Scotland’s wild mountain shelters ‘under threat’

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTLAND’S bothies are under threat from commercial groups who are illicitly using them as overnight accommodation.

The Mountain Bothies Association – who maintain many of Scotland’s wild shelters – have warned that the buildings may even be closed down if the practice doesn’t stop.

Scotland is currently home to around 100 bothies, which provide essential shelter to outdoor enthusiasts for free.

But some companies offering guided hikes in the Scottish Highlands are including them in their itinerary without getting the owners’ permission first.

The large groups that are crowding into the small shelters are causing problems for hikers who try to use the bothies – with some walkers saying that they have even been turned away from the buildings.

The MBA are warning these commercial groups to gain the permission of the landowner first, so that the shelters can continue to be used by all.

Scots bothies given major revamp

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTLAND’S bothies have had a major revamp this year, with a record amount of money spent on sprucing them up.

In the last financial year £45,000 was spent on maintenance work on 58 out of 100 of the buildings looked after by the Mountain Bothy Association.

The group made headlines earlier this year with the installation of a new chemical toilet at one of the properties they maintain.

And two major projects have been carried out with the former schoolhouse at Duag Bridge in the Highlands being transformed from a derelict building into a fully habitable shelter.