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Toilets in or near bothies are a welcome addition – but should by no means be expected!

Membership grew (as did bothy projects), Maintenance Officers (MOs) were appointed in the 1970s, in 1975 the charity was officially registered, in 1991 Bernard and Betty Heath were honoured with a British Empire Medal for their work and in 2015 the MBA won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Changes may have taken place over the years, with health and safety legislation being addressed, complaints procedures being established and company status being updated. But its purpose remains unchanged. Some 100 bothies, over 3000 members, regular work parties and 50 years later, the volunteer-run organisation is still working hard with landowners to preserve and restore ’open shelters for the use and enjoyment of all who love wild and lonely places’. And thank goodness they do.

The association’s founders once wrote that: ’Members’ only reward will be the knowledge that their efforts have helped save a bothy from ruin.’ And how many of us would want anything more?