Our friendly team is available to help with any questions, Monday to Friday from 09:00 am to 16:30 pm.
Need assistance? Call us on 01450 672 000
McCooks Bothy, also known as Ben Alder Cottage, is often cited as one of Scotland’s most haunted bothies. Folklore speaks of strange noises, slamming doors and even the ghost of the stalker who once lived there. Over the years, these stories have drawn walkers and climbers to the shores of Loch Ericht, curious to spend a night…
The man behind the legend was Joseph McCook, a Stalker on the Estate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. McCook was remembered as a resilient and skilled stalker, guiding guests through the hills until the family left the cottage in the 1920s. Far from the tragic figure of folklore, he lived a long life and died peacefully in Newtonmore at the age of 85.
Today, the stories continue, adding mystery to a place already steeped in history. To honour that heritage, we have carefully renovated and preserved the cottage, retaining its traditional character while making it safe and welcoming for visitors.
“On their final paranormal quest, Daisy and Charlie go hiking in the remote Scottish Highlands to truly test their resilience and ghost-hunting skills.
They walk to a remote bothy, Ben Alder Cottage, which is to be their home for the next 24 hours. They’re spending the night in complete isolation, cut off from civilisation.
Surrounded by roaming deer and wintry mist on a nearby loch, it’s a serene and tranquil spot but also a textbook horror movie location”.
You can watch the full episode here
Most visitors approach from Dalwhinnie, following the long, mostly level estate track along the loch. Many choose to cycle the track and walk the final stretch, which keeps the journey enjoyable and leaves time to settle in before dusk.
Guests can also access the Bothy by canoe on Loch Ericht or by horse through the pony tracks.
To book your stay, simply email bookings@ben-alder.com,
Our friendly team is available to help with any questions, Monday to Friday from 09:00 am to 16:30 pm.
Need assistance? Call us on 01450 672 000
It is a remote, self-supported stay in the Highlands.
Guests experienced in long-distance hill walks and confident navigating rough tracks and stalkers’ paths in changeable weather.
No. Signal is limited and the approach typically takes several hours.
You should be comfortable planning and completing routes in daylight, carrying supplies, using a wood-fired stove, and managing a composting toilet.
A map and compass (and the skills to use them), a charged GPS/phone, warm waterproof layers, sturdy boots, and sufficient food and water. In winter or poor conditions, winter skills and equipment are essential.
Leave your route and return time with someone you trust, and be aware that assistance or rescue may be delayed due to the remote location.
Yes, by arrangement only.
With six bunk bed pods, you and your fellow guests can have a comfortable nights sleep whilst tackling the six Munros that surround the bothy.
Heat the room and cook food with a log fired stove & oven, perfect for roasting, heating water and keeping warm.
Although off-grid, accessed only by foot and featuring simple amenities. We believe that comfort can make all the difference. That’s why we’ve fitted McCook’s Bothy with comfortable sofas, pillows and throws so you your fellow guests can rewind and relax in comfort.
We provide a full set of cookware as well as a mini fridge and a sink with bucket-filling system that provides running water.
McCooks Bothy also features a private outhouse with a composting toilet and wash stand.