Edinburgh University Mountaineering Club (EUMC) have put out a request for help to save their bothy, Glen Licht House in Kintail, which has been damaged in winter storms. Unless steps are taken to repair it soon the building looks set to deteriorate badly.

EUMC Vice President Mary Leese explains the situation:

'The roof of the hut was damaged in a severe storm last winter and since then things have gotten considerably worse. The roof has been gradually falling apart, the porch has been blown off and without action soon there will be considerable damage to the interior.'

A 19th Century deer stalker's cottage owned by the National Trust for Scotland, Glen Licht House has been leased to the EUMC since 1956. The club maintain it in memory of Elliot Woodburn and Fred Hadden, two students who died on ben Nevis in 1955.

With its prime position at the foot of the Five Sisters the hut has been an ideal base for generations of club members. Since it is also well used by other clubs and members of the public, its loss would be a blow to the hillgoing community in general. 

'Glen Licht House is a fantastic resource in the area and is accessible to all' says Mary.

'Before it was damaged, other mountaineering groups and the general public could use the house for £5 per person per night (cheaper than most campsites!). The EUMC also maintains an attached open shelter for people seeking refuge in bad weather or emergencies. It is a particularly good base for walkers aiming to hike through to Glen Affric and Strawberry Cottage or climb the Five Sisters and Three Brothers.'

'We are extremely keen to see Glen Licht House continue to provide a base for hiking in this spectacular place. It would be a great shame to see it lost.'

The EUMC estimate the total cost of the necessary repairs to be £30,000 - £40,000.

'If we are able to raise a significant portion of this sum in the next few months, the NTS will work with us to fund the necessary work and repairs can start this summer' Mary says.

'Without this work, the building is unlikely to survive the next winter – so we have very little time and a lot of money to raise!'

'We are also looking to spruce up the hut’s interior and hopefully add sleeping platforms, a toilet, a solid fuel stove and a better water supply. This will ensure that Glen Licht House is an excellent facility for mountaineering clubs, outdoor enthusiasts and hillwalkers in the area for years to come.'

The EUMC is looking for donations via a page on Justgiving.com  

You can also follow their progress with the fundraising and repairs on Facebook