Scotland Bothies, Foundations for Off-Grid Cabins, Loch Nell
Supply and install ground screw foundations and structural timber ring beams for architecturally designed luxury bothies in the secluded wilderness of Scotland’s west coast, overlooking Loch Nell.
Client:
Bothy Stores
Location:
Loch Nell, Inverlonan, Oban
Project:
Foundations for Log Cabins
Sector:
Leisure & Tourism
Overview
Build an off grid cabin on sustainable and moveable foundations
Making a hard-to-access project accessible
The only access to the site’s location is by boat, foot, or off-road buggies, with the nearest parking approximately 1 km from the road to where the bothies would sit.
Ground conditions differed at each location, with strata encountered at varying depths.
Sensitivity was required to the surrounding environment to ensure no damage to the ancient oaks that provided shelter around the bothies. The precondition was that any installation of foundations would be removable, leaving no impact on the existing landscape. The advantages of ground screws and screw piles made this project possible.
Solution
A low-carbon, low-impact ground screw foundation solution
Our first visit in 2019 saw us complete works for two bothies, revisiting in late 2021 to install foundations for a third luxury bothy.
On each occasion, transporting materials and equipment to the site required multiple trips, using a small 4×4 quad bike and trailer.
Deploying our portable handheld ground screw machines, a full assortment of RADIX PRO 76mm Ground Screws overcame the various ground conditions and levels. Bespoke fittings were also manufactured to secure the timber ring beams supplied and installed on the project.
Practical on-site solutions and great teamwork ensured the project was achieved on schedule and without damaging the environment.
