BOTHIES in the south of Scotland are increasingly being used by revellers, putting the safety of hillwalkers at risk.

Police Scotland say the remote shelters are attracting a “different type of user”, with reports of anti-social behaviour and walkers being prevented access.

Now new initiative Bothy Watch aims to tackle the trend affecting the huts, which are used by hikers to shelter from the weather or for an overnight stop on a long trek.

There have been reports of vandalism and fires, and one incident saw a group of hillwalkers requiring rescue from a hillside after being prevented access to a bothy full of revellers.

Forestry and Land Scotland, the Mountain Bothies Association (MBA), local authorities and mountain rescue team volunteers are all involved in Bothy Watch.

PC Samantha Briggs is leading the initiative covering the south of Scotland.

She said: “For years these buildings have been a valuable and in fact quite a social resource for hillwalkers and cyclists, with many reliant upon them on their long-distance trekking routes.

“Nowadays there is a wealth of information available online about their locations and as a result they have become generally more accessible.

“This trend for the bothy has attracted a different type of user and we are concerned that health and safety on the hills is compromised and the integrity of the bothy lost.”

Peter King, MBA’s area organiser for Southern Scotland – where 11 bothies are managed by the association – welcomed the initiative.

He said: “The MBA has developed a code of practice for bothy users, based on respect for the building, the surrounding environment and other users.

“A copy of this ‘Bothy Code’ can be found in each of the bothies that we maintain, and also on our website www.mountainbothies.org.uk.”