Hikers’ shelter on Queen’s Balmoral estate shut due to ‘irresponsible toileting’ amid coronavirus outbreak
HIKERS’ shelters on the Queen’s Balmoral estate have been locked — due to “irresponsible toileting”.
The basic huts — known as bothies — are set in remote locations.
They have been closed on the Scottish estate during the pandemic, but not locked.
Now Balmoral staff have sealed off Gelder Shiel and Glas Allt Shiel bothies following “abuse”.
The Mountain Bothies Association said: “There has been irresponsible toileting. As a consequence, the estate has locked the building.
“The same situation occurred at the other MBA maintained bothy on the Balmoral estate, Glas Allt Shiel, a few weeks ago and it also was locked.
“The MBA condemns the irresponsible behaviour of those using bothies during the closure period.”
Balmoral took to social media to warn:”If you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go!!
“However with public toilets closed we are seeing increasing quantities of human waste on the estate.
“If you need to pee, please do so at least 30 metres from lochs or streams.
“If you need to defecate, do so as far away as possible from buildings, from open water or rivers and streams, and from any farm animals.
Balmoral last week grumbled about “wild toileting” on the estate.