Eastern Highlands · Cairngorms
Ancient natural howff under boulder. No facilities
The Shelter Stone is a natural rock shelter near the head of Loch Avon, not a maintained bothy. All approaches cross exposed Cairngorm terrain. The usual mountain route descends from the Cairngorm plateau into the Loch Avon basin, then crosses a rough boulder field. Snow, high water and poor visibility can make the journey serious. The cavity is cramped, damp and may be blocked by snow. Carry your own emergency shelter.
Broad-area links only. Howff does not import a live avalanche rating. Check issue and valid times on the official page. Area coverage reviewed 2026-07-25.
Proximity does not prove that a trail reaches the bothy. Stored geometry is a mapped reference, not a calculated or verified route.
Download all available nearby trail GPX →The shelter is the cavity beneath a large granite block that fell from the surrounding cliffs. Nineteenth-century Ordnance Survey records describe its use by gamekeepers and tourists. Climbers and walkers continued to use it as a howff, but no organisation maintains it as accommodation.