Q&A
Juls Stodel is on a one-woman mission to spend a night at every MBA bothy in the UK. At the halfway point, 50 bothies in, as she waited out a weather front, we chatted about ‘survival mode’, the Bothy Code and the many miles in between
What inspired the Big Bothy Walk?
In June, my landlord decided to sell my flat. Nowhere else was renting. I ended my lease, put my belongings into storage and set off on an adventure. I wanted to stay at all of the MBA bothies in the UK, making the journey on foot where possible. It’s not just about the buildings or the landscape, but also about embracing the culture and history of these shelters and their former lives.
What’s more exhausting – the walk or the logistical planning involved?
Whilst the walking has taken me outside my comfort zone, the constant mental work is far more wearing. Often, I’m planning three routes for each day in case the weather turns, the rivers are in spate, or a path no longer exists. I have to keep in mind my food supply, how I can stay dry or warm, whether my power bank will last until the town or village,and how long I can stand smelling like an old gym bag before I absolutely must do laundry.
Tell us about the postcards...
In each bothy I leave a blank, stamped postcard with my parents’ address. In my bothy book entry I ask people to write back. About two thirds of the postcards make it back to me and I’ve received wonderful stories and drawings from MBA volunteers, families, and from people who, like me, gave up on a normal life and just keep moving.
What’s your most memorable night so far?
At Greensykes – the second bothy I reached – my bothymate was Eddie Dealtry, one of the first Marilyn completists, who I’d written about on my blog. I was quite starstruck. I might’ve told him I’d been doing this longer than three days so he wouldn’t think I was an idiot! We were joined by a man who’d lived in Antarctica.
I got to hear a lot of stories. If I’m the least interesting person in a bothy, it’s going to be an excellent evening. Another I remember fondly is my only all-female bothy at Glencoul. I was walking with Emma Schroeder [Ed: our ‘Coastscript’ columnist] and we met another woman, Margy, who’d undertaken her first proper hike to reach the bothy.
It was like a high school sleepover – snacks and ghost stories. We went swimming in the loch in the morning and Margy joined us for the next two days. Probably 80% of the people I’ve shared with have been men, so it was fantastic to get a ladies’ night.
Which bothy really saved your skin?
Sourlies is a damp, dark place that l
