THE BOTHY, 15 Murlough Road, MURLOUGH BAY, GOODLAND, Ballycastle, CO.ANTRIM

The Bothy is a small single-storey former dwelling located at Murlough Bay near Torr Head, to the north-west of Murlough Cottage and accessed along a narrow road. Built around the turn of the twentieth century (first appearing on the 1904 Ordnance Survey map), the building was a roofless shell by 1922 but has been refurbished in recent years.

The house is aligned north-west to south-east along the south-west side of the access road, with its front elevation facing north-east towards the sea. The building sits above the shoreline in an isolated, scenic setting, with a stream marking the townland boundary running along the north-west side of the premises.

The main block features whitewashed random rubble stone walls, tarred at the base. The roof is pitched natural slate with a rebuilt brick chimney on the north-west gable and half-round cast iron rainwater gutters to the front elevation. The front elevation is composed simply: a sheeted timber half-door to the middle, marked with a 'Bothy' sign above the door head, flanked on either side by a replacement four-pane timber casement window with no cills. The north-west gable is devoid of openings and is now abutted by a small modern store with a monopitched corrugated metal roof and corrugated plastic cladding over a timber frame. The south-west rear elevation is blank and mostly obscured by sloping ground.

A small single-storey annex is attached to the south-east gable, partly cut into the slope. It has a pitched felted roof, whitewashed rubble stone walls, a timber panelled door to the extreme right side of its front facade, and a small window opening or ventilation hole with painted black surround. The south-east gable of the annex contains a rectangular ventilation hole near the apex.

The building does not appear on the 1832 or 1855 Ordnance Survey maps and is not specifically mentioned in the Valuation revision books, suggesting it may have been an outbuilding belonging to Murlough Cottage. Its name indicates a non-permanent residence, though whether this is an original or recent designation is uncertain. The isolated location, simple vernacular character, and authentic proportions make this a rare example of its type in Northern Ireland and of local interest. The setting is enhanced by open land to the north-east and a small area of woodland to the south-west.