The Peanmeanach bothy. Photo: Colin Kinnear CC-BY-SA-2.0
Walkers and outdoor enthusiasts will no longer have free use of a bothy in the western Highlands.
From early October, the Peanmeanach on the Ardnish peninsula, will cease to be an open access shelter.
The owners of the building, the Ardnish Estate, said problems from the increased number of visitors at the site were the reason for ending its agreement with the Mountain Bothies Association to allow free use of the shelter, which lies near the north shore of Lochailort, off the road between Glenfinnan and Arisaig.
The bothy will be locked in early autumn, after which the MBA said the estate intends to renovate the building which will then be available by booking to obtain the key, on a not-for-profit basis.
An MBA spokesperson said: “We are sorry to lose this popular bothy but would like to express our gratitude to the estate for allowing us to maintain Peanmeanach as an open access shelter since 1975.”
It said the exact closure date will be notified later.
The MBA cares for and maintains 105 bothies and two emergency shelters, 86 in Scotland, 12 in northern England and 9 in Wales, almost all of which it does not own, but looks after with the agreement of their owners.
The charity has about 4,300 members, whose volunteers carry out maintenance and repair on the bothies.
Marion Boyle
19 February 2020My cousin and I took her young daughter for a day-walk to Peanmeanach - they are from the south of England and were both enchanted. When we arrived, an outdoor-pursuits type was just leaving, with some bored-looking teenagers trailing well behind him. When we were walking back to the road, the path was littered with sweet papers, cans and cigarette ends which hadn't been there before.
Margaret
21 February 2020It's a surprise that more owners are not cashing in when they see their bothy properties recommended in Sunday supplements, find that publishers are selling books to encourage their use and of course, commercial organisations making use of bothies for cheap accommodation.
pra
22 February 2020No surprise
1. Overuse - activity + noise from a 'different' kind of bothier.
2. Rubbish in bothy, rubbish and worse outside.
3. Sawing of live timber, generally by sea-kayakers.
4. Public behaviour deteriorates and owner seeks more control.
The Phantom MO
24 February 2020The truth hidden from the release by MBA
From: peter stewart-sandeman
Sent: 17 February 2020 21:09
To: Simon Birch
Subject: Peanmeanach Bothy
Dear Simon
Following our meeting last year, and subsequent emails and discussions regarding the future of the Peanmeanach Bothy, with yourselves and the author and publisher of the Bothy Bible and Bothy Walks, I have concluded that the pressure on the bothy following the publication of The Bothy Bible is now unsustainable, and the imminent inclusion in the Scottish Bothy Walks book will only exacerbate this problem in the future.
I am therefore giving formal notice to the MBA that the Peanmeanach bothy will cease to be an open access bothy under the umbrella of the MBA. I can find no documents that stipulate a notice period, so to allow time for the word to spread of the closure, I have allowed over seven months so the MBA to erect notices etc.
The bothy has been maintained by the MBA since 1975, and I would like to formally thank all those who have managed and maintained it, over the years. It has given much pleasure to many hikers and travellers, but the world does not stand still. The bothy has over the years been The Teachers House, a Post Office, as well as being used by a group for Badger Researchers and a Summer Camp for children from the Gorball’s, and it will shortly become a bookable bothy.
The bothy will be locked and shuttered from early October 2020, and will then be renovated. It will be opened in early summer 2021, on a not-for-profit basis as a keyed bookable bothy, with a payment per night/weekend. Any annual profit will be used to further enhance the bothy (or other bothies), and will also establish a sinking fund for larger repairs (e.g. the roof). This will I believe allow the bothy to continue to be enjoyed by walkers, however by being able to control the numbers staying in the bothy, it will I hope be at a sustainable level.
We discussed the possibility of the MBA having another bothy (with no chimney or fireplace) on the peninsular. I will look at some of the derelict black houses which could be renovated when I am up at Ardnish in March.
Best regards
Peter
Peter Stewart-Sandeman
Ardnish Estate
www.ardnish.org
The Phantom MO
24 February 2020Here's the real reason that was not reported:
Bothy Bible responsible for second bothy closure
"Dear Simon and Pete
Following our meeting last year, and subsequent emails and discussions regarding the future of the Peanmeanach Bothy, with yourselves and the author and publisher of the Bothy Bible and Bothy Walks, I have concluded that the pressure on the bothy following the publication of The Bothy Bible is now unsustainable, and the imminent inclusion in the Scottish Bothy Walks book will only exacerbate this problem in the future.
I am therefore giving formal notice to the MBA that the Peanmeanach bothy will cease to be an open access bothy under the umbrella of the MBA. I can find no documents that stipulate a notice period, so to allow time for the word to spread of the closure, I have allowed over seven months so the MBA to erect notices etc. "
Where next?
Margaret
24 February 2020'Bothy Bible' two page promotional article in the Scotsman today.
Margaret
24 February 2020Ooops, miss-typed - 'Bothy Walks' article in Scotsman today.
Tin Slater
26 February 2020Seems someone’s telling porkies?
Margaret
29 February 2020Three pages in The Guardian, Travel Section (Sat 29 Feb) -
'Walks on the Wild Side'.
Former MO
01 March 2020Including a lootable private building.
There will be further damage from this irresponsible behaviour to come.
Peanmeanach is not the first loss. Publicity has led to several other closures of non MBA bothies. Inappropriate use has seen the MBA leave other buildings in Galloway.
Unless you upgrade sanitation it is not sustainable to promote bothy use. That’s why nobody else (outwith Germany) has written such books.
OldManOfTheHills
02 March 2020I have just walked there today though i only found out about closure as i set off. Bothy was very smart and tidy but way too many empty bottles and stored food - so mice! Poo-pit evidence on the grass nearby. As an MBA member i must express regrets at the state and sadness the proposed closure. However sea kayakers will no doubt still land there and cut live timber and leave drunken remains so the walkers are being penalised for somthing not our fault and it wont stop the mess
Ron Tyler Villa Park, Illinois USA
05 August 2020So sad but understandable. We would camp overnite there in the early to mid 70's and always left it better than when we arrived. But we still have very fond memories of our stay there.
B Henning
27 September 2020Love how the Kayakers are being painted out
phil eccles
25 June 2021I am very saddened indeed by the situation that has arisen concerning the bothy at Peanmeanach. I spent a wonderful overnight there some 15 years ago having paddled round from Arisaig with a mate. The views out to the islands in the evening's setting sun were truly magical and quite unforgettable.
It is a poor reflection on part of today's society when people who purport to love the countryside then proceed to pass through, leaving it in a worse state than on arrival. In the 55 years or so that I have been enjoying "wilderness" experiences there has IMO been a noticeable shift (amongst many - not all) to a "It's all about me" mentality. This attitude possibly began to take hold back in the 1970s & 80s when the UK government promoted these ideals. Until we educate / re-educate people about the values of the environment then there will, I feel, been ever more restrictions to prevent people accessing land, rivers, forests and bothies.