Bothies such as this one at Doune, on the West Highland Way, are not generally available for commercial groups
The charity that looks after almost a hundred mountain shelters has reminded users they are not available for commercial use.
The Mountain Bothies Association said it has discovered some of the buildings in its care used by commercial organisations or advertised for such use.
This puts the agreements with the buildings’ owners in jeopardy, the association said.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “These buildings do not belong to the MBA. They remain in private ownership.
“From time to time, the association has found evidence that some of these bothies are being used by commercial organisations either as overnight accommodation for their clients or as a base for their activities.
“This is prohibited under the MBA’s agreements with the owners of these buildings unless the owner has given specific permission.”
MBA trustee and owner-liaison officer Roger Muhl said: “These buildings are made available as open shelters only through the generosity of their owners. Without such generosity there would be no bothies.
“Unauthorised commercial use places the good relations that the MBA has with these owners under strain and could even result in the closure of a bothy.
“It is also unfair to legitimate users arriving at the bothy who may have difficulty finding space, be made unwelcome or even be told that they cannot stay.”
The charity, which cares for almost 100 rudimentary shelters in the uplands of Scotland, England and Wales, said commercial organisations wishing to use bothies have to get permission from the owner of the relevant building.
“Organisations having difficulty finding bothy owner contact details can send a message with appropriate details to the MBA website and the association will do its best to help,” the spokesperson added.
Margaret
20 February 2013Commercialism has all but wrecked the old traditions of mountaineering.
Maybe all those making money out of the activity, especially the gear manufacturers, should be donating substantial sums to groups like the MBA (and not as a fee to use the bothies) and to Mountain Rescue.
AnnB
21 February 2013With this post I’m afraid I can’t remember if it was someone who was there who told me about it, or if I read the story somewhere; if it was written down then I apologies for not being able to credit the author. Anyway, it is not my story. I’m only retelling and paraphrasing it as it may be of interest with regard to the above article.
It happened out at Ben Alder Cottage decades ago. A small group of the Creag Dhu club arrived at the bothy late in the day. Sacs were dumped at the door and one of the party went in to see who was there. On going into the left hand room someone immediately told him, “There is no room, the bothy is full”. A private school group had apparently taken residence.
The bearer of bad news told the lads outside that it was full. A bigger bloke then went into the room and with his booted foot pushed the neatly laid out sleeping bags to one side saying, “Weel, thur’s plenty room noo!”
The problem was solved.
Al Downie
21 February 2013This is all down to the BMC in my opinion. Mountaineering used to be a game without rules, for adventurous fools; now just look at the state of it! You can't hardly set foot on a gravel path without appropriate mountain insurance and a Gold Star Level Fifteen Pathfinder Award with modules for gravel safety and footwear science. The BMC have turned it all into a multi-million pound industry, and everyone wants a slice of the pie. if it wasn't for the BMC, there wouldn't be this crazy frenzy for mountaineering qualifications; there wouldn't be the need for instructors; there wouldn't be the need for the BMC at all in fact. It's an entirely self-interested organisation and we'd all be much better off if they'd never existed. Too late now though.
OutdoorsAndy
22 February 2013Wow, some pretty strong views here. It is very sad that such fine places are used inappropriately. However:
The old traditions of mountaineering, interesting. Wonder how old something has to be to have old traditions. Given the relative newness of the sport/pass time, (call it what you will).
It would seem to be largely from the 19th century, and expanding massively post 2nd WW. But I am no historian of mountaineering, (just a happy ammeter).
Many people make money out of tourism, what’s wrong with earning a living? The North Face’s founder has bought large areas of rainforest to create a wildlife reserve. It would be nice to see more such acts, but I can’t see UK Pentland Group, (owner of Berghaus and Brasher), buying up bothies, but TBH I don’t know, because I have never asked them. What have most people done to put something back into the wilds? (I’m a voluntary ranger btw- but perhaps National Parks are wrong too?)
As for the rules and courses etc, I did not know such things are compulsory. I have no quallies at all, but access UK Mountains all the time.
However, if I was to start taking out people, would it not be wise to at least have a benchmark qualification to prove my worth? As an example of this, Bushcraft has no such structure and there are many very people setting up “Bushcraft” courses who do not know their Oak from their Elder, but what can a member of the public ask for in proof of experience?
The BMC is far from perfect, the same with the Ramblers, but they are better than nothing IMO. We need a lobbying group to fight for the rights of outdoors fans. If you aren’t happy with it, get involved and change things.
More and more people are accessing the hills, and with good reason. It seems an odd attitude to begrudge others an opportunity to learn about been safe there from others who have experience. You don’t have to look far on Grough to see many examples of the inexperienced getting into trouble, looking for a “game without rules, for adventurous fools….”
Margaret
22 February 2013Andy I don't think 'begrudge' is the description I would use but it is a shame that more recent adopters may be missing out on something that made mountaineering rather special. Try some of the writing by Walter Bonatti, to name just one.
IanK
25 February 2013I'm sure outdoor companies use their monies in various ways to, as Andy says, to help the environment etc.
However, Margaret draws attention to Bonatti. and 'one' of his examples of how commercial interests have had an effect on mountaineering was sponsorship.
He pointed out that though sponsorship has been around for a long time, in the early days the support given was to an expedition that was 'planned and fully controlled by the climbing group'.
More recently he claimed, the emphasis is that much greater control is taken by the commercial interest that provides the sponsorship.
"The sponsor no longer merely supports the undertaking; rather the undertaking is at the service of the sponsor . . . " Bonatti.
This and many other examples mean that the concept/traditions of mountaineering have changed a great deal.
OutdoorsAndy
12 March 2013I would agree, Mountineering has changed, (as has all things), but the emphasis is negative, but I do not think this is balanced. If we trace Mountineering back to its start, it was the preserve of the rich, Bonatti would not have got a look in, he might have carried the bags from the station. While not all progress is good, those same firms have given us some top quality kit and have allowed people who would not otherwise have had the opportunities to become professionals, paid to do the thing they love.
I guess I don't like the relentless negativity seen so often in todays society, always looking back with pride and finding fault with the present & future- Bonatti said modern kit has reduced the significance of the acheavments of the past, however this also reduces the acheavments of the present! Lets also herald the good in the modern, as well as addressing the bad. :D