Edinburgh JMCS | Cabin details

Booking To make a booking, contact the custodian (even if you are a member, do not simply go up there without contacting the custodian).
To view availability, see the Cabin booking calendar.
Custodian
Ali Borthwick, 2 Aytoun Grove, Dunfermline KY12 9YA
email
phone Home: 01383 732232; Mobile: 07810 865754 (before 9pm please)
[the above email address is the Custodian's personal address and should yield a quick reply; however, if you do not receive a reply in a few days, please try the Club's own (alternative) email address: ]
Location Balgowan, Inverness-shire, 7 miles SW of Newtonmore and 1 mile E of Laggan, on a single track road just north of the A86 Newtonmore to Spean Bridge road.
Maps Landranger 35, Kingussie and Monadhliaths. OS map (streetmap) OS map (pdf) Google map
NB if you use Google maps for navigation, note the following.
- the car park is on the road, just to the west of where 'Tigh an Each' is marked on the map - in the real world, Tigh an Each is actually further east.
- the 'road' marked just to the east of the hut, which looks like it might lead there, is not a road but a completely overgrown old track - ignore it.
- you will probably find that you have no phone signal as you approach Balgowan, so your Google navigation will stop working! You might want to print out, or download to your phone, the above pdf map of the area for the final approach.
Overall, you might be better off using a satnav and the lat/long coordinates below.
Grid Ref Hut: NN 63898 94391 Car park: NN 63812 94355
Lat/Long Hut: 57.0205 N, 4.2440 W Car park: 57.0201 N, 4.2449 W
Postcode PH20 1BS (for satnav).
Access From the south turn off the A9 through Dalwhinnie onto the A889 then, after 8.5 miles, turn right onto the A86 at the T-junction just after the (closed) Monarch hotel, then follow the A86 through Laggan. About 1 mile after Laggan take the second turning on the left into Balgowan (just before the west gate of Cluny Castle), and follow this 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.
From the west follow the A86 through Laggan, and continue as above.
From the north turn off the A9 through Newtonmore onto the A86 and follow this for 7 miles to a turning on the right signposted Balgowan, just to the west of the west gate of Cluny Castle. This is the single track road mentioned above - follow this to the car park.
Web cams If you want to get some idea of what the road conditions are like see here for a list of road traffic web cams.
In the Highland section the A9 ones, in particular Drumochter, are obviously worth looking at. Also, the Catlodge West one is on the A889 about 1 mile due south of the Cabin.
Accommodation Ten people: eight on two alpine-style sleeping platforms, and two on bunk beds in an adjoining small room, all with mattresses and pillows (for hygiene reasons, please bring your own pillowcase).
Price See the overall huts page.
In addition, there is a coin meter for the electricity, which takes new £1 and £2 coins - bring plenty with you!.
Payment How to pay for a stay in one of the huts.
Facilities Electric lighting/heating/cooking, wood and coal burning stove (bring your own wood or coal, or buy it at Grant's Filling Station in Newtonmore), H&C water, WC, shower, drying room, kettle, 2 microwaves, 2 fridges, and crockery and kitchen utensils are supplied.
NB It is worth bringing your own tea towels - we try to provide a supply but, with no-one on hand it is hard to keep them clean!
Mobile phone reception Orange/EE and 3 have fair reception; Vodafone is intermittent; O2 has no reception. We have not checked other networks, but do not rely on reception.
NB THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL AREA - KEEP LATE NIGHT NOISE TO A MINIMUM.
NO CAMPING IS ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY.
DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE HUT.
When you leave
- Turn off all electrical appliances at the sockets, including fridges and water heater; leave the fridge and icebox doors open.
- DO NOT TURN OFF THE MAINS POWER SWITCH.
  The power must be left on to keep the trace heaters running - these are crucial to avoid burst pipes.
- Take away all refuse. Please do not leave it in neighbours' bins.
- Ensure that all doors and windows are left locked/secure.
Shops The Laggan Stores The local Laggan Stores shop reopened as a 'Coffee Bothy and Gallery' on 3 May 2018. The website says that it sells rolls, milk and dairy products, bread and general provisions (including coal). It is located about 1.5 miles west of the hut.
Other nearby shops are in Newtonmore.
The Newtonmore Coop is open until 7am-10pm, seven days a week, and is well stocked, including fresh food.
The Newtonmore petrol station is likely to have coal and wood (although not guaranteed!).
Petrol stations There is a petrol station in Newtonmore, open 8am-10pm every day except Christmas and New Year's Day (or was once! - no website to check on this). 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.
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).
Of course, there are lots of bars and hotels in Newtonmore.