Bothy Tales

Footsteps in the Scottish Hills

Author shortlisted for the Great Outdoors Book of the Year. John D. Burns is an award-winning mountain author.

I can move only with the aid of barrels of anti-inflammatory gel, sticking plasters, and real ale anesthetic. Martin and I descend from hours of walking to the small town of Middleton-in-Teesdale. I walk, stiff-legged, into the campsite office, and a plump, middle-aged woman looks up from her desk and can see the old timer is in trouble.

“Oh, what a shame you weren’t here last week,” she says, pity radiating from behind her horn-rimmed specs. “You’ve missed him.”

I look at her, puzzled.

“Elvis!” she explains. “You missed Elvis.”

Oh God, now I’m hallucinating.

From remote glens deep in the Scottish Highlands, John D. Burns brings a new volume of tales - some dramatic, some moving, some hilarious - from the isolated shelters mountain people call bothies. Travel with Burns to secret places hidden amongst the British mountains and share his passion for the wonderful wildness of our uplands. Meet the vivid cast of characters who play their games there - from climbers with more balls than sense to a young man who doesn’t have the slightest idea what he’s letting himself in for!

©2018 John D. Burns (P)2020 John D. Burns