Hostels in Scotland: 16 Great Accommodation Options

Hostels in Scotland are a good value accommodation option, with great scenery and opportunities to meet fellow travellers. Hostels are great for solo travellers of all ages.

Most hostels offer ‘dorms’ and shared rooms. However, there are options to stay in private rooms, many with en-suite accommodation, same as hotels, B&Bs or self-catering.

Some hostels are dog friendly. Some places include a breakfast option.

Rowardennan Youth Hostel

Rowardennan Youth Hostel is located at the foot of Ben Lomond in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Also, the location is superb as it is located on the shores of Loch Lomond. 

Interestingly, the hostel dates back to 1696 and has a contemporary Scottish style. The hostel is managed by Hostelling Scotland.

In addition, this is a popular overnight stay for those who have embarked on the West Highland Way. This hostel is an excellent place to stay to climb Ben Lomond or for exploring Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. 

The kitchen area is fantastic, and the common areas are great, as there is a roaring log fire. A perfect way to end the day is to drink beer from the bar on the pier, which overlooks Loch Lomond.

Crianlarich Youth Hostel, Crianlarich

Crianlarich Youth Hostel is a modern bungalow-style structure nestled in the forest of Strathfillan Glen. This location of the hostel is excellent, and it provides a great base for exploring the northern parts of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. 

There is a lovely communal area, a self-catering kitchen, private rooms and dorms. Crianlarich is a Hostelling Scotland hostel, dog friendly and is licensed to serve local beers and wines.

Crianlarach Youth Hostel is a good place to stay along the West Highland Way. Also, there are more than 20 Munros in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. 

There are several nature trails and woodland walks in the area to enjoy. Local attractions include Tyndrum, Falls of Falloch and the Crianlarich Munros.

Kick Ass Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Kick Ass Grasmarket is a four-star hostel located in the heart of Edinburgh. The hostel has a shared kitchen, offers a daily breakfast, and there is evening entertainment. 

This hostel is in a perfect location, not far from many attractions, including Princes Gardens, Edinburgh Castle, and the National Library of Scotland. Also, there are plenty of other attractions, including the National Museum of Scotland, St Giles Cathedral and Camera Obscura World of Illusions. 

Durness Smoo Youth Hostel, Durness

Durness Youth Hostel is located on the North Coast 500 near the Smoo Cave. This simple but welcoming accommodation offers a refuge from everyday life. 

There is a range of private rooms and shared dorms with shared washrooms and shower facilities. On-site, there is a secure cycle store, a small drying room and a well-equipped self-catering kitchen.  

Durness Youth Hostel is within walking distance from Smoo Cave and is near some of the best beaches on the North Coast 500. Some other attractions in this part of the country are Balnakeil Beach, Ceannabeinne Beach, Cape Wrath and Ben More Assynt.

In addition, there are great Glamping pods available along the North Coast 500 route.

Lochranza Youth Hostel, Isle of Arran

Lochranza Youth Hostel is located opposite the 16th-century Lochranza Castle and is near the Lochranza ferry terminal and the Lochranza Distillery on the Isle of Arran. Lochranza Youth Hostel is managed by Hostelling Scotland and is rated four stars. 

The hostel has a large communal kitchen and a games area in the lounge. There are impressive views of Lochranza Loch from the lounge to the rest of the attractive loch side village.

This hostel is a great place to base yourself for exploring the Isle of Arran. Tourist attractions on the Isle of Arran include Goat Fell, Arran Distillery, Brodick Castle and Country Park, and King’s Cave.

Dalwhinnie Old School Hostel 

This hostel has a fantastic atmosphere with a log-burning stove, a fully equipped shared kitchen and a nice living area for socialising. It is situated in a lovely location close to local wildlife, surrounded by mountains.

Dalwhinnie Old School Hostel is located in Dalwhinnie next to the Dalwhinnie Train Station and within walking distance from the Dalwhinnie Distillery. This hostel is a good place to stay to bag nearby Perthshire Munros and explore the Cairngorms National Park. 

Dalwhinnie is located between Blair Athol and Aviemore. A few attractions in the area are Ruthven Barracks, Kingussie Golf Club, and Highland Folk Museum.

Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, Fort William 

Glen Nevis Youth Hostel is located near the bustling town of Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis. The hostel is managed by Hostelling Scotland, and there is a selection of private rooms and shared dorms. 

Each bed in the shared rooms has secure under-bed storage, USB power sockets and bedside lighting for every bed. Also, the hostel has a well-equipped self-catering kitchen, a living space which has lovely views of the surrounding mountains and a log-burning stove. 

This area is known for being the outdoor capital of Scotland. 

Therefore this accommodation is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. There is great access to high and low-level walks, mountain biking, kayaking and other adventure sports. 

This is the best budget location for bagging Ben Nevis, Ring of Steall, and walking through Glen Nevis to the Steall Waterfall. Glen Nevis Youth Hostel is also a short drive from Clan Cameron Museum, Ben Nevis Distillery, Corpach Shipwreck and Glenfinnan Viaduct. 

Glencoe Youth Hostel

There is a comfortable hostel, and there is a big kitchen and dining area with a nice warm lounge. This area is a lovely place to escape from the city hustle, and this is a great place to base yourself on exploring Glencoe. 

Due to its remote location, a car is needed as there are no public transport connections from the village to the hostel. The host is friendly and is happy to recommend any day trips in the area. 

Glencoe Youth Hostel is a great place to base yourself for exploring Lochaber, including Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan and Mallaig. The accommodation is located close to Pap of Glencoe, which is worth climbing.

For Harry Potter fans, the location of Hagrid’s Hut is only a 10 to fifteen minute walk away from the accommodation. The Three Sisters Viewpoint and Loch Achtriochtan are my two favourite viewpoints in the Glencoe Valley, and they are only a short drive away from the hostel. 

In addition, the hostel is one of the closest hostels located at Glencoe Mountain Resort. The hostel is dog friendly and serves locals beers and wines.

Great Glen Hostel

Located in a little hamlet in South Laggan, the Great Glen Hostel is a lovely budget self-catering accommodation with all the facilities for your adventure in the Highlands. 

The Great Glen Hostel is very clean, comfortable and warm, with a casual atmosphere and good communal spaces. It is set in a peaceful and quiet environment surrounded by amazing lochs and hills.

The Great Glen Hostel is located on the Great Glen Way between Loch Lochy and Loch Oich. Laggan Locks is a 20-minute walk away, and the ruins of Invergarry Castle are nearby.

Also, the Great Glen Hostel is a great place to base yourself to bag nearby Munros. In addition, the accommodation is a short drive from Fort William, Loch Ness or Spean Bridge.

Ratagan Youth Hostel, Kintail

Ratagan Youth Hostel is located on the shores of Loch Duich. The area is so calm and peaceful, with fantastic views across the loch. 

The hostel features two floors with plenty of shower and washroom facilities and well equipped self-catering kitchen. Relax with a local craft beer or a glass of wine and enjoy the views of the Five Sisters of Kintail from the hostel’s comfortable lounge.

This is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts to base themselves for outdoor hikes, low-level scrambles and ridge walks with easy reach of the hostel. The world-famous Eilean Donan Castle is only eight miles away.

Portree Youth Hostel, Isle of Skye

Portree Youth Hostel is located in Portree on the Isle of Skye. The hostel has a lovely lounge and a large kitchen with a few dining tables. 

Board games are available in the living space. There are a range of private rooms or shared dorms. 

Portree Youth Hostel sits in a natural harbour, surrounded by hills with views over the Sound of Raasay. Portree is a lovely small town with a wide range of shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries and sightseeing boat trips nearby.

Portree is a great place to base yourself to explore for exploring the Isle of Skye. The Old Man of Storr, Rha Waterfall, Quiraing and the sights of surrounding Sligachan are some of my favourite places to visit on the Isle of Skye.

Torridon Youth Hostel, Torridon

Torridon Youth Hostel is in a superb location, very spacious, clean and functional. This award-winning Hostelling Scotland accommodation is located in the Torridon Hills in the shadow of the 3,000-foot Liathach peak. 

The hostel has a large dining room, a shared bathroom and shared dorms. The large Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve with Loch Maree and Victoria Falls are nearby. 

This is a great place to base yourself on exploring the North Coast 500. Visitors can enjoy hillwalking, climbing, or simply relaxing in the surroundings and local wildlife. 

Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel

Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel provides clean accommodation with a very homey vibe. There are excellent views all around, the hostel is located on the shore of Loch Gairloch, and Longa Island is visible. 

This hostel is managed by Hostelling Scotland and is a perfect place for exploring North West Highlands. There is a selection of private rooms and shared dorms with shared washroom facilities. 

Also, there is a cosy kitchen which is fully equipped with a cost lounge with sea views. As a bonus, Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel is a dog-friendly hostel and is a short walk away from Big Sands Beach. 

Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel is not far from many of my favourite attractions on the North Coast 500. Loch Maree, Victoria Falls, Torridon and Mellon Udrigle Beach are all within driving distance, with many other top attractions along the way. 

Acheniner Hostel

Acheniner Hostel includes a white bothy and a series of pods located in the northwest Highlands, between Ullapool and Kylesku. The hostel is famous due to its remote location on the Ben Mor Coigach Wildlife Reserve in the UNESCO Biosphere. 

There are wonderful pods overlooking the scenic loch. The road to get there opens up to gorgeous views in front of you. It is magical. 

This hostel is a perfect location for climbing Suilven, which is about one hour by car. Also, Acheniner is located near many North Coast 500 attractions. 

One of the best beaches on the North Coast 500 is Achmelvich Bay which is an hour’s drive away. Also, some nearby popular North Coast 500 attractions include Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, Stac Pollaidh, Ardvreck Falls, Clashnessie Falls and Kylesku Bridge. 

Comrie Croft, Crieff

Comrie Croft is located near Crieff in Perthshire. The accommodation has a garden, a shared lounge and barbeque facilities. 

There are plenty of places to relax in communal areas, the place is clean, beds are comfortable, and there are abundant facilities and immaculate rooms. 

Comrie Croft has isolated woodland pitches which are perfect for wild camping. The pitches are spaced out, and the little trails to each spot are very cute. 

The nearby area has many nice tourist attractions, including Deli’s Cauldron, Ben Chonzie and surrounding hills, Auchingarrich Wildlife Park and Drummond Castle Gardens.

Corran Bunkhouse, Onich

Corran Bunkhouse is set in Lochaber near Onich, on the banks of Loch Linnhe. This accommodation is set in a former bunkhouse. There are shared cosy living areas, a kitchen and a steam room. 

Each room has a private bathroom. Some rooms on the property have amazing views of the mountains or over the loch. 

This area is great for outdoor enthusiasts. You can experience the gorgeous Highland setting, which is ideal for touring, climbing, walking, canoeing and mountain biking. Also, Glen Coe Ski Resort is a 30-minute drive away. 

Corran Bunkhouse is a great place to base yourself on climbing one of the Munros in the Fort William area. This includes Ben Nevis, Ring of Steal, Grey Corries, Mamores, Buachaille Etive Mor or smaller peaks such as Pap of Glencoe.

This is my favourite area in Scotland as there is so much to do. Mallaig has stunning beaches. 

Visitors can go to Glenfinnan and see the Harry Potter Railway Bridge, and long-distance walking routes such as the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way are nearby. 

Does Scotland have hostels?

Yes. Scotland’s two main hostelling organisations are Hostelling Scotland and Scottish Independent Hostels. Some hostels are independently or privately owned.

There is also a range of bunkhouses and accommodations with private rooms with shared bathrooms, kitchens and living facilities. 

Is it cheaper to stay in a hostel?

Mostly, staying in a hostel is cheaper as the quality of the facilities is not as good as a hotel. In a hostel, you do not get as much privacy and have to share kitchen and bathroom facilities with a large number of people.

Final Note

There are a wide variety of budget-friendly bunkhouses and hostels in Scotland. Some are located in cities, while others are set in the beautiful Highlands nearby some of Scotland’s best attractions. 

When visiting the rural area of Scotland in the summer, be prepared for midges. Some hostels are seasonal and are not open during the autumn or winter months. 

Summer is the most popular month to visit Scotland. Demand and prices are high at this point of the year, so make sure to book in advance. 

There are many different accommodation options to suit everyone’s budget. There is a selection of Glamping pods, castles, hostels, spa hotels, chalets and log cabins.