Mountain Bothies Association

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The Mountain Bothies Association (MBA) is a Scottish charity that looks after 104 simple shelters called bothies and two emergency mountain shelters. Only two of these buildings are owned by the charity (Over Phawhope and Glen Pean); the rest are kept open with the owners’ agreement. Most shelters are in Scotland, with a few in Wales and Northern England, and they can be stayed in for free.

The MBA’s goal is to maintain simple, unlocked shelters in remote areas for anyone who loves wild, lonely places. All maintenance money comes from the MBA’s own funds—mainly memberships and donations from supporters. Some donors also use gifts to remember a relative or friend who enjoyed hillwalking.

Some bothies have outside toilets; most do not. Where there is no toilet, guidance on disposing of waste is provided. Sleeping arrangements vary: there may be raised bunks or platforms, or space on the floor with a sleeping pad. Visitors are asked to stay only one or two nights, and groups of six or more or commercial groups are not allowed.

The MBA was founded by Bernard Heath in 1965 after a note in the Backhill of Bush visitors’ book inspired him. He helped restore a ruined farmhouse at Tunskeen as an unlocked shelter, and in December 1965 he and Alan Murdock formed the MBA “to maintain simple unlocked shelters in remote mountain country for the use of hillwalkers, climbers and other genuine outdoor enthusiasts who love the wild and lonely places.” The MBA became a registered charity in 1975 and, in 1998, was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, while remaining a charity.

As of April 2018, the MBA had about 4,300 members. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and an annual report, but the shelters are open to everyone—no one has special rights.

Each bothy has a Maintenance Organiser (MO), or a small team, who look after routine maintenance. MOs are essential to the organisation. The MBA is divided into nine areas; area committees elect an Area Organiser to chair meetings and coordinate work. Project Organisers handle specific renovation projects. The Board of Trustees is elected by the members and controls the finances and the company.