Ruighe-aiteachain bothy in Glen Feshie. Photo: Jim Barton CC-BY-SA-2.0

A mountain shelter in the Cairngorms national park is out of use while improvements are made to the building.

The Mountain Bothies Association said it hopes work on the Ruigh-aiteachain bothy will be complete by the end of the month.

The charity, which cares for more than 100 rudimentary buildings in the uplands of Scotland, Wales and England, said the shelter in Glen Feshie is now unavailable for use by outdoor enthusiasts.

It said the work on the building, popularly known as the Feshie Bothy, is being undertaken by its owners, the Glenfeshie Estate.

An MBA spokesperson said: “This has been planned for some time and will see some big improvements to the bothy.

“It is hoped that the work will be completed later in September. Further information will be issued when we know the reopening date.”

The work undertaken will include the addition of a stone-built porch which will house a flight of stairs leading to sleeping accommodation on the upper floor, a new floor downstairs, and the installation of built-in bunks and wood-burning stoves.

The MBA was established in 1965 and has around 3,800 members. With the consent and support of their owners, it undertakes the restoration and maintenance of a number 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.

Many of the buildings that are cared for by the MBA would otherwise have become derelict.