Bothy patrols stepped up as vandals target remote Scots hideaways
They are supposed to provide much needed respite and shelter for hillwalkers, but Scotland’s remote mountain bothies are becoming unlikely magnets for anti-social behaviour.
Police have issued a warning after reports the buildings are increasingly being used by groups who are more interested in all-night drinking sessions than appreciating the great outdoors. In one case, a group of climbers who were prevented from entering a bothy taken over by revellers were caught in bad weather and subsequently had to be rescued off the hillside. Officers have now launched a campaign called Bothy Watch to emphasise the remote buildings are not “law-free zones”, which will involve more regular checks and monitoring.
Police Scotland said it was compelled to act after a rise in reports of anti-social behaviour, vandalism and fire at bothies, particularly in the more accessible southern part of the country.
The force said many of the reports were “anecdotal” and was unable to give more details about the incident where genuine walkers were turned away, which took place in Galloway Forest Park.
But PC Samantha Briggs, who is leading the initiative, said there was “real concern” the shelters were becoming popular party spots as the internet had made them easier to find.
“For years these buildings have been a valuable and, in fact, quite a social resource for hill walkers and cyclists, with many reliant upon them on their long distance trekking routes,” she said.
“Nowadays there is a wealth of information available online about their locations and as a result they have become generally more accessible. This trend for the bothy has attracted a different type of user and we are concerned that health and safety on the hills is compromised and the integrity of the bothy lost.”
The Mountain Bothies Association, which maintains 11 shelters in the south of the country, said it was aware of groups driving up in 4x4 vehicles before staging all-night parties.
Such revellers usually often ignore the Bothy Code, which states that all rubbish should be removed on departure and that human waste should be buried out of sight a considerable distance away.
Mountaineering Scotland’s mountain safety adviser Heather Morning said she was glad the issue was being taken seriously before it worsened.
“Bothies are a much-loved resource by Scotland’s mountaineers and hill walkers and can play a vital safety role in bad weather or emergencies, so it’s very concerning to hear reports of them being abused,” she said.