The Bonnie Wee Bothy

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Crafting a Brand for an Off-Grid Escape

Insight

When The Bonnie Wee Bothy approached me, they had a vision of creating an idyllic, off-grid getaway in East Lothian that offered something more than the usual experience. Situated right on the John Muir Way, the site is ideally positioned for walkers, adventurers and couples looking for a peaceful retreat amidst nature. They wanted to offer an experience that was sustainable, authentic and steeped in local charm—not just any ordinary stay, but something handmade by local craftsmen, genuinely rustic and still full of warmth and comfort.

From the beginning, their values of sustainability, eco-friendliness, guest satisfaction and quality were clear. This was a brand that valued the unique charm of its surroundings and wanted its guests to leave feeling truly refreshed and connected to nature.

Idea

To bring this vision to life, we started with a collaborative mood board—the perfect way to hone in on the visual identity that The Bonnie Wee Bothy wanted. With the inspiration Missy initially shared, I refined things further into a few key areas: rustic charm, comfort and quirky personality. I worked closely with Missy to gather feedback and understand what elements resonated most deeply, from the cosy colours inspired by the landscape to the textures that evoked a sense of the outdoors brought in.

From there it was onto sketching out ideas, exploring design styles and refining type. I designed a full brand suite: a logo, typography, colour palette and other brand elements that captured the essence of The Bonnie Wee Bothy. The logo prominently features a local celebrity—a curious hare often seen nearby—adding a touch of local wildlife and playfulness too.

The colour palette was inspired by the soft, earthy tones of the East Lothian landscape, with a touch of warmth to bring that comfy cosy feeling and some vibrant accents to reflect the unique, quirky personality of the bothy. I ensured that every element felt like it belonged both to the land and the vision that Missy had.

Impact

The resulting brand identity has been received so well, both from The Bonnie Wee Bothy and their guests. The visual identity we created—a blend of rustic outdoor charm and luxury—has elevated their offering from other sites in the area. The branding speaks directly to the experience: a serene, off-grid stay that’s welcoming and comforting, while being distinctly East Lothian.

The Bonnie Wee Bothy has successfully used the branding across their website, social media and physical items like mugs, signs and dressing gowns. The cohesive, professional look has helped them stand out in a growing market and resonate with their ideal audience—couples, walkers and anyone seeking a little luxury in the wild.

The commitment to planting a tree for every stay, using local suppliers for welcome hampers and building the bothy with local craftsmanship is all reinforced by the visual identity. It’s been wonderful to see how branding can help tell this story so effectively, making The Bonnie Wee Bothy a destination that’s not just unique, but memorable and truly aligned with its values.

Want to create something great together?

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We’ve known Sarah for quite some time and have worked briefly with her in the past, so we were excited to collaborate with her on the branding for The Bonnie Wee Bothy. From start to finish, the process was seamless and enjoyable.

Sarah took the time to meet with us over Zoom, where we discussed our vision and ideas. She then suggested creating a Pinterest board to help refine and visualise what we were looking for. Throughout the process, Sarah was incredibly organised, setting up a clear timescale and being understanding when we ran late due to our busy schedules.

When Sarah presented her initial draft, it was spot on, she absolutely nailed it on the first try! We made a tiny adjustment to a minor detail, but otherwise, it was perfect. What we loved most about working with Sarah is how she just "gets it." Even with our million ideas at the start, she asked the right questions and guided us to narrow down our vision.

We couldn’t be happier with the final result and would highly recommend Sarah to anyone needing help with branding, websites, or any aspect of design . She truly knows it all!

–Missy & Robs, The Bonnie Wee Bothy