An Cladach to be closed due to Bothy Bible

[Essan]

The fact that folk are parking causing grief and citing the Bothy Bible is proof enough.

Essan

As you stated, the MBA were asked to make contact with the author, what you fail to say is that this has already happened.

An MBA trustee did in fact speak with Geoff Allan to request that future editions of his book contained corrected information, his website also updated with the same, and suggested he opened a dialogue with the estate.

You already know the result was a complete refusal by the author to have anything to do with this mediated settlement.

No, I don't know that. I have heard it claimed, but I am not pivy to any such conversation.

[Bourach]

No, I don't know that. I have heard it claimed, but I am not pivy to any such conversation

Then you may wish to refer to the relevant meeting minutes and trustee, to make sure your statements are up to date and factually accurate?

[Essan]

No, I don't know that. I have heard it claimed, but I am not pivy to any such conversation

Then you may wish to refer to the relevant meeting minutes and trustee, to make sure your statements are up to date and factually accurate?

I am aware of the minutes. But what Trustee?

My comments are factually correct. I say only what I know,

[mynthdd2]

Is this dispute between whoever still going on??????

[Essan]

Is this dispute between whoever still going on??????

Sadly, yes. It'll continue until the day they prove the Earth is flat. And only 6,000 years old

[mynthdd2]

not sure about the 6000 year old bit!!!!

meanwhile, whilst I totally accept the value and contribution that bothies make to us hillwalkers, there is obviously some other agenda going on here

[Gingerbrews]

Although I've been walking for quite a while, I rarely did overnight trips.
Then I bought the Bothy Bible and since then have used a considerable number of biggies described in the book; and have donated both financially and practically to the MBA. On some trips I've removed other people's rubbish and on occasion carried in firewood which I've left for later visitors.
So whilst there may be some downsides to this book, maybe people like me (and I'm sure there are others) will balance out some of the negatives.

[Ronnie Hillbagger]

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/accessing-an-cladach-bothy-on-islay/0020217/

Sadly the closure of An Cladach (due to the Bothy Bible) is now confirmed here on WH.

The MBA statement that they "agreed" to the closure is laughable. It is also tortuous to read how the statement also conveniently glosses over WHY the bothy has been closed, with only oblique references to 'guide books' and the 'parking' issue. It's almost as if a bothy getting closed for 6 months of the year is just a normal everyday occurrence; just another day at the office.

What a disgraceful shambles.

[poppiesrara]

Ronnie - I think it's abundantly clear to everyone that you don't approve of Mr Allan or his publication, and that you feel very strongly indeed about that, above (as far as WH-users can tell) most other things.

I know nothing about bothies, but this discussion is prominent enough to suck people in and I do know something about perspective. The book has been in publication for some time and if it was damaging in a widespread way to the interests of bothy-users, I feel sure you would have told us of any other buildings that have been closed to use as a result. It seems that only one has, and only now, and only for a limited part of the year, and in a way that - as others have pointed out repeatedly - may conceivably be attributed to other factors, of which inconvenient parking (to which a mistake in the book does seem likely to have contributed in some measure) is only one. None of us knows how much of a part of the owner's decision (to which he has every right, for whatever reason) that was but it certainly isn't clear to anyone, including you, that it is 100% of it - regardless of the title of this chain.

That adds up to a small and indefinite impact, regrettable doubtless to you and others (who nonetheless would still have access for the next 11 months, and half of each year after that for a trial period), but not certainly all to do with this book. The author very probably did not wish for such a result, and if you believe he intended to damage the cause of bothy-users, you haven't made much of a general case for that. There are far more important and justifiable things in the world to be passionate about, I would respectfully suggest.

[Ronnie Hillbagger]

Ronnie - I think it's abundantly clear to everyone that you don't approve of Mr Allan or his publication, and that you feel very strongly indeed about that, above (as far as WH-users can tell) most other things.

I know nothing about bothies, but this discussion is prominent enough to suck people in and I do know something about perspective. The book has been in publication for some time and if it was damaging in a widespread way to the interests of bothy-users, I feel sure you would have told us of any other buildings that have been closed to use as a result. It seems that only one has, and only now, and only for a limited part of the year, and in a way that - as others have pointed out repeatedly - may conceivably be attributed to other factors, of which inconvenient parking (to which a mistake in the book does seem likely to have contributed in some measure) is only one. None of us knows how much of a part of the owner's decision (to which he has every right, for whatever reason) that was but it certainly isn't clear to anyone, including you, that it is 100% of it - regardless of the title of this chain.

That adds up to a small and indefinite impact, regrettable doubtless to you and others (who nonetheless would still have access for the next 11 months, and half of each year after that for a trial period), but not certainly all to do with this book. The author very probably did not wish for such a result, and if you believe he intended to damage the cause of bothy-users, you haven't made much of a general case for that. There are far more important and justifiable things in the world to be passionate about, I would respectfully suggest.

Hi Poppiesrara,

The Bothy Bible was published in March 2017 and since then many folk have warned/feared that something like the An Cladach closure would happen. It obviously takes time for such things to develop and FYI there are other MBA bothies that are under threat of some sort of sanction due to the Bothy Bible. We do actually 'know' that the estate quoted the BB as the principal reason for closure as it is minuted in an official MBA meeting. You assert that I don't approve of Mr Allan or his publication, but what you failed to mention was the financial tie-up between the MBA and Geoff Allan and the BB. In other words the MBA must also accept some of the responsibility for the closure of An Cladach. Many others in and outside of the MBA also don't approve of this and a good airing of this issue is long overdue. There are indeed many things in the world to be passionate about, as you say, but so what? surely that does not preclude this, or any other, 'passionate' debate?

[Old Stag]

Mr Allan is releasing a further bothy book next year. It sickens me to think of people making money from bothies.

[Ronnie Hillbagger]

Mr Allan is releasing a further bothy book next year. It sickens me to think of people making money from bothies.

I've heard that too Old Stag and it sickens me too. More bothy closures to come? Just imagine if someone was making money directly on the back of any other charity e.g. Oxfam, British Heart Foundation etc.? It would be in the national press.

[jupe1407]

Some thread

This rather reminds of a chap called Hollis who frequented various Bothy Facebook groups and regularly devolved into a complete mess over Geoff Allan and his book. I apologise in advance for committing the heresy of buying said book, but i've found it pretty useful on the rare occasions I've stayed in bothies. I eventually departed said Facebook groups because they became less about bothies and more about a small clique of folk who clearly didn't welcome the fact that some new folk might start using "their" bothies.

I'd also argue about the term "commercialisation". Bothies are still free, right? So what if someone wrote a guidebook and made money out of it? That's generally the point of producing something and selling it to folk.

[Old Stag]

He was out of order writing the first one and making money from it and he has shown his true colours by going ahead with the second one.
No i am not in KPC nor have i ever met any of them.
*edit except Mossman.

[Essan]

The only difference between Geoff Allan and the countless others who have made money over the past few decades writing books and articles about bothies, is that Geoff has publicly used some of his profits to help with the maintenance of bothies, most of which, since the publication of his book, have experienced no increase in problems at all.