Braemar
About About this youth hostel ....
An impressive former shooting lodge, Braemar Youth Hostel sits in extensive grounds in the heart of Cairngorms National Park and is a great base for exploring Royal Deeside with its many castles and distilleries, including Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s Scottish home. Sitting on the ‘Snow Road’, the hostel is the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts and is within easy reach of the Cairngorms and the ski centres at Glenshee and the Lecht.
The hostel boasts many traditional features and offers guests a range of comfortable private rooms and shared dorm accommodation. None of the rooms are en-suite but ample shower and washroom facilities are available. Other facilities include free WiFi, a bright comfortable lounge, a drying room, laundry free onsite parking and secure bike storage with the facility to charge e-bikes.
Braemar 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) 1339 741 659 to check availability. There is a small charge of £7.50 per night for your dog when staying in our hostels.
‘Wee Breakfast’ available (please remember to pre-book).
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Why stay?
- Great location
- Friendly staff with expert local knowledge
- Local shops and restaurants within walking distance
- Licensed, serving local beers and wine
For more information on the hostel, accessibility and the local area please click here
Braemar Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
Season: Open all year
Reception Hours
Reception Hours: Sunday to Thursday 07:00-10:00 & 17:00-21:30, Friday and Saturday 07:00-10:00 & 17:00-22:00
Check in
Check in: 17:00 - 21:30
Check out
Check out: 08.00 - 10:00
Access Hours
Access hours: Late arrival and access outside opening hours by pre-arrangement only
Amenities
Bike Store
Free Wifi
Free Parking (limited on-site) p
Drying Room
Catering Available (Breakfast Only)
Alcohol Licence
Laundry Room
Guest Kitchen
Pet Dogs Welcome
Private Rooms
Suitable for Groups
Shopping Nearby
Towel Hire
Family Rooms
Lounge Area
Guest Reviews
13/11/2024
This hostel is in a great location. It has been recently refurbished and offers a good variety of room and accommodation choices. The kitchen and eating facilities are excellent and the toilets and showers are great. This was my second stay and I will be staying again as I continue my munro journey.Alan Slater
12/11/2024
Very comfortable stayGreat valueCatherine
10/11/2024
After a long closure it was so nice to find that the Braemar hostel still has all its traditioal charms!MikeM
10/11/2024
Fantastic hostel with great location and facilities, will be coming backDuncan
08/11/2024
Excellent Hostel for the following: walking, cycling and tourist attractions.Guest Review
07/11/2024
Excellent hostel with excellent wardens.Ross
05/11/2024
Beautiful location for outdoor activities and local amenities. Comfortable, warm and friendly.Berryfberry
28/10/2024
We had a great time in this cozy hostel - facilities were great and the place was very clean even though it was a busy weekend.Kat
27/10/2024
A lovely, comfortable, inexpensive place to stay, especially for those of us who like to enjoy the great outdoors.Guest Review
26/10/2024
The perfect stay! Everything is new, clean and the staff are extremely friendly. Such a warm and cosy atmosphere. We loved our stay here.Dagmar
21/10/2024
Braemar Youth Hostel was a good experience for our family to stay in for a long weekend. The staff were friendly and very helpful in giving us local advice. The refurbished facilities were great too. We enjoyed our stay.James
16/10/2024
A good hostel in an excellent location for hillwalking. The kitchen would benefit from some more pans, particulaly small ones and some larger teapots. The drying room needs some more rails & hooks for hanging wet gear.Peter Hamilton
16/10/2024
This was my second visit in six weeks. Everything was first-class.Gillian Cummins
15/10/2024
Spacious, well-sited and friendly hostel, recently refurbished to a high standard.Paul Todd
15/10/2024
Friendly staff and very relaxed atmosphere in the hostel. Great to be able to take my dog and feel comfortable around the hostel with him (the other guests were welcoming of him too). Great location for the village centre and local hills and attractions. Very good value for money.Roaminlass
14/10/2024
Excellent youth hostel, comfortable beds, warm, attractive public rooms in a fantastic location.Guest Review
12/10/2024
A very comfortable stay.LJ
05/10/2024
Excellent; relaxing; good value for moneyJohn Clements
03/10/2024
We had a lovely overnight stay - it's great to be back after the refurbishment! The lounge has had a lovely transformation and all the painting makes it feel fresher. Thank you for our stay!Guest Review
01/10/2024
Beautiful Hostel in beautiful surroundings. I really enjoyed my stay.Jenna
28/09/2024
Very clean and tidy, and nice lounge area to sit in!aaronj
24/09/2024
Fantastic hostel, offers everything you need and very helpful and friendly staff. Would definitely stay again / recommend to others.Rona
22/09/2024
What a great stay - exceeded expectations.Laura
20/09/2024
We had a great stay at Braemer Youth hostel! The staff is super friendly and very helpful. The hostel is located in a peaceful little forest, it is beautifully furnished and the beds are very comfortable.Katharina Reiner
19/09/2024
Friendly hostel in a great location. Short walk to the centre of Braemar with adequate shops and places to eat/drink in the evening. The hostel lounge is particularly cozy and relaxing, having plenty of comfortable seating, even when it's busy.Julian
17/09/2024
Loved this hostel and its setting in amongst the trees. Kitchen was first class, bedrooms clean and comfortable and a cosy lounge area to relax in with games etc.Staff were wonderful and very welcoming. Wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.Emma
14/09/2024
Great hostel, kitchen, wee breakfast and lounge made our stay even better than expected.Guest Review
12/09/2024
Excellent hostel and friendly, efficient staffAlan Franck
10/09/2024
Very happy at Braemar youth hostelDS
10/09/2024
Warm and welcoming hostel with period features, excellent location on the edge of Braemar. Woodland location with woodland walks squirrel and bird viewing station. Fantastic base to explore the area.Yvonne
Reasons to visit
Surrounded by the Grampian Mountains, Braemar is the ideal base for exploring Royal Deeside and the mighty Cairngorms. Balmoral Castle, the Queen's Scottish home, is nearby (open between April-July) and there are a host of distilleries for whisky enthusiasts to explore.
The village sits on 'The Snow Road', a 90-mile journey which takes you from the picturesque market town of Blairgowrie to the traditional Highland town of Grantown-on-Spey. The route traverses the highest public road in Britain through some of the most impressive landscapes in the eastern Cairngorms, linking the communities of Braemar, Ballater and Tomintoul.
With no less than 24 Munros within easy reach it's no wonder the area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. It's also a perfect base for winter sports, as Glenshee is just eight miles to the south and the Lecht is to the north.
This ancient village is also home to the world famous annual Braemar Gathering and Highland Games. Held on the first Saturday in September, the event is regularly attended by the Royal Family and features the best pipe bands, pipers, Highland dancers and athletes.