Achmelvich Beach Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
We welcome the recent announcement by the Scottish Government on the responsible lifting of restrictions and are delighted to be able to plan for the re-opening of our self-catering kitchens from 1st November. Drying room facilities are now available at many of our hostels but we would ask you to please contact the hostel team directly to allow them to manage your access. The health, safety and wellbeing of our guests, employees and the communities in which we operate remains our main priority at this time. For more information on what to expect when staying with us please visit the FAQ's section of this website.
As you’ll appreciate, advice on Covid-19 is constantly changing and we would ask all our guests to continue to refer to Scottish Government guidelines and Transport Scotland advice on travel and social distancing when making their booking. Please remember, this guidance may be different in England and Wales.
Winning silver in the The Great Outdoors Magazine awards for accommodation - 
Achmelvich Beach Youth Hostel sits on the NC500, beside a beautiful, sheltered white sandy beach, close to the iconic mountain of Suilven.
This small and friendly hostel provides a relaxing base to explore miles of unspoilt coastline and discover quiet secluded beaches, crystal clear waters and abundant wildlife.
The hostel offers guests three comfortable private rooms and spacious shared accommodation with private lockers. Guests can enjoy a ‘Wee Breakfast’ of cereal, Scottish yogurt, fresh fruit, tea and coffee; or take advantage of the recently refurbished and well-equipped self-catering kitchen to prepare their own. 'Heat it and eat it' evening meals are available to purchase for your convenience.
Other facilities include a cosy dining area with wood burning stove, a laundry and small shop in reception selling basic provisions, soft drinks and snacks. There is no WiFi because of the hostel’s remote location. Free parking is available close by.
Achmelvich Beach is a dog-friendly hostel. If you would like to book yourself and your dog into the hostel, please phone the hostel direct on +44 (0) 1571 844 480 to check availability. There is a small charge of £5 per night for your dog when staying in our hostels.
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
For information on hostel accessibility please click here
Why stay?
- Friendly, helpful and welcoming staff
- Unique, unspoilt location with stunning views
- Secure lockers
- Private rooms available
Achmelvich Beach Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
April to September (RentaHostel available all year)
Reception Hours
08:00-10:00 and 17:00-22:00
Check in
17:00-22:00
Check out
08:00-10:00
Access Hours
Late check in available on request and by prior arrangement. The youth hostel is closed between 10:00 and 17:00.
Amenities
Pet Dogs Welcome
En Suite Rooms
Private Rooms
Family Rooms
'Heat it and Eat Meals' available
Group Catering Available (Wee Breakfast Only)
Free Tea and Coffee in Guest Kitchen
Laundry Room
Secure Lockers
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Guest Reviews
01/10/19
Huge thanks to Ben for his lovely welcome to Achmelvich, getting us signed up as members and booking our night at Torridon, so helpful. He hostel is simply stand-out amazing, literally on a white sand turquoise sea beach with the stunning Assynt hills and coast all within easy reach. Highly recommend.JaneCatEliz
28/09/19
Fantastic hostel, facilities were kept clean and tidy. Very friendly and accommodating staff. Great shower. Brilliant that the hostel has its own chickens and vegetable patch for fresh eggs and herbs. Lovely wood burning fireplace to keep cosy in the evening in the communal area.Yasmin
28/09/19
Friendly, welcoming, homely and green with the hostels own chickens producing our eggs.Mark Stroud
26/09/19
It was a perfect place to stay for our group booking. Couldn't have been better. The hostel wardens were fantastic.Romany Garnett
22/09/19
Fantastic stay - the dog had a great time too!Ben was friendly, welcoming and very helpful.The hostel is clean and cosy!I don't think the location could be anymore perfect - the views, the beach, the night sky.Having frozen meals available to purchase to heat in the kitchen was a life saver for us as nowhere was open in Lochinver.Claire H
13/09/19
Achmelvich is a great wee hostel in a superb location. The staff are friendly, helpful and efficient. I really like the design of the bunkhouse which gives each set of bunks their own space. My last visit was in 1971 but I won't wait so long before I return.Dave
13/09/19
Fantastic location and even better indoors. Lovely warm and friendly kitchen/lounge. Met some delightful people round the stove and the communal atmosphere was great, with everyone sharing food and storied. V helpful staff who went out of their way to help when I wanted to stay an extra night and there were no spaces, phoning alternative accommodation for me. The showers are amazing and, for any coeliacs out there, only a few hundred yards to the most unexpected gluten-free chippy in the UK!Sharon
04/09/19
Whole hostel felt really cared for. Loved the common room and kitchen area. Best recycling system in any hostel we've visited. Great provision of maps and route guides. Would have been good to have a drying room. Liked the bunk bed with a double bed on the lower level - amazing to get a private twin room in a small hostel.Jack
29/08/19
Ben is a very good host.Diana
28/08/19
The view is amazing! When it's sunny you can enjoy breakfast outside with the view to the sea. Everything is clean. Nice guy running the hostel. Cozy common room. Nice atmosphere. 2-3 min walking from the beach.Sabine
27/08/19
This is a lovely small hostel in the middle of nowhere, next to the beach. The team is very friendly, the kitchen and common room practical and comfortable. Our family room even had a private toilet. Only for people who love single-track roads!Janning
27/08/19
The hostel is small, remote and delightful. It is run really well with a welcoming and social feel. The surrounding area is beautiful and peaceful. It is a small hostel in a remote location so there are going to be fewer facilities than in a city hostel; though they get a lot of excellent facilities in here. I would happily stay again.Anonymous
26/08/19
We stay only one night at this place and everything was perfect we defenetly chose this place again if we come back in scotland!!yes
15/08/19
I thoroughly enjoyed my 3 night stay here. The weather was very varied, and it was great to have a dry and cosy base. The hostel is really well run and cared for, and there are some very thoughtful touches, including curtained off division of the dorm so despite being 8-bedded it really feels like 2-bedded private rooms. The communal area was excellent, with the honesty provision of good coffee a real treat. Big thanks to Jarine and Ben.Liz, Pitlochry
12/08/19
The hostel is located just beside the beach and is easy to get to. One of the best hostels I've stayed so far. There are provisions for complimentary tea and coffee, which was a really nice gesture. There is a tiny chicken coop where the hens runs around and fresh eggs can be taken for a small donation. The accomodation and washrooms were clean and well maintained. I've already recommended this hostel to several friends and colleagues, and other travellers met on our route. Would love to go backYes
11/08/19
Lovely sunset. Too many midges in the morning! Good place to buy breakfast in Lochinver.Iain
11/08/19
Achmelvich Beach has become one of my favourite hostels after this visit. Situated in a perfect location near idyllic beaches and a fantastic landscape including the magnificent mountain Suilven, there is no shortage of things to do, including walking, water sports or simply relaxing at the beach. The staff are friendly and welcoming and the kitchen and common room area has a very friendly and cosy area. If you get the opportunity visit this hostel- you won't regret it!James
06/08/19
Delightful hostel and a very warm welcome - I just need to work out when I can get back thereChris, Dundee
04/08/19
Thank you Jorine and Ben. What a lovely hostel - cosy, friendly and spotless - and a location to die for. The flowers of the machair and the butterflies are wonderful.Rachel from Winchester
31/07/19
Wasn't quite sure about booking this place at first but so glad I did. It's in the middle of nowhere but totally worth it - a 2 minute walk to a beautiful bay with white sands and clear waters. Jorine was very helpful with local walks and knowledge and very friendly. Place was clean and tidy. Would go back again.Gavin
29/07/19
Fabulous location and a great hostel set-up. Clear that all the staff love and care for the place and want their guests to appreciate this beautiful part of Scotland too.No
28/07/19
The staff went out of their way to help with every request for help.No
22/07/19
Absolutely fabulous location - loved our stay and we will be back. Thanks Hostelling Scotland!Penny
21/07/19
Had an amazing time at Achmelvich due to the lovely staff and unique location. My favourite Youth Hostel by far!Yes
20/07/19
Best Hostel we have visited so far. Extra cosy and a very attendant manager. Thank you.Janette
19/07/19
I just love this hostel. It's not the lap of luxury but it's clean, the kitchen facilities are good, the shower is excellent and the staff are welcoming. It's not a big hostel so it's cosy and friendly. The main building itself is a delightful old schoolhouse with lovely flowerbeds - it's most pleasant just sitting outside at the picnic tables enjoying the surroundings and sea view. A beautiful beach is very close, with another (more quiet) beach a little further beyond - stunning for sunsets.Pamela
19/07/19
Jorine and Ben are lovely hosts and very helpful. A ceilidh that took place while we were there was an unexpected bonus. And it is in a great location just by the beach, a perfect stopping point on the NC500 route.Ian
16/07/19
Location, location, location! A wonderful “old style” hostel in a remote and beautiful part of Scotland. Very relaxed atmosphere and great staff. We were blessed with exceptional weather.Drawdenotle
15/07/19
Stunning location. Very friendly check staff who offered helpful tips. Waited until early evening when most people had gone & then went for a swim. Picnic on the rocks above the beach. Awesome clear blue water. It's a youth hostel so a no frills, great value place to stay, kitchen facilities & nice to meet other travellers. We had a private room with shared bathroom, but the other guests were quite considerate. Don't forget to buy yummy pies for dinner from the Lochinver pie shop.No
14/07/19
Very friendly place, off the beaten track and hence ideal for some proper relaxation! Beautiful beach, especially in good weather.Andres
Reasons to visit
Located on the famous NC500 and just 300 metres from a legendary white sandy beach, Achmelvich Beach is the perfect starting point for stunning coastal and hill walks. The crystal clear waters also make it a great base for sea kayaking and snorkelling.
The Drumbeg Loop is a real driver's road, with spectacular drive with views. Single track with tight turns and blind bends it boasts some of the most beautiful, dramatic views you will ever see. A must-do and definitely one for the bucket list!
One of the more unusual local attractions is the 'Hermit's Castle'. This children's sized "castle" is hidden away over the headland from Achmelvich Bay, a 10-15 minute walk from Achmelvich Beach. The castle was built in the 1950s and, despite appearances, it's only just big enough to stand inside it. An unusual building in a very wild location.
There are a number of great local restaurants within easy reach including the world famous Lochinver Larder. The Caberfeidh Gastro Pub serves up amazing seafood dishes in an informal pub setting. From ludicrously good langoustines to enormous beer-battered cod goujons and grilled goat's cheese with red onion marmalade - ignore the rustic feel of the interior and enjoy local Scottish seafood at its best!
For wildlife enthusiasts, whale and dolphin watching boat trips leave from Lochinver.
With spectacular scenery, fine local produce and unforgettable sunsets, Achmelvich Beach is a truely memorable stay.
