Community / Community group reopens Eshaness camping böd
A CAMPING böd offering “off grid” accommodation in the North Mainland of Shetland has opened again after being closed for several years.
The Johnnie Notions böd in Eshaness is now being managed by the Northmavine Community Development Company (NDDC).
Development officer Charlotte Anderson said it is understood the böd was last open in 2019, when it was run by Shetland Amenity Trust.
The amenity trust still owns the building, but NCDC was offered a “try before we buy” agreement.
The böd sleeps up to four people, with a multi-fuel stove, water and toilet facilities available – but no electricity.
A bunk costs £15 a night, while exclusive use of the böd is priced at £50.
Anderson said NCDC was approached back in 2023 by the amenity trust to see if would be interested in running the böd.
It is named after the Eshaness man known as Johnnie Notions, who is famed for developing a method of inoculation for smallpox in the 1700s.
The amenity trust used to run a series of low-cost camping böds around Shetland but in recent years has sought to pass on their ownership.
Anderson said it took a while for NCDC to get the necessary short-term license paperwork in place for the one in Eshaness because the böd does not comply with the Scottish Government’s camping bothy exemption.
This is due to it having mains water and being under 100 metres from a public road.
“We have had two guests stay so far this year and have had several enquiries for next year mainly from folk who have stayed before and are keen to come again,” Anderson said.
“We also had a small open day a couple weekends ago with Liz Tulloch telling some Trowie stories and tattie soup with bannocks around the fire which was a lovely Sunday afternoon, and we are hoping we might be able to do other small events next year.”
Anyone keen to book the böd should contact NCDC on ncdcoffice@northmavine.com or 01806 544 222.
It may not end there for NCDC, with the community organisation also looking into getting a short-term licence to enable the Eshaness Lighthouse accommodation to be reopened.
A little further south, work continues by the Voe community development organisation on exploring the feasibility of taking on the village’s Sail Loft böd from the amenity trust.
Feasibility study underway on potential redevelopment of Voe’s Sail Loft
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