The Fords of Avon refuge

A lifesaving shelter in a remote part of the Highlands will be rebuilt this weekend by volunteers.

The Fords of Avon Refuge stands at a footpath crossroads in Glen Avon in the heart of the Cairngorms and has provided emergency shelter for walkers and climbers for more than 40 years.

Members of the Mountain Bothies Association will restore the shelter, with support from the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, the National Outdoor Centre at Glenmore Lodge and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, on whose land it stands.

Heather Morning, mountain safety adviser with the MCofS has been the force behind the restoration. She said: “Fords of Avon is very much part of our mountaineering cultural heritage and provides emergency shelter at a key location in the remote Cairngorm Mountains.

“The refuge is sited within metres of a major river crossing which can be impassable in spate conditions. I believe the refuge has saved many lives over the years, but sadly over the last decade it has fallen into disrepair and has long been overdue for a refurbishment to make it functional again.”

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is also supporting the rebuilding of the small shelter to its original state. The MBA will take it into its care to ensure it stays in good condition for future hillwalkers and climbers to use.

The association’s chairman John Arnott added: “The MBA is delighted to be playing a leading role in the rebuild and future maintenance of this vital emergency shelter.

“It is important to emphasise, however, that we will not be installing facilities such as a stove, sleeping platform, etc that we provide in many of the 100 or so other bothies that we maintain. Rather, we will look after the fabric of the building so that it can continue to provide the function of an extremely basic shelter providing emergency accommodation to those requiring urgent protection from the elements.”

Bob Kinnaird, principal at Glenmore Lodge said: “The location of this shelter makes it an important safety facility that has been sadly neglected over the years and we would like to acknowledge that this important project has only been made possible through the initiative of the MCofS and the active collaboration of various stakeholders with diverse interests.”

Ian Perks from RSPB Scotland said: “The hut is in a very remote place that is difficult to reach and can be a lifesaver. It has been great to work with the MBA and the MCofS to refurbish such an important mountain building.

“It should be stressed, however, the hut is not a bothy and is only suitable for refuge in an emergency. Hopefully the hut will be there providing safe refuge for future generations.”

The refuge is located almost 700m (2,297ft) up in the Cairngorms, 1½km (1 mile) east of Loch Avon, in the shadow of Beinn Mheadhoin, Beinn a’Chaorainn and A’Chòinneach.