A book has been published to mark the 50th anniversary of the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA), celebrating 50 years of hard work by the volunteers who care for almost 100 bothies squirreled away throughout the British hills.
© nick nc, Feb 2008
Mountain Bothies tells the story of how Bernard Heath formed the Association 50 years ago. It recalls how the association went about finding some of their bothies, and looks into the history of these buildings and the people who lived in them long before they became today's huts.
The book includes tales of work parties, some of which have found their way into MBA folklore, and shows that although materials and methods of working may have changed, the enthusiasm of volunteers has not.
'Illustrated by photographs, line drawings and cartoons, it is a celebration of 50 years of activity by volunteers who take delight in maintaining simple shelters in remote country for the use and benefit of all who love wild and lonely places' say the MBA.
A charity with around 3400 members, the MBA will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2015.
It works to restore and maintain a number of old cottages, huts and similar buildings throughout the wilder bits of Scotland, England and Wales for free use as open shelters by walkers and climbers. Many of the 100 or so buildings they look after would otherwise have become derelict. All of their restoration and maintenance work is done by volunteers and financed by member subscriptions and donations.
The Mountain Bothies book costs £10 per copy including post & packing. Copies can be obtained from Jill Dhanjal, 85 Hogarth Drive, Cupar, Fife KY15 5YU. All profits go to furthering the work of the MBA.
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