The Club ‘hut’, known as Muir of Inverey, is situated some 8 kilometres west of Braemar, on the north side of the Linn of Dee road – a fabulous location from which to explore The Cairngorms, with the heart of the eponymous mountain range close by.

It is available for use by Club members and guests accompanying them and also by members of other recognised climbing clubs, with whom it is much in demand for weekends throughout the year.

Bookings must be made to the Huts Booking Secretary, and early booking is always advisable

Accomodation

The accommodation comprises a common room in the original stone building, a kitchen in a side extension, and four bedrooms, three washrooms (all with a shower cubicle, and one equipped for disabled users), a members’ room, and a drying room in the wooden extension. The kitchen is equipped with two electric cookers (4-ring ceramic hobs with ovens below), two microwaves, two kettles, two toasters, a plumbed-in hot water dispenser, a large larder refrigerator, a large fridge-freezer and a wide range of utensils, crockery and cutlery. The common room has a woodburning stove. Other space heating, water heating and cooking is by electricity.

The bedrooms are for 6, 6, 4 and 2 persons in two-tiered bunks and each with an individual bunk light. The members room contains four beds normally reserved for use by members even when the 18 bedroom places have been booked by non-members. The bunks are equipped with mattresses, mattress covers, pillows and ample blankets, but these must be used with sleeping bags or top sheets and pillowcases. Bedroom heating is by two-hour timer switches.

Location

Drive west from Braemar for 6 miles, the hut is a white building with a drive on the right. Postcode: OS grid reference NO 076896. What3words:

Availability

This availability calendar is not updated in real-time so is indicative only. Enquiries to stay in the hut must always be made in advance by contacting the Muir Booking Secretary by emailing – muir-booking@cairngormclub.org.uk who will also be able to advise on maximum/minimum group sizes.

Weekends tend to become well booked as much as a year ahead, often more, so early booking is advised.  Prospective users who cannot secure a weekend booking are encouraged to think of midweek bookings, which could be as much as Sunday night to Thursday night inclusive.

Please note that the dates marked as booked on the calendar refer to the nights that the cottage is booked for.

Note that the hut is only available for bookings by recognised Clubs and groups, and is not available to the general public.

*** For up-to-date bookings click the “today” button below ***

Guidance

Members and visitors are expected on departure to leave Muir secure and with electric appliances turned off EXCEPT THAT the fridges should always be left on and in winter the panel heaters in the kitchen and washrooms should be left on at a low setting by way of frost protection. The water and electricity main switches should NEVER be turned off on departure. Users should take all of their refuse away with them; most recyclables can be disposed of at the recycling bins at Inverey.

The use of tents and camper van accommodation within the precincts or on nearby ground is not permitted. Animals are not permitted within the building.

If you have booked Muir Cottage please download the notes required for your stay by clicking here.

Costs

Charges are currently £6 a night for members and £13 a night for others, except where reductions apply. Special needs groups and 50+ groups based in Aberdeen City or Aberdeenshire qualify for a 50% reduction.  There is no charge for children under 5 accompanying member parents;  otherwise children under age 16 qualify for a 50% reduction. Those taking children accept responsibility for the safety and welfare of the children, and for the avoidance of disturbance to other visitors present.

Bookings and payments should be made to the Muir Booking Secretary, who will provide a note of the code for the keybox shortly before the arrival date booked for.

The cottage is also available for day use to members and their guests accompanying them, the charge being £3 per person. Day use should be booked in the same way as overnight use.

History

The Club has had the use of Muir Cottage for some seventy years, beginning with a lease of the original stone cottage. In 1971 it became possible to purchase the site through the generosity of a former Club member, Dr. George A. Taylor, who on his death in 1965 had bequeathed to the Club a quarter of the residue of his estate. The cottage was then considerably expanded by the construction of a substantial timber extension for the sleeping accommodation and toilet/washroom facilities, with the old toilet/washroom becoming a kitchen. In 2004, with funding from Cairngorm Leader+, Aberdeenshire Council and Aberdeen City Council, Awards for All, the Scottish Mountaineering Trust, and other donors including Club members, alterations were undertaken to allow use of the cottage by disabled persons and to form a larger better equipped kitchen.