In Search of Simple Shelter with Kat Hill

In Search of Simple Shelter with Kat Hill

From Earth to Humans by Earth to Humans Podcast

March 25, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

The episode explores the significance of bothies in the Scottish Highlands with guest Kat Hill, focusing on their history and cultural importance.

For this episode, I’m bringing our global audience to the place I call home - the Scottish Highlands. In this historical landscape, where midgies reign and deer stand majestically atop purple-washed hillsides, simple shelters stand that welcome weary travellers to rest, dry off and, most importantly, connect with each other. Known as ‘bothies’, these shelters may lack modern conveniences, but they offer a chance to escape, breathe and be at one with nature. Today’s guest Kat Hill is a researcher and author who explores landscape, people, and heritage. After reading her book, Bothy: in Search of Simple Shelter, I wanted to explore what these shelters mean to the subculture of people who are dedicated to their preservation and exploration, their history, benefits and current surge in popularity. Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Host: Earth to Humans Podcast

Guest: Kat Hill

Topics covered

  • bothies
  • Scottish Highlands
  • shelter
  • nature
  • heritage
  • subculture

Keywords

  • bothies
  • Scottish Highlands
  • shelter
  • nature
  • Kat Hill
  • heritage
  • travel

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Bothy: in Search of Simple Shelter

Places: Scottish Highlands

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