Mountain Bothy Association reports on busy year

The Mountain Bothy Association – a charity through which volunteers maintain open shelters in Britain’s remoter areas – has published its Annual Report and Accounts.

The report shows that during 2014 its volunteers contributed over 1,152 working days carry out work on 59 bothies, and spent over £44,000 on maintenance.

The Association took over responsibility for one new bothy during the year – Dubs Hut in the English Lake District- and closed another- Culra in central Scotland (due to problems with asbestos). They also agreed to renovate bothies at Flittingford in the Kielder Forest and at Cae Amos in north Wales and reached agreement with its owner for a replacement bothy at Camasunary in Skye.

In their Report for the year, the Trustees record their appreciation for the support received from the owners, managers and staff of the buildings that the Association maintains, pointing out that without their continuing generosity the Association would not exist.

The MBA is a charity and was established in 1965. It has around 3,700 members, and, with the consent and support of their owners, undertakes the restoration and maintenance of a number of old cottages, huts and similar buildings throughout the wilder parts of Scotland, England and Wales for use as open shelters for walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Many of the buildings that are cared for by the MBA would otherwise have become derelict. The Association currently looks after almost 100 bothies. All of the restoration and maintenance work is undertaken by volunteers and is financed by member subscriptions and by donations. The work of the Association was recognised by the award of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2015.