Ryvoan bothy fire: crews battle Cairngorms wildfire
A large-scale wildfire that took hold near ryvoan bothy in Cairngorms National Park on Wednesday has spread across more than two miles of dry land, prompting precautionary evacuations of homes, campsites and ski facilities. Scottish Fire and Rescue crews remain on scene with no reported casualties, while the public is urged to avoid Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich.
Emergency services were alerted to a blaze in the open near ryvoan bothy at about 11:50 on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. Firefighters have fought through the night to contain what officials describe as a "large-scale" incident in dry Highland terrain.
Police Scotland confirmed that a number of properties and premises were evacuated as a precaution. The C7 road, known locally as Ski Road, has been closed, and Cairngorm Mountain Resort has also been shut while crews work.
Key Takeaways
- Flames took hold near ryvoan bothy around 11:50 on Wednesday before spreading across more than two miles (3.5km) of dry land.
- Homes, businesses, campsites and ski facilities have been evacuated as a precaution; there are no reported casualties.
- The C7 Ski Road is closed, and the public is asked to avoid Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich.
- A "very high" wildfire risk warning covers the central Highlands plus southern and eastern Scotland until Monday.
- Officials say it is too early to confirm the cause, and firefighting is expected to continue through Thursday.
Where did the fire start near ryvoan bothy?
According to Police Scotland, crews responded to a large fire in the open near to ryvoan bothy within Cairngorms National Park. BBC reporting places the ignition area at Ryvoan Bothy at Nethy Bridge, with flames taking hold before spreading across dry ground.
Ryvoan Bothy sits about 3.5km beyond the public road at Glenmore Lodge. It is one of roughly 100 wilderness shelters maintained by the Mountain Bothies Association and is regarded as one of the easier bothies to reach.
The stone building, originally part of a 19th-century farm, has no running water, electricity or toilet facilities, but it does have a multi-fuel stove. For walkers and overnight visitors, that remote setting is exactly why access advice now matters so much.
Satellite imagery reviewed by BBC Verify shows smoke becoming visible by about 12:30 on Wednesday, with a separate pall drifting southwards from the seat of the fire.
Who has been evacuated and what roads are closed?
STV News reported that homes and businesses were evacuated because of their proximity to the blaze. BBC live updates said villagers, campsites and ski resorts in the area had been cleared as a precaution.
Glenmore Campsite near Loch Morlich was among sites evacuated. Residents in Glenmore, where about 20 people live, were also asked to leave. Staff at Glenmore Outdoor Centre asked people not to travel to the area while the response continued.
Road closures remain in place to support emergency access. Nearby residents in Aviemore, Glenmore and surrounding communities have been told to keep windows and doors closed because of heavy smoke.
Police also asked anyone walking in the Cairngorms to avoid the affected area and to let family or friends know when they have returned. The national park authority urged people who know hikers on surrounding hills to ask them to come down safely as soon as possible.
How are firefighters containing the Cairngorms blaze?
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) initially mobilised four appliances and specialist wildfire resources. STV later said six appliances plus specialist resources remained on scene as crews worked with landowners to create fire breaks.
Deputy assistant chief officer Ian McMeekin said operations were scaled back overnight during darkness to monitor conditions, but crews anticipated remaining on scene for a considerable time. By Thursday morning, four appliances were still attending while the service reassessed whether more resources were needed.
Ross Ewing of Scottish Land and Estates said thick fog had made it harder to see and assess the fire. He added that the blaze had expanded overnight into steep, rocky terrain and that bulldozers were used to create fire breaks at Glenmore.
McMeekin told BBC Radio Scotland it was "far too early" to identify the cause. Public advice includes choosing picnics over disposable barbecues, not leaving litter (especially glass), and disposing of cigarettes fully.
Why does this wildfire matter beyond the Highlands?
Cairngorms National Park is the UK's largest national park, covering more than 4,500 sq km, with about 18,000 residents and major visitor hubs around Glenmore and Loch Morlich. A fast-moving fire there hits outdoor access, local businesses and wildlife habitats in one of Britain's busiest nature destinations.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority called the incident near ryvoan bothy "deeply concerning" and linked it to wider UK wildfire risk during drier, hotter weather. SFRS and the Scottish Wildlife Forum have a "very high" wildfire warning in place from Wednesday until Monday across the central Highlands and parts of southern and eastern Scotland.
There is also ecological concern around ryvoan bothy. Capercaillie, a ground-nesting woodland grouse, have been spotted nearby as recently as May. A local reindeer visitor centre said animals had been let onto the mountains and were not close to the fire.
For readers tracking how sudden travel and outdoor disruptions can ripple into lifestyle and money decisions, BlasterPost also covers practical angles in our Wealth Hacks & Passive Income category. The immediate priority, though, remains safety: stay clear of Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich, keep routes open for emergency vehicles, and follow official updates from BBC News live coverage and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
As of Thursday morning, SFRS described the Cairngorms wildfire as "very much an ongoing incident," with crews expected to remain for the remainder of the day while they work to bring the fire near ryvoan bothy to a safe conclusion.