Smithton Bothy
The place
Smithton Bothy in Dumfries and Galloway, Newton Stewart/Wigtown sector (Galloway Forest Park, southwest Scotland, United Kingdom), at 59 m altitude, coastal plain of the Solway Firth. Continuous cluster Scotland Galloway (batches 220-351). MBA bothy (Mountain Bothies Association, 100 bothies across the UK maintained by volunteers, 6,000 members, founded 1965, tradition of free overnight stays for walkers in abandoned buildings), area of Galloway Forest Park (776 km², the UK's 3rd largest forest park + Dark Sky Park 2009, the 1st in Great Britain + gem of the Dumfriesshire hills, home to now-vanished ancient elephant-like fauna + red deer Cervus elaphus, an estimated 100,000 across the UK), heritage of the Galwegians (Gaelic-speaking people, extinct in the 17th c., Galloway Gaelic, last population on Skye 1849, Scottish diaspora worldwide 30 million).
The setting
Dumfries Galloway Newton Stewart/Wigtown Galloway Forest Park SW Scotland UK 59 m Solway Firth coastal plain, continuous cluster batches 220-351, MBA 100 bothies volunteer-run 6,000 members 1965 free overnight stays for walkers, Galloway Forest 776 km² 3rd UK + Dark Sky Park 2009 1st GB + Cervus elaphus 100,000 UK, Galwegians Gaelic extinct 17th c. Galloway Gaelic Skye 1849 diaspora 30 million.
