New bothy in Arrochar Alps

A new bothy has opened in the Arrochar Alps.

Thanks to the efforts of 50 Mountain Bothies Association volunteers over a three-week period, the building known as Abyssinia, in Glen Kinglas in Argyll, has been converted into a bothy and is now available for use.

The MBA has expressed its thanks to Strone estate for allowing them to renovate and maintain this building and for the assistance that they gave both before and during the work period.

While the bothy is now open for use, there are a few jobs left to do including unblocking the chimney, and it is hoped these will be tackled during the summer.

Work done by the volunteers included strengthening the gable wall, pointing the walls, repainting the roof, partitioning the existing single room into two rooms, replacing a window with a door into the new room, installing a wooden floor, installing a ceiling in the main bothy area, and digging a drainage channel.

Location

Abyssinia is situated in Glen Kinglas, Argyll, Grid reference OS Map 56, NN 256 117. The bothy is situated 4km up a private estate road, which is not open to unauthorised vehicles.

It is a single story building, 12.5m long by 6.5m wide.

The bothy is situated in a popular hill walking area. Among the mountains that can be climbed from it are the Munros Beinn Ime, Ben Vorlich, Beinn Narnain and Ben Vane, as well as Corbetts such as the Cobbler, Beinn Luibhean and Binnein an Fhidhleir.

Abyssinia is the third new bothy to be opened by the MBA in 2017, following Flittingford in the Kielder Forest and Cae Amos in Snowdonia

The MBA is a charity established in 1965. With the consent and support of their owners, the Association undertakes the restoration and maintenance of old cottages, huts and similar buildings throughout the wilder parts of Scotland, England and Wales for use as open shelters for walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The Association currently looks after 102 bothies (82 in Scotland, 11 in England and 9 in Wales). All of the restoration and maintenance work is undertaken by volunteers and is financed by member subscriptions and by donations and legacies. The work of the Association was recognised by the award of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2015.