Hostelling in the Scottish Highlands
Staying in a hostel in the Scottish Highlands is a budget-friendly way to travel with comfortable lodgings and a sense of community in some of Scotland’s most beautiful locations.
Read on for my top Hostelling Scotland hostels in the Scottish Highlands, from Glencoe and the North Coast 500, to the UK’s most remote railway station.
This post is part of a paid promotion with Hostelling Scotland
Hostels for all
First things first, these ‘youth’ hostels are not just for youths. They welcome absolutely everyone, across a wide age range: solo travellers, families with young children, couples, retirees, hiking groups etc. Many of the hostels are dog friendly, too!
There are no party vibes or pub crawls from these hostels, but they are still a great place to meet and share tips with likeminded explorers.
If you don’t like the idea of sharing a room with people you don’t know, most of the hostels have private dorms; some with their own bathrooms. I love staying in hostels, and I don’t mind shared bathroom facilities, but I’m well past the days of shared dorms.
Hostels in the Scottish Highlands: What to Expect
Hostelling Scotland is a not-for-profit charity, which was established in 1931. Despite the years which have passed, and the improvements which have been made, their aim has ultimately remained the same; to provide affordable accommodation, allowing people to explore and experience Scotland’s outdoors; particularly families and young people who might not otherwise have the chance.
Often housed within historic buildings, the hostels are all unique, but there are a few classic Hostelling Scotland touches you’ll find in each and every one: branded blue bedcovers, free tea & coffee, excellent cooking facilities, a wee shop in Reception with snacks and essentials, and an optional ‘wee breakfast‘ of toast, jam, fruit, cereal and yoghurt etc.
Hostel staff are friendly and knowledgeable, usually travellers themselves, or people who have fallen in love with the scenic locations around the hostels. They can give you lots of local tips and help you make the most of your time in the area.
5 Scenic Hostels in the Scottish Highlands
1) Glencoe Youth Hostel
Surrounded by some of Scotland’s most iconic and dramatic scenery in Scotland, Glencoe Youth Hostel is a gateway to epic adventures and the perfect base to explore.
Nestled amidst nature, on a quiet road between Glen Coe (the landscape) and Glencoe village, the hostel has everything you need: a drying room, kitchen and lounge, shop in Reception, bike storage, lockers and parking.
There are 41 beds, including shared dorms, private rooms, and even an ensuite glamping pod for extra comfort and privacy, while still enjoying the benefits of the hostelling experience.
Top things to do in Glencoe
- Visit the small and quirky Glencoe Folk Museum to learn about Glencoe’s history.
- Take a leisurely stroll around Glencoe Lochan or choose from numerous hikes right on the doorstep.
- Drive round to Lochleven Seafood Café for an incredible seafood feast.
- Ride the chairlift at Glencoe Mountain Resort for breath-taking views of Buchaille Etive and Rannoch Moor – minimal effort required.
- Visit the legendary, historic Clachaig Inn for dinner (if you can get a table) and live music on selected weekends.
Getting to Glencoe Youth Hostel
While you can take the Citylink bus to Glencoe village, then walk 1.5 miles to the hostel, the Glencoe area is best explored by car.
Approximate driving time from Edinburgh is 3 hours and Glasgow is 2 hours 10 minutes.
2) Torridon Youth Hostel
Torridon is paradise for hikers and nature lovers, with majestic mountains in every direction; the sleepy village dwarfed by their towering presence.
Torridon Youth Hostel sits in the heart of it all with the mighty Liathach pretty much in the back garden! Enjoy your morning coffee with mountain vistas from the lovely lounge or the picnic tables outside.
There are 51 beds in the hostel, a mix of private and shared dorms. As well as a drying room, there are also laundry facilities.
The kitchen area is huge, the dining room is flooded with natural light, and the hostel staff are some of the happiest and friendliest I’ve encountered. I loved everything about this place.
Top things to do in Torridon
- Explore Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve: head to the visitor centre, have a picnic by the shores of Loch Maree and hike the Woodland Trail or the Mountain Trail; the only waymarked trail of its kind in the UK.
- Grab self-catering supplies, or go for breakfast/lunch at Torridon Stores & Café, under a mile away from the hostel.
- Go to Kishorn Seafood Bar for fantastic fresh seafood.
- Drive the infamous Bealach na Bà, the highest ascent above sea level of any road in the UK, to visit the remote Applecross peninsula. Have a bite to eat at Applecross Inn or Applecross Walled Garden.
- Go to Shieldaig Bar & Coastal Kitchen in pretty Shieldaig or Gille Brighde Restaurant in Lower Diabaig (a stunning drive to get there!) for dinner with sea views.
Getting to Torridon Youth Hostel
Torridon is on the North Coast 500, and most of this route is very tricky to reach and do justice without a car. Approximate driving time from Edinburgh is 4.5 hours, Glasgow is 4 hours 20 minutes and Inverness is 1 hour 30 minutes.
3) Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel
Gairloch is a coastal village in the Northwest Highlands, blessed with blissful sandy beaches and mountain views. A short drive from the village centre, Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel is perched in a stunning location with an uninterrupted panorama of Loch Gairloch.
Once a Victorian hunting lodge, the house is full of character with wooden-clad walls, original features and soothing sea views.
A smaller hostel with 31 beds and only shared bathrooms (male, female and mixed), there is still a small drying room, kitchen, dining room and separate lounge.
The beautiful Big Sand Beach is less than a 5-minute drive away. We went for a bracing sunset dip, before returning to the hostel for a pizza dinner from Gairloch Farm Shop.
Top things to do in Gairloch
- Enjoy the beautiful beaches; Gairloch Beach, between the harbour and village centre, and Big Sand, just past the youth hostel.
- Choose from a variety of outdoor pursuits, including canyoning, coasteering and paddle boarding, with Climb Ride Explore.
- Book a boat trip with Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre & Cruises (ours was sadly cancelled due to bad weather).
- Pop into The GALE Centre, a fantastic social enterprise and village hub, which creates local jobs and raises money for community projects, as well as being a cafe, gift shop and tourist information.
- Visit the modern, award-winning Gairloch Museum and have a delicious lunch at the onsite Am Bard Café while you’re there.
- Go for an amazing brunch/lunch, coffee and cake at Coast Coffee Company and treat your tastebuds to Caribbean and Creole street food at Black Pearl Creole Kitchen.
Getting to Gairloch Youth Hostel
Gairloch is on the North Coast 500 route, and getting there on public transport isn’t straightforward, so having a car is ideal to make the most of your trip. Approximate driving time from Edinburgh or Glasgow is 4 hours 45 minutes and Inverness is 1 hour 45 minutes.
4) Ullapool Youth Hostel
Ullapool is a picturesque fishing village and bustling ferry port; a popular stop on both the North Coast 500 and Cape Wrath Trail. Ullapool can be whatever you want it to be; a base for outdoor adventures, a relaxing break by the sea, or a bit of both.
Ullapool Youth Hostel is located on Shore Street, directly across the road from the banks of Loch Broom and within short walking distance of the bus stop and everything you need in the village.
There are 41 beds in the hostel, privates and dorms, two sea view lounges, and a large drying room. My private triple room looked out across Loch Broom to the mountains beyond.
Read the full review of my time in Ullapool here.
Top things to do in Ullapool
- Hike Ullapool Hill for jaw-dropping views of the village, Loch Broom, and the endless mountains in every direction.
- Hire an eBike from Ullapool Bike Hire, grab a picnic from West Coast Delicatessen and cycle to Rhue Lighthouse (4 miles including a long incline) for solitude and sea views.
- Pick up some reading material from Ullapool Bookshop and The Bookshop in The Ceilidh Place.
- Book a walking tour with Ullapool Tours for a fascinating insight into Ullapool’s past.
- Go for a New Zealand-style brunch and coffee at Cult Café, have lunch at the famous Seafood Shack, and enjoy takeaway fish & chips by the sea from Deli-ca-sea.
Getting to Ullapool Youth Hostel
While Ullapool is on the North Coast 500, like Torridon and Gairloch, it’s also easily accessible by Citylink bus from Inverness (1 hour 30 minutes), so you can add it to your Highland road-trip itinerary or just go for a short break on public transport.
5) Loch Ossian Youth Hostel
Loch Ossian Youth Hostel might just be the most special of them all. Only accessible by rail or on foot, the hostel sits on the shores on Loch Ossian, a 1-mile walk from Corrour Station; the most remote railway station in the UK.
Jan, the Hostel Manager, is a laid back legend of a woman, and the hostel is true escape from busy, modern life. Here you swap WiFi for wilderness. The female dorm sleeps 8 and the male dorm sleeps 12; each have their own shower room, while the composting toilets are in a separate building outside.
There are steps down to the loch for a chilly dip if you’re that way inclined, and a cosy lounge/kitchen with a wood-burning stove to heat up afterwards.
Read the full review of my experience at Loch Ossian Youth Hostel here.
Top things to do at Loch Ossian
- Walk (10 miles) or take the train (1 mile walk then 13 minutes by train) to Rannoch Station for lunch and amazing cakes at Rannoch Station Tearoom, followed by a stroll to the sandy beach on the shores of Loch Laidon.
- Complete the 7.5 mile loop of Loch Ossian on foot. If you decide to run it, be sure to record your time in the famous logbook in the hostel, started by former Hostel Manager, Tom Rigg, who sped round the loch in just 49 minutes in 1977.
- Climb some of the nearby Munros: Beinn na Lap, Sgòr Gaibhre and Càrn Dearg.
- Go for food and drinks at Corrour Station House, the UK’s most remote restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try some venison from the estate and local beer from Glen Spean Brewing Co.
Getting to Loch Ossian Youth Hostel
There is no public road access to the Corrour Estate, so the only way in (aside from a very long walk) is by train on the West Highland Line from Glasgow or Fort William/Mallaig.
