Building a Simple Emergency Shelter in Hills

Why a few minutes of shelter can change everything

In the UK hills, wind and rain strip heat from a casualty faster than most people expect. An injured walker who is already tired or in pain can slide towards hypothermia in minutes, even in summer. A simple group shelter or bothy bag is lightweight, packs small, and can buy time while you wait for rescue. It will not replace proper help, but it creates a calm, dry, windproof space that slows heat loss and makes the wait far more bearable. The aim is simple: protect the casualty from the elements, keep them as warm as possible, and stay organised until help arrives.

What a group shelter or bothy bag actually does

These are not tents. They are emergency shelters: lightweight fabric bags or open-sided shelters that block wind and rain and trap some of the warmth from the people inside. A bothy bag is fully enclosed, usually with a roof, a window, and vents. A group shelter may be open on one side. Both work by reducing convective heat loss and keeping precipitation off. They are not designed for cooking, sleeping overnight, or pitching on an exposed summit in a gale. Treat them as short-term protection, and practise using yours long before you need it.

Choosing and carrying the right shelter

• Size matters: choose one rated for your whole group plus a casualty. A two-person bothy bag is far too small for four people.
• Look for bright colours for visibility, a clear window for light, and vents to reduce condensation.
• Check the weight and packed size. It should live in your pack on every hill day, not just in winter.
• Keep a sit mat, spare warm layer, and head torch in the same stuff sack so everything is together.
• Test it at home or in a local park. Know which way is up, where the opening is, and how it feels to get inside.

Keep it accessible. A shelter buried at the bottom of your rucksack is almost useless in an emergency. You want it in your hands within seconds.

The practice drill: getting everyone inside fast

Pick a calm day and a safe spot. The drill is straightforward: one person takes charge, shouts “shelter!”, and gets the bag out. Find a spot out of the wind, ideally behind a rock, bank, or wall. Sit the casualty down on a sit mat or rucksack. Remove wet outer layers if you can, but do not expose them to the cold for long. Open the bag, step in, and pull it over everyone. Sit close, shoulder to shoulder. Someone should hold the opening closed, or arrange it so the wind does not blow straight in. If it is a group shelter, sit with your backs to the wind and the opening downwind. Keep the floor dry with mats and bags. Once inside, do a headcount and check the casualty.

Time yourself. Aim for under two minutes from stopping to being fully sheltered. Practise in wind and rain if you can, so you learn how the fabric flaps and where water pools. Also practise getting out quickly and packing it away. You do not want to be wrestling with a wet shelter in a gale when everyone is cold and stressed.

Protecting a casualty inside the shelter

Your priority is to stop heat loss. Insulate the casualty from the ground first: sit mat, rucksack, spare clothing, even bracken or heather. Then add warm layers and a hat. If they are wet, help them change under the shelter, using a towel or spare fleece to pat dry. Put them in a sleeping bag or emergency bag if you have one. Keep them awake and talking if possible. Give warm, sweet drinks only if they are fully alert and not vomiting. Never give alcohol. If they become drowsy, confused, or their shivering stops, treat it as hypothermia and call for help. Use a whistle or phone to signal. Keep the shelter closed, but check the casualty every few minutes.

Ventilation, wind, and the small details

Condensation is a real problem. A bothy bag with vents will reduce it, but you still need a small opening for fresh air. Never use a stove inside a closed shelter: carbon monoxide is a killer. If you are waiting a long time, take turns to go outside for a stretch and check the weather. Keep the shelter anchored: put rucksacks on the corners or hold the edges down. In strong wind, lie the shelter low and avoid exposed summits. If you are on a slope, position heads uphill and feet downhill. Use a head torch with a red light to save battery and avoid glare. And if the shelter starts to fail, have a plan B: a natural windbreak, a wall, or a ditch. But a simple group shelter, practised and packed, is one of the best bits of safety kit you can carry in the UK hills.