RUIGH AITEACHAIN One of the best – a great introduction to bothying (1969) SIZE Large; 2 rooms, both with raised platforms, sleeping 10, plus attic LOCATION LAT/LONG 57.0118, -3.9004, NN 847927, 389m, LR Map 43/35
C
arved and smoothed by
The ‘Feshie’ as it is affectionately
prioritised the regeneration of the
glaciers and carpeted with
known, was one of 3 houses recorded
natural habitat, aiming to double the
moss and heather, Glen
in the 1841 census, an estate house
area of native woodland, investing
Feshie is crowned by a patchwork of
that fell into disrepair before World
heavily in stalking to drive down
beautifully shaped trees interspersed
War II, when it was used as an army
the numbers of deer browsing the
with spiky green knots of juniper. This
training base. By the early 1950s,
ancient Caledonian pine. This strategy,
wide valley, the ‘jewel in the crown of
anything of value had long since
together with some re-seeding, has
the Cairngorms’, is the stunning setting
disappeared, and there was barely
resulted in young pines, birches,
for Ruigh Aiteachain, the ‘shieling of
a habitable room. The only door
and rowans flourishing on the forest
the juniper bush’. The bothy has a
had been jammed shut, so you
floor, while the high woodland edge
particular association with the 19th-
had to enter through the remains
has started to extend back towards
century English landscape painter Sir
of a window opening, covered at
Rothiemurchus. Today the changes in
Edwin Landseer, whose most famous
night by a sheet of corrugated iron
the landscape are clearly visible, and
work, the instantly recognisable
placed across the gap. Once the
wildlife has also started to return in
Monarch of the Glen, was inspired
MBA took over maintenance, the
high numbers. Capercaillie have been
by the time he spent here, and the
place was transformed into one of
seen in the glen again and blackcock
bothy is often mistaken for the cottage
the best-kept bothies in Scotland.
numbers are rising; crested tits and
where he stayed. This stood close
Danish businessman Anders Povlsen,
tree pipits nest in the canopy, and
by though, owned by the Duchess
the new owner of the Glen Feshie
common sandpipers in burrows in the
of Bedford, Landseer’s patron and
Estate, has not only supported
riverside shingle beds. Red squirrels
long-time lover. Over the years the
the bothy’s upkeep but begun a
are welcome visitors, and there have
artist painted a number of frescoes of
major refurbishment. An external
even been sightings of badgers and
stags on the interior walls, including a
porch has been constructed, with
pine martens.
fabled work above the fireplace. Sadly,
stairs leading to the attic, which
the building was left to deteriorate
has become an additional sleeping
The ground floor of the bothy consists
after Landseer’s death, and all that
space. New windows and doors and
of 2 well-proportioned rooms, one
remains is a lone chimney stack, with
a second wood-burning stove have
leading into the other. The first room
its fireplace and hearth still intact.
also been installed. Povlsen has also
has a boxy, 3-storey wooden bunk-
Eastern Highlands 189