Cabin details
-
Booking:
To make a booking, contact the custodian.
To get an idea of availability see the
booking calendar.
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Custodian:
Ali Borthwick
2 Aytoun Grove
Dunfermline KY12 9YA
01383 732 232 (enquiries before 9pm
please).
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Location:
Balgowan,
Inverness-shire, 7 miles SW of
Newtonmore
on a single track road just north of the A86
Newtonmore to Spean Bridge road.
OS map
Google map
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OS Map:
Landranger 35, Kingussie and Monadhliath Mountains.
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Grid Ref:
NN 638 944
For GPS:
Hut: NN 63898 94391
Car park: NN 63812 94355
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Postcode:
PH20 1BS (for satnav).
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Access:
From Newtonmore (just off the A9), follow the A86 for 7 miles to a
turning on the right signposted Balgowan, just to the west of the
west gate of Cluny Castle (don't go up to the castle!).
Take the single track road to the car park
(photo
- the red car is in the car park).
This is on the right, about 300 yards from the A86,
soon after the Tigh an Each B&B.
There is space for 6 (carefully parked) cars.
The access path is on the left of the car park, facing in - visible
on the
photo,
behind the red car.
Follow the track up the hillside and round to the right behind the
trees,
to reach the hut in about 100 yards.
Coming from the south, it is possible to reach Balgowan by turning off
the A9 at Dalwhinnie, then turning right just after the
Monadhliath hotel, then through Laggan to Balgowan.
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Accommodation:
Ten people: eight on two alpine-style sleeping
platforms, and two on bunk beds in an adjoining small room, all with
mattresses.
-
Price:
£6 per person, per night (for both JMCS members and
non-members).
In addition, there is a coin meter for the electricity.
NB: the meter now takes £1 coins
(was £2 coins until recently).
-
Facilities:
Electric lighting/heating/cooking, wood burning
stove (bring your own wood), H&C water, WC, shower, drying room,
kettle, 2 microwaves, 2 fridges, and crockery and kitchen utensils
are supplied.
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Mobile phone
reception:
Orange has good reception;
O2 has no reception.
We have not checked other networks, but do not rely on reception.
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NB:
THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA - KEEP LATE NIGHT NOISE TO A MINIMUM.
NO CAMPING IS ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY.
TAKE AWAY ALL REFUSE. DO NOT LEAVE IT IN NEIGHBOURS' BINS.
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Shops:
There is a surprisingly well-stocked shop in Laggan, about 1.5 miles
west of the hut, selling most of the basics, including firewood,
together with lots of non-basic items - see their
web page.
The shop is open every day (including Sunday) approx 9am-6pm or later
(full details on their web page).
Of course, there are also many shops in Newtonmore.
-
Petrol stations:
There is a petrol station in Newtonmore, open 7am-10pm every
day except Christmas and New Year's Day.
There is also one at Fort William, but there is none going NW until a
few hundred yards past Invergarry, on the Fort Augustus road.
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Bars:
The
Laggan hotel
is about 3/4 mile to the west
(the hotel is on the A86 but, if walking, the walk is
mostly along the single track road through Balgowan - see the OS map),
and serves bar meals to non-residents (the hotel is not open every
night in the low-season, so it is worth checking before relying on
it).
The
Monadhliath hotel
is also nearby, and there are many hotels and bars in Newtonmore.
