FLS hand over keys for Glen Prosen bothy to mountaineering club

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has welcomed the Dundee NCR Hillwalking and Climbing Club as the latest tenants on the land it manages in Glen Prosen.

FLS has agreed a six-year lease with the Dundee-based club for the Kilbo Bothy which it will use as its base for mountaineering and walking activities in the Angus Glens and surrounding area.

The leasing of the bothy is another step to the full utilisation of the buildings in Glen Prosen. It follows on from local business The Bothy Distillery taking over several buildings last year for manufacturing and visitor use. This forms part of FLS’s wider strategy to bring economic and social benefits to the local community and wider public.

FLS Angus Glens Programme Manager Christine Reid said:

“We are excited to welcome the Dundee NCR Hillwalking and Climbing Club as tenants and caretakers of Kilbo Bothy.

“The club has a long tradition of exploring the hills and glens in this area and shares our keen interest in looking after the mountain environment at Glen Prosen. We look forward to more people being able enjoy and connect with the evolving landscape restoration here through this partnership.”

Kilbo Bothy sits in the upper part of Glen Prosen beneath the Munros of Mayar and Driesh and was re-built in 2013 on the site of a ruined former bothy.

The NCR Hillwalking and Climbing Club began 75 years ago, offering rural escapes for factory workers of the former National Cash Register (NCR) Company in Dundee. Today the club is open to anyone who loves the outdoors with its members continuing to enjoy adventure in the wilds of Scotland’s stunning hill and mountain landscapes.

Mark Lundie from the NCR Hillwalking and Climbing Club said:

“Kilbo Bothy in Glen Prosen gives the club a fantastic base for its hill walking and mountaineering activities in the Angus Glens. 

"The remote location of the bothy, in the heart of Glen Prosen, will play a valuable part in supporting the club's long tradition of getting people with a great love for the outdoors and an insatiable appetite to climb mountains out into the hills.

"And at the end of the day, provide a warm and safe place for the telling of stories and singing of songs and maybe the odd dram.

"We are proud to be working with FLS and the lease represents our dedication to providing a well‑maintained refuge for our members, while preserving the landscape and ensuring its sustainable use for future generations.”

Notes to editors

1. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
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