The best youth hostels Scotland

Set in a quiet residential area, yet close to the main road, Pitlochry Youth Hostel is a charming Victorian house with a great deal of character and style. The facilities are new and there is a mix of dormitories and private rooms for a total of 53 beds. The living room, dining room and kitchen are pleasant. The hostel also has its own bar and offers comfortable spaces to relax with a local beer, a glass of wine or a soda. Laundry, drying room and parking are also very convenient.

It is one of the flagship brands of Hostelling Scotland, the national association of youth hostels, which has hostels throughout the country. It places a lot of emphasis on comfort and families, unlike other addresses in the capital that focus mainly on partying. It can accommodate up to 271 people, in dormitories, but also in private rooms of various sizes. There's also a coffee bar on the ground floor. Every year in July and August, Hostelling Scotland opens a second establishment with single rooms and apartments.

For the many, many backpackers traveling through Scotland! With 115 rooms, this huge hostel in the heart of Glasgow is an ideal destination to meet backpackers from all over the world. The dorms are classic for this type of establishment and you shouldn't be too afraid of promiscuity. Private rooms can be a good and cheaper alternative to a hotel or B&B, provided you are prepared to deal with late nighters. There is of course a shared kitchen, but also a bar on site.

This famous chain of European hostels is essentially established in Britain. The édimbourgeoise is just as festive as others and seduced by its location just opposite the train station. The value for money is excellent, with a complimentary continental breakfast, and there are two public bars that depend on the hotel on the ground floor. The common spaces are not very large, but they are well arranged and there is always the world to meet to have a drink.

Enjoy the splendid views of the impressive mountain world from the cosy, modern hostel situated near the castle and the town centre. The dormitories have 5 to 10 beds, with good bedding, and there are two lounges, a kitchen and a dining room to meet other visitors. The building has not lost its Victorian grandeur and the views of the Ness River are very pleasant. Hot drinks are self-service and unlimited, and wi-fi is free. If anyone in your group is under 18 years of age, you will need to contact the establishment before booking.

Castle Rock has everything to please: a great location at the foot of the castle, a successful medieval decor, a festive and international atmosphere, impeccable cleanliness, billiard and beer pong tournaments and even free pub crawls every week to meet other travellers in the company of the staff. The establishment is regularly ranked among the best youth hostels in Europe. Dormitories and showers are comfortable and everyone is entitled to a small locker with key, two pillows and a personal light and socket.

On the shores of beautiful Loch Duich and close to the road to Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye, this Hostelling Scotland hostel is housed in a beautiful stone house with its feet in the water. Its location is exceptional and one can choose between dormitories and private rooms. It is good to linger in the common areas, especially the very cosy living room, but there is also a fully equipped kitchen and dining room. For your evening meals on the premises, you can also take advantage of our 2 or 3-course reheatable meal trays, available at a low price.

This excellent hostel, from the same family as Castle Rock, is located a little further down the Royal Mile in a beautiful building that is almost 500 years old. Slightly quieter than its neighbour at the foot of the castle, it offers similar and excellent comfort, within walls steeped in history and having retained all the splendour of their past. The spaces are friendly and well laid out and the dormitories do not lack any comfort. Fully equipped kitchen and common rooms are available, as well as a billiard table and self-service hot drinks.

In the shadow of Cain Gorm Mountain and on the edge of Loch Morlich, this second hostel of Hostelling Scotland is truly in the heart of nature, perfect for those seeking the closest proximity to hiking sites. It has a truly alpine atmosphere and many of the regulars return year after year. The hostel has a friendly bar and offers packed lunches for both lunch (handy for picnics!) and dinner.

It is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best youth hostels in the country. The Victorian building has a lot of charm and the facilities are practical and modern. The location facing the sea provides superb views of the islands of Kerrera and Mull, especially from the pleasant shared areas: the kitchen, living room and dining room. The dormitories and private rooms are quite comfortable and the clientele includes young backpackers as well as families and retirees. Perfect to stay in Oban without breaking your budget!

Opening in summer 2015, this hostel is one of the most modern in Hostelling Scotland, ideally located in the centre of the island's capital city. In a red-walled building, everything is new and modern, with 60 beds that can be chosen as dormitory or private rooms (double, triple, quadruple and quintuple) as required. There is of course a kitchen and a living room to meet and eat, as well as a drying room and a laundry room. There is also an on-site grocery store where you can buy basic groceries.

This youth hostel offers superb views over Loch Broom and the Beein Dearg mountain range and is conveniently located next to local shops, pubs and restaurants, and just 300 metres from the bus station and harbour, with ferry departures to Lewis. The establishment has all the necessary equipment: large equipped communal kitchen, lounge-bar, laundry room, drying room, bicycle room, wi-fi access, secure lockers. Remember to order a picnic basket so you can go on a day-long excursion without worrying about anything.

This picturesque hostel overlooks Kirkwall harbour and is just a short walk from the town centre and the beautiful cathedral. The hostel is friendly and well appointed, even offering budget single rooms and two refurbished fishermen's cottages. Most of the rooms have a view of the harbour or at least the water. Each resident benefits from three kitchens, three bathrooms and the common room. Parking is free on the street, and motorcycles or bicycles can be parked in a courtyard.

The small hostel in Dervaig is simple but well equipped, with a four-bed dormitory and a six-bed dormitory. Both have their own shower and toilet and there is a shared kitchen and dining room. The value for money is attractive when you book an entire dormitory. It has all the usual amenities: lockers and outside storage (for bicycles or sports equipment), a fully equipped kitchen, a living room. It also has sports facilities, including a grass football pitch.

Craignure Bunkhouse Hostel is a small, modern and well-appointed hostel, with an appreciable interest in the environment, as it is eco-designed. The four dormitories have six or four beds and there is a pleasant common room with a stove and wood fire, where it is possible to eat in groups. The living room is pleasant, with a large library, board games and comfortable sofas. The establishment has the advantage of being open all year round.

This charming little establishment is characterized by optimal comfort, cleanliness and excellent value for money. The offer is multiple, with a main space composed of two dormitories, a living-dining room, a kitchen, as well as showers and toilets. It is a very friendly choice that could look like a large shared flat. Extensions outside accommodate two to four people and include a small kitchen area for added privacy. Theresa, the person in charge, is a lovely woman in a good mood.

This spacious, friendly youth hostel is housed in an impressive white-washed building. Both dormitories and private rooms are comfortable and the facilities are new and convenient. There is no lack of common areas and, of course, there is a shared kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. You will also have access to lockers with padlocks, a laundry room, a secure bicycle room and two comfortable lounges. The reception sells some basic provisions. Close to a bus stop, the hostel is easily accessible without a car.

This youth hostel is undoubtedly one of the best in the group. It is not necessarily the most modern, but the atmosphere is excellent and the two employees are adorable. In a former distillery building, 30 beds are available, in private dormitories or rooms, and both the kitchen and lounge are ideal common rooms to share with whisky or hiking fans. This is the cheapest option on the island and one of the most authentic.

In the heart of the city centre, overlooking the sea, this hostel does not operate on a classic system based on large dormitories, but rather on small rooms with two to six occupants. This is an ideal offer for backpackers and small budgets, but also for families and groups, who can stay together at a low price. The facilities are modern and practical, with a communal kitchen and lounge, complimentary tea and coffee, and a secure bicycle shed. There's even a barbecue for the summer. The staff is there to advise you during your stay.

Surrounded by woods on the edge of Aviemore, this large hostel is fully equipped and has large spaces, with 85 beds in dormitories or private rooms (single, double, quadruple). The laundry room, individual lockers, bicycle room and parking make life easier. The kitchen, the dining room and the two lounges are huge. There is even a billiard table next to the beautiful map of the Cairngorms massif. The property is ideal for exploring the area at a low cost, while taking advantage of the village's pubs and restaurants.