Battle of the bothies
Highland refuges under threat as firms charge walkers to use them
FOR more than 50 years they have provided welcome refuge for exhausted travellers seeking a place to sleep in the wind-battered Highlands.
But it has now been claimed that bothies are under attack from profit-seeking commercial groups which try to turn away other walkers and demand to be given shelter.
The basic cottages with simple facilities are traditionally left unlocked and are free to use. But the Mountain Bothy Association (MBA), the charity that maintains them, has claimed owners are threatening to shut up shop because guided tours and adventure holiday groups are charging people to use them.
Commercial groups are prohibited from exploiting the 100 bothies across Scotland, as outlined in the ‘bothy code’. But in online advertisements, some firms say their groups will be staying in bothies – clearly flouting the rules.
In a statement, the MBA said: ‘We are concerned about an increasing number of commercial businesses (guided tours, adventure holidays etc) using or intending to use bothies that we maintain.
‘There have been incidents when legitimate bothy users have been made to feel unwelcome, inconvenienced or even refused entry when commercial groups have been in residence. Our volunteers who maintain the bothies, not unreasonably, feel aggrieved to know that their hard work is contributing to the profits of a business that probably does not support our organisation in any way.
‘There have been occasions when an owner has threatened to close a bothy if we fail to act to prevent further use in this way.’
There are also fears that commercial use of bothies could affect how local authorities levy business rates on them. Currently, they receive 100 per cent relief payment, which the MBA says could be withdrawn if the buildings are used for commercial purposes.
Roger Muhl, owner liaison officer and trustee at the MBA, said: ‘It has been a concern for quite a few years. The number of organisations that are doing this seem to be increasing.
‘There are an increasing number of long distance trails, and one or two companies seem to be picking up on that and using the bothies.
‘Our code is very important to us, the people who use the bothies and also the people who own them.’ Mr Muhl added: ‘We have up to 100 bothies and 99 of them are privately owned. They expect us to maintain them in accordance with the code.
‘We have been told by some that if we don’t do something about this problem, they will consider closing [their bothies.
‘Earlier this year, about March, when there are short days, a group of six people on a commercial trip arrived at a very small bothy, which was very busy already, at 9pm.
‘It was obviously a planned stay, as they were not prepared to camp. That is very unfair on people using the bothy already – and also quite irresponsible.
‘They were out on the hill in serious terrain in the dark, and had nowhere else to stay.
‘A couple of years ago a pair of climbers complained, telling us that they had gone to a bothy where a commercial group was in residence and they had attempted to refuse them entry.
‘I have seen some commercial companies that actually advertise a stay in a bothy on their website. When we get in touch they say they didn’t know about the bothy code, but it’s on our website for all to see.’
The MBA says it is not opposed to commercial groups using bothies in an emergency or coming for day visits.