Braemar Youth Hostel
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.
Perfect for groups, families and individual travellers, the hostel boasts many traditional features and offers guests a wide range of room types, from comfortable private rooms to spacious shared dorm accommodation. None of the rooms are en-suite but ample shower and washroom facilities are available.
Guests can enjoy a ‘Wee Breakfast’ of cereal, Scottish yogurt, fresh fruit, tea and coffee (please remember to pre-book) or take advantage of the large, well-equipped self-catering kitchen. Other facilities include free WiFi, a bright, comfortable lounge with TV, a laundry and drying room, free onsite parking and secure bike storage. Basic provisions, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception.
Sitting on the ‘Snow Road’, the hostel is the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts, within easy reach of the Cairngorms and the ski centres at Glenshee and the Lecht.
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 £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?
- Great location with friendly staff
- Secure lockers
- Private rooms available
For information on our COVID-19 practices and what to expect when staying with us please visit the FAQ’s section. Please also be aware of Scottish Government guidance when making your booking.
Braemar Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
February to October (RentaHostel available all year)
Reception Hours
Sunday to Thursday 08:00-10:00 & 17:00-21:00, Friday and Saturday 08:00-10:00 & 17:00-22:00
Check in
17:00 - 21:00
Check out
08.00 - 10:00
Access Hours
Late arrival and access outside opening hours by pre-arrangement only
Amenities
Pet Dogs Welcome
Free Wifi
Private Rooms
Family Rooms
Suitable for Groups
Catering Available (Breakfast Only)
Alcohol Licence
Lounge/TV Room
Laundry Room
Drying Room
Secure Lockers
Bike Store
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Shopping Nearby
Free Tea and Coffee in Guest Kitchen
Guest Reviews
24/05/22
Warden was friendly and helpful, everything was clean and working and we had a comfortable stay.Sue
21/05/22
Awesome cooperation and support from the hostel staff with a special request early on day of check in. Very happy with all elements of our stay.Tristan Stone
20/05/22
A great hostel in a great location, with friendly staff and fellow hostellers.Tony E
19/05/22
Ideally located for outdoor activities around Braemar. Good clean facilities and helpful staff.WGF
19/05/22
When you see a review with full 5 stars that you may think the customer is being a bit giddy. But genuinely, the best overall Hostelling experience I have had in 5 years of climbing munros. Granted, the location in the middle of a Scot's pine forest teaming with Red squirrels is a bit of a bonus, but the kitchen was immaculate, dorm really clean and the place is oozing with history such as then YHA handbook posters. Gregor the GM was friendly and v.knowledgeable about the Cairngorms weather too.Charlie Farquhar
17/05/22
Had a great time at Braemar, friendly, helpful staff and an amazing location.James Jefferies
16/05/22
Very comfortable hostel, spacious rooms, comfortable lounge, very welcoming staff. Lovely stayGareth Huxley
15/05/22
Perfect location to explore the Cairngorm National Park. All of the facilities and equipment that you would expect, comfortable beds and lounge, good wifi, and friendly and approachable staff. A very welcome return to hosteling after the pandemic.Carew R
09/05/22
Very welcoming friendly staff. Whole hostel sparkling clean. Wonderful showers. Very comfortable beds. Staff really welcoming and helpful! Overall fantastic!Allison Grant
02/05/22
I was really impressed with how clean, warm and welcoming the room was. The beds were neatly made and everything smelt so clean and fresh. The kitchen and drying room were superb. The lounge and lounge fire were lovely. The staff were so friendly and helpful.Amy Haylock
21/04/22
This was my first stay at a Scottish hostel and I was made to feel very welcome when checking in , everything was fully explained. All the facilities were clean and comfortableMikeL
20/04/22
Absolutely the best hostel and staff. So so incredibly friendly and helpful and the hostel too is just lovely as far as I'm concerned the best in Scotland. Thank you so much for a wonderful stayMugtree
19/04/22
Excellent location - easy access to cycling routes. Lovely historic building - we saw Red squirrels and pheasants outside the windows every day.Ellie Polo
07/04/22
Very good value compared to the locally very high b&b pricesBluesshakeout
06/04/22
The staff at Breamar have done a fantastic job preparing this old hostel to once again, after 2 years closed, receive visitors.They have made good of what they'd got to ensure our stay was warm, clean and welcoming. Well done. Had a 4 night stay with a pal loved it.Maggie
13/03/20
Brilliant location. Great friendly staff. Loaned us a second hand map for day's walking. Warm, cosy, friendly and civilised.Catherine
09/03/20
Brilliant location and hostel. Ian couldn't have been any more friendly and helpful. Thank you.Marchmont gang
07/03/20
Been a while since i visited a hostel ,couldn't have had a more fun experience great layout and super friendly people .dibs
03/03/20
Everything you'd want from a hostel, and a bargain.Andrew
02/03/20
Fabulous stay. Perfectly located for the southern cairngorms. Knowledgable staff on surrounding hikes and conditions.Flo
29/02/20
Another enjoyable visit thanks again to the friendly and helpful staffJohn
26/02/20
An absolute gem of a place. Simple but more than adequate with a dry room, toasty lounge and fully equipped kitchen. Located in one of the most beautiful valleys in the world :0)Lublu
24/02/20
Great stay at the hostel. Its location is prime for access to the Eastern Cairngorms. The team there were welcoming, warm and on top of ensuring the hostel was running well the whole time we were there. We stayed in one of the family rooms and it was perfect for what we were after. Go again at the drop of a hat.Ed Richardson
23/10/19
Hostel was quiet at end of season, but made for an excellent and comfortable stay. It was my first time of taking a dog to a hostel and it worked really well - the manager could not have been more helpful! Drying room and kitchen facilities were first rate. Thanks for a lovely stay.Dave Cummins
20/10/19
Had an excellent stay. Was very impressed with overall cleanliness throughout the hostel. Staff were very helpful and friendly. A perfect base for exploring the local hills. Will definitely visit again in the future.AdBenbow
17/10/19
We really enjoyed our stay at Braemar. It was a cosy place with a nice atmosphere and bedrooms are ok. Really nice service and facilities. We really recommend this place. Plus, we had a struggle with the reservation and the communication with the «Hostelling Scotland » team couldn't be better. Huge thanks, kind regards.Eliott, Gaëlle and Julien
15/10/19
Excellent hostel in a fantastic location. Great friendly helpful staffAl
14/10/19
Braemar Hostel is a fine cosy place with a cracking drying room.John Rosie
23/09/19
Fantastic stay in a beautiful setting- en suite red squirrels, a stone's throw from friendly pubs and glorious walks and a well equipped kitchen and drying room. Staff are friendly and full of practical tips to help you get the best from your stay.Shona Morton
22/09/19
A great place to stay in an amazing location. Friendly staff who create that welcoming and community atmosphere you'd expect in a hostel. All the facilities you'd expect and great place to relax after a day, walking, cycling and enjoying all the area has to offer. A short walk into the village to the pub and restaurant.Met some great people here, who will now be tango dancing round Scotland!Jonathan
Reasons to visit
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.
