Record spending for the MBA

The Mountain Bothy Association has revealed that its spending on maintaining its network of bothies has reached an all time high. In 2008/09, £45k was spent in maintaining 58 of the 100 buildings in MBA care. While some of the increase in spend was down to increased costs of materials and transport, the greater part of the increase from the previous year resulted from general higher levels of maintenance activity.

Two major projects were completed during the year. A former schoolhouse at Duag Bridge in the northern Scottish Highlands, which had declined to a state of dereliction, was taken on as a new bothy by the Association and fully renovated. Camban bothy in the western highlands, which has been an MBA maintained building for 40 years, was given another major renovation with volunteers undertaking work over a number of weeks. This renovation alone involved an expensive airlift of materials to the remote spot.

Substantial spend was also incurred at a further seven bothies, where work included roof re-sheeting, installation of new windows and doors, and internal improvements such as installation of stoves, bunks, and sleeping platforms.

Membership of the Association showed a small increase (3%) over the previous year and the MBA says it continues to run on a firm financial footing.

MBA workparties take place throughout the year and usually involve a range of tasks from joinery to ditch digging to painting. This weekend MBA volunteers have been battling the elements to replace cedar cladding on the outside of the Lookout, a bothy in northern Skye. For more details of work parties and MBA membership see the MBA website.