Volunteers work on the Leacraithnaich bothy. Photo: Craig Marshall

Volunteers work on the Leacraithnaich bothy. Photo: Craig Marshall

A multinational group of volunteers has helped restore a bothy in the Scottish Highlands.

A team with members from eight different countries spent 32 days renovating the Leacraithnaich shelter in Morvern.

The building stands on the shore of Loch Teàrnait, 4km from the nearest road at Loch Aline.

The Mountain Bothies Association, which cares for the remote shelter, said the major renovation took 32 days with varying numbers of volunteers on site at any one time. As well as the UK, volunteers came from Norway, Holland, Germany, Greece, Spain, the USA and New Zealand. For almost half it was their first MBA work party.

Peter Rowell, MBA area organiser for south-west Highlands and Islands said: “Our volunteers were willing, enthusiastic and hard-working, keen to step up to new challenges as well as to hone an established skill.

The renovated bothy. Photo: Peter Rowell

The renovated bothy. Photo: Peter Rowell

“Without their effort, this project would not have happened. They can be proud to have helped transform a much loved bothy but one that was showing its age into a building that will provide a wind and waterproof shelter for outdoor folk in this remote area for many years to come.

“We are also extremely grateful to the owners of the building, Ardtornish Estate, for allowing us to undertake the project, for their financial assistance with the construction materials and for the considerable practical assistance that they provided.”

The Leacraithnaich building has been maintained by the MBA since 1983. It is one of 104 bothies the charity cares for; 83 in Scotland, 12 in northern England and 9 in Wales. The bothies are available for use, free of charge, by walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts in accordance with the Bothy Code.

Some articles the site thinks might be related:

  1. Walkers warned to take tents as major bothy work starts
  2. Walker spends night in bothy after injuring himself on Hay Stacks
  3. Police launch Bothy Watch as walkers’ safety put at risk by revellers