The best youth hostels Scotland

Set in an 18th century cottage, this youth hostel is a no-nonsense address with six dormitories and a few private rooms - double, twin, family for 4 and for 5 - as well as two lounges and a kitchen. It is situated in a quiet area in the hamlet of Lewiston. A small bar offers a wide selection of Scottish craft beers (over 50) and some 25 scotch whiskies, in addition to gins, sodas and various snacks.

Morag's Lodge is a hostel with unbeatable comfort, with well-appointed dormitories and private rooms perfect for couples, groups and families. Enjoy the shared kitchen, common areas and garden. There's even an on-site bar - with a wide range of homemade beers and a great selection of whiskies - and the possibility of renting bicycles. Breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals are offered at very attractive prices. The evening menu changes daily and always has 4 options.

Every summer, SYHA takes over the student residences at the University of Perth. That's why the youth hostel does not open any more during the year. The organization offers beds in shared rooms, private rooms with bathrooms and even small apartments on the edge of the city. You will also have access to a self-catering kitchen and common areas, as well as sports facilities, including a climbing gym, from Perth College UHI. The complex is very modern and well appointed, only 2.5 km from the centre.

Set in a large house on the heights of Fort William, this very friendly hostel is only a few minutes walk from downtown and its amenities. More aimed at young people in search of encounters than at families, the atmosphere is very childlike and brews a clientele of backpackers and sportsmen. There is a communal kitchen and a small living room, equipped with a fireplace, to rest at the end of the day. In the summer, you can even cook outside, thanks to the barbecue provided. Pubs and restaurants are within walking distance.

Just a stone's throw from the Smoo Caves, this SYHA hostel may not look like a military barracks, but it has all the classic facilities on offer, with dormitories, private rooms, a kitchen and a living-dining room. A total of 30 beds are available. The establishment also has its own bar, which will allow you to enjoy local beers or whiskies in the evening, in the living room, under the heat of the coal stove.

The Rum Bunkhouse is a newly built hostel (opening October 2014) and is fully equipped with modern conveniences. You can stay in dormitories, but also in double rooms, rooms for 4 and rooms for 6 people. There is a fully equipped kitchen on site where you can prepare your own meals. The large living room is comfortable and accessible to all. It is also possible to camp on site or to choose one of the two mini-campsites (access to the sanitary facilities at the campsite). It is also managed by the Isle of Rum Community Trust, and is located next to the nature reserve.

This small, family-run hostel is a budget-friendly, budget-friendly basic accommodation in Castlebay, the main village of Barra. Dormitories or private rooms are available, as well as a shared kitchen and living room with stove. It is also possible to book private accommodation in an adjoining lodge. There are some beautiful views over the bay and the castle. The lodge is only a few minutes walk from the ferry terminal, tourist information office, shops, pubs and restaurants. Good map: kayaks can be rented on site.

The northernmost hostel in the UK offers dormitories with 11 or 6 beds. This white house also has a certain charm. Above all, it is very convenient for a cheap stay. The common areas are ideal for socialising, dining, eating breakfast and preparing meals, with a fully equipped kitchen, lounge and dining room. The site is also camping, with the possibility of pitching a tent.

The Islesburgh House Hostel is located in one of the beautiful Victorian streets set back from the harbour. The staff is very friendly and the interiors have largely retained their original grandeur. Comfort is assured, with clean bathrooms and all the necessary practical facilities. There are huge common rooms: kitchen, living room, billiard room and dining room, where it is very pleasant to settle down. The value for money is particularly good, especially for private rooms, single, double and family rooms.

This small 30-bed hostel is housed in a former hunting retreat on the north shore of Loch Gairloch. True to Hostelling Scotland's philosophy of simplicity and authenticity, the hostel has practical common areas such as a shared kitchen, laundry, drying room and living room, which offers panoramic views over Gairloch, the Torridon Hills, Skye Cullins and the Outer Hebrides. Convenient: the beach is right next door.

This friendly hostel has been occupying its typical pink-walled house since 2007. Located in a building that is over 200 years old, it has retained its Victorian character and the charm that goes with it. The atmosphere is familial and good-natured, which makes it an economical and smart choice. What's more, it is very well placed in Stornoway. The dormitories have 7 or 8 beds and there is a room for 4, suitable for groups or families. There is also a kitchen for cooking and a lounge for socialising by the fire.

This youth hostel welcomes you in the spirit of a "university residence". Located in a former building dedicated to army sergeants, it has large, bright single or double rooms. The place is warm and comfortable, with a bar offering pub food. The bathrooms are shared, as are the kitchens. The Shackleton Lodge is for groups. It is also possible to rent independent lodges (Nordabrake Houses) on a weekly basis on the same site.

The Kirkwall hostel is less than a kilometre from the city centre in a quiet street on the way to Scapa. Housed in a former World War II base, it still looks like a barracks from the outside, but the interior is well appointed, with a mix of dormitories and private rooms with 58 beds. The kitchen, dining room and living room form a block on their own and are very practical and friendly for settling down and meeting people. Free parking is available.

On the street leading to the castle, this hostel, housed in a magnificent building, is a great base for exploring Stirling and the surrounding area. Its beautiful historic façade precedes a completely refurbished area with 30 modern and comfortable rooms. Some are dormitories, of course, but there are also private options - rooms for 2 or 4 - for added privacy and tranquility. The common areas are spacious and well equipped, like the kitchen, dining room, or living room. Dinners and hampers are also available.

At the foot of one of the entrances to the trail leading to the summit of Ben Nevis, this Hostelling Scotland hostel is an ideal base if you want to conquer the colossus without wasting time and staying at a lower cost. It offers superb panoramic mountain views, a well-equipped communal kitchen, drying room, laundry room and secure bicycle storage. Food and drinks are available all day long. After extensive renovations and a total renovation of the façade in 2018, the place has been upgraded to a top-of-the-range location and is quickly taken by storm in the summer.

Located in the heart of New Lanark's conservation area, this youth hostel is housed in restored ^18th-century working-class dwellings. The hostel offers several types of rooms - twin, double, triple and quadruple - or dormitories (18 spaces in total), a studio with kitchenette, as well as common areas: dining rooms and lounges. Each room has its own bathroom and bed linen and towels are provided on arrival. Breakfast is à la carte or all-you-can-eat buffet. The Unesco visitor center is right next door.

Look for a pink house towards the end of the harbour (exactly opposite the distillery) because there is no real sign to announce it. With only 30 beds, this small hostel fills up without too much delay in high season, especially as its location is ideal facing the sea, in the heart of Tobermory. There is a living room and kitchen on the ground floor and a small courtyard leading to the bedrooms upstairs. In addition to the dormitories, it is possible to book private rooms (double, triple, family...).

Halfway between the village of Glencoe and its beautiful valley, this Hostelling Scotland hostel has a well-publicized mountain feel, with its wainscoted exterior walls. There are 48 beds in rooms and dorms, and the facilities are classic of the chain, a bit rustic, but all there. Since 2020, the hostel has been equipped with pods, the semi-circular wooden cabins typical of glamping (an improved version of camping), set out in the hostel grounds. Each pod is equipped with a double bed, a shower and a private toilet.

Acheninver Hostel is not in Ullapool itself, but in the north on the Coigach Peninsula. It is surrounded by grandiose landscapes: the Highlands, but also the Ben Mor Coigach nature reserve. You will have the choice between beds in single dormitories, or whole rooms with 6 or 8 beds if you travel in a group. Warning: the access to the hostel is not passable, so it is better to bring good shoes and easily transportable luggage for the last 300 meters. Dishes and provisions can be purchased on site.