at the Geldie has been opened, which is taking some of the strain off Corrour.

[@BrokenBackMountains]

Aye, the area has some of the best bothies in Scotland. Red house looks good. Can't wait to visit. Ruigh Aiteachain is like a private house. I remember it was pretty grim with the hill ponies always knocking the door in for snacks😂 The toilets are the way to go with the increased number of people using the bothies these days

[@alangauld6079]

@@BrokenBackMountains Red House is superb, almost hostel standard. I visited it last year on a trek in to the Geldie Munros, camping at Old Geldie Lodge. 5 star bothy for sure.

[@ellihikes]

Stopped there for lunch on my TGO, it's so nice. They have done such a great job on it :) Definitely want to stay there next time :)

[@ellihikes]

That's so true - installing the toilet probably was the best thing ever there. Couldn't imagine the bothy without it!!

[@andrei-lazar]

Nice scenes!

[@user-man-now80]

Just a cautionary observation, at your introduction, through the door window on your left shoulder, the path coming from the trees had a number of hikers, and they suddenly disappeared - vanished ! In a puff of smoke. The Scott's have a keen sense of humour !

[@TicaHikes]

Pity that they spoiled your bothy experience! Elli, I believe you own the Durston XMid solid tent., right? I wonder whether you could sharw with me your opinion about the storm worthiness of the tent in Northern Europe weather. I live in The Netherlands and hike in northern England, Scotland and Sweden. I am keen to buy this tent but want to hear the opinion of someone who does the same sort of hiking I do.

[@ellihikes]

Yes, I've been using the Xmid solid for all my hikes in the last 2 years in the UK. So far, I slept in it for well over 150 nights. I know what you mean when it comes to storm worthiness: the big surface feels like it catches a lot of wind, esp. compared to a tunnel tent. Tbh, it didn't feel totally safe at first to me, but: That was more in my head, I've never had any issues in higher winds. Nothing broken, and it always held up. Had it in winds up to 60km/h and it was totally fine. Important is a good pitch (low to the ground), good pegs and using all the extra guy out points if it's really windy on the bottom of each side. Can't say anything negative, I'm very happy with it. Took a bit of time, but I now trust the tent a lot 🥰 hope that helps :)

[@Philliben1991]

Is there a dog that doesn't love the snow? 🤣

[@ellihikes]

😂

[@chrishiking8818]

Wow Elli and Otto you are in the area that I been too so many times and truly love . In the snow it's so magical there. The bothy situation was strange, as you know normally you respect each others space etc , they were not normal true hikers. Loved seeing Otto in the snow. Take care both, an great video 🌷

[@ellihikes]

It was stunning, can't believe I haven't really hiked there before!! I definitely want to go back, I was so impressed!! I think it was just a combination of teens being teens and they were from abroad, so maybe not familiar with the Bothy Code etc. They weren't rude or anything towards me, just didn't seem to realise that the bothy was quite small 😅

[@Daytona2]

Classic country 😊 Having to go back to Germany before the TGO sounds like a pain. The mountain/group leader/s behavied anti socially and shouldn't have been there. Could you let the owners, Mar Lodge know. Bothies are becoming no-go zones.

[@ellihikes]

They were from abroad and I think not too familiar with the Bothy Code like the number restriction. They weren't rude towards me, just not realising that it's a very small space... It really is a true classic, was so happy to finally explore it :) Yep, I literally went back to Germany for 3 days just to swap kit and head to Scotland again 😅 Not ideal, but I had to drop Otto off as he wasn't allowed on the TGOC....

[@SB-sj4uz]

Whoever was in charge of the group at the Bothy really needs to put some rules in place and respect other users. Very poor really.

[@ellihikes]

They were from abroad, so probably not familiar with the Bothy Code I think…. They weren’t rude, just not realising how small the space was… 😏

[@bettylim6914]

Hi can you be my hiking buddy when I go to Scotland? Seriously I need someone to show me the way

[@ellihikes]

😅 if only I was living closer 😅 the Walkhighlands website is great for routes and paths in Scotland. They have the gpx files as well and the routes are described in detail.... hard to get lost on the hikes they propose 🥰

[@LoremIpsum1970]

Looked lovely, please come back soon, you always seem so happy (mostly). Unfortunately the more 'fashionable' and 'Insta' the outdoors is becoming the more undesirable behaviour you'll come across, one reason why I'm glad England hasn't many roamable areas and only one legal wild camping area. I might be wrong but isn't the only place you can't wild camp in Scotland is areas along Loch Lomond? From what I've seen the American custom of raising a flag to show someone's occupying a backcountry hut and to respect their privacy seems to work well.

[@alangauld6079]

There are actually quite a few areas where you can't wild camp, and they are increasing as new permit areas follow Loch Lomond's example (this is mainly due to bad behaviour by "wild campers" who do not follow the leave-no-trace principle!). But Ministry of Defense installations, University research areas (which can include large areas of hillsides), re-wilding plantations, working farmland etc etc. It's a tiny proportion of the total wilderness area of course but it's not quite the free for all that is sometimes suggested.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

@@alangauld6079 There's no excuse for not reading and abiding by the Outdoor Access Code. Those areas were already excluded under the LRA and there always were measures allowed to change status under certain conditions such as by-laws (Lomond and Trossachs). The land is mostly still private after all and 80% is farmland, again covered by the code. It was estimated WHW had 50k hikers in 2023, the most popular route in Scotland. How long do you see before the move to a US-style permit limit system is introduced along with fines for behaviour and fouling? The only reason you can legally wild camp on parts of Dartmoor, the only place in England, is because landowners are financially compensated...for now.

[@ellihikes]

Thank you so much for following along :) Yes, you're right! The UK and Scotland in particular really has my heart and I love hiking and backpacking there! Unfortunately, some people really don't seem to care enough about nature and the outdoors to follow the basic principles like carrying out their rubbish, properly handling human waste etc.... I feel like it's a bit "better" in Scotland (at least from my experience) because it's a bigger area and not too crowded (if you're away from the few "main" and famous spots that are too easy to reach by car)....

[@wayneparsons2569]

❤

[@edbackes2234]

Shame about the Bothy. 20 person group using a bothy in a non emergency situation definitely isn’t the done thing! If they had a leader then the responsibility is ultimately down to them.