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
15/12/2024
Great place to meet people up to stuff!Eddie
13/12/2024
Overall I enjoyed my three night stay in Braemar very much. The winter offer of 3 nights for price of 2 made it very good value. I booked a private room as I need my own space to sleep, but very much enjoyed the company of fellow hostellers whilst cooking, eating and relaxing in the public areas. The kitchen facilities were modern and clean and a pleasure to use, likewise although the room wasn't en-suite, the washrooms and showers were all good. I would definitely come back.Kenny
07/12/2024
Excellent.Guest Review
04/12/2024
We had a wonderful stay at the Braemar hostel. We took advantage of the winter 3 for 2 nights offer which was excellent value. We booked a private room which was spacious, warm and comfortable. The whole hostel has recently been redecorated so eveything felt very fresh. The lounge is a lovely space to relax, play a board game or plan your next adventure. The kitchen has everything you need and the toilet/ shower facilities were always spotlessly clean. We would highly recommend Braemar hostel.Fiona
26/11/2024
Braemar is a great hostel with large warm sitting room for all guests to enjoy and interact with other guests, the hostel was very clean and the staff very friendlyCarol Taylor
25/11/2024
Braemar Hostel has been refurbished to a very high standard. Highly recommend!Dot
25/11/2024
Excellent stay, the atmosphere of a hostel but you could almost think you were staying in a hotel.Alan
24/11/2024
Very comfortable and clean. Beautiful building and stunning location.Jamie
23/11/2024
The perfect place to stay. So comfortable, clean and organised. Friendly and very helpful staff. Could not fault this beautiful place and totally recommend. Also the 3 nights for the price of 2 during the winter season is a godsend.Margaret
18/11/2024
I enjoyed staying at this hostel, and I would be happy to return.Guest Review
18/11/2024
Recently upgraded with excellent facilities and located only a few mins from the village centre. Unseasonably good weather helped make the trip memorable.Chris
18/11/2024
Great place to stay when hiking or cycling in the beautiful surroundingsKarlijn
17/11/2024
Excellent place in Braemar for great value.Emily
16/11/2024
Excellent-thanks again.Tracy
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
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.