One of the worst things about being a ‘happy hermit’ these days (or any introverts who prefer small circles of friends) is that the extrovert world expects you to join in! There’s nothing wrong with being introvert or extrovert, but it’s good to enjoy a little solitiude, to appreciate nature and animals, compared to non-stop motormouths!
Bothy is a stirring beautiful book, ideal reading for anyone who has had enough of the modern life, and longs to run to the hills. A bothy is a small cabin or remote hut, where the door is always unlocked. You can find them in the wilderness or mountains, and you’ll have to take a tea kettle for a cuppa, as it won’t have electricity, mod-cons or running water.
The author reveals the history of these wild mountain shelters (and the people who visit them) then takes us on a local tour of bothy shelters, with a historian’s insight and rambler’s imagination. Alongside her own story of heartbreak and new purpose, she tells stories of fellow wanderers, past and present.
Written with warmth and wit, Kat moves from a hut in an active military training centre, to the far-north of Scotland and to a fairy-tale hut in Wales. Always exploring the conflict between our design to preserve isolated beauty and the urge to share it with others.
An intelligent & thoughtful book that will have you reaching for your boots. Also a meditation on climate change & emotional growth. Cal Flyn
About the Author
Kat Hill is a writer and researcher based on the west coast of Scotland, who holds an Environmental Humanities fellowship and MA in Environmental Humanities. She left busy academic life in London for a life in Scotland, where she works as a community rewilding coordinator.
