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
8/12/2022 12:00:00 AM
We enjoyed the stay with you.Bruce
8/12/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great stay in great weather. Lots of interesting chat with other guests. Really good. Staff great even with a lot of work on hand. Hoping all planned renovations go well.Ngailik
8/9/2022 12:00:00 AM
First time staying in a Youth Hostel and it was a fantastic experience, the staff were very friendly and helpful. The hostel is absolutely spotless and kitchen facilities are excellent. I ended up booking an extra night to stay 3 nights instead of 2 to get some more Munros in. Perfect location will definitely be back soon. Thank youLynsey B
8/7/2022 12:00:00 AM
Stayed here before, really enjoyed the stay. Great location and facilities and friendly staff. Lovely village - nice bars and places to eat. Wish that fish and chip shop stayed open for a little bit longer!Guest Review
8/6/2022 12:00:00 AM
Friendly and helpful staffGraeme
8/3/2022 12:00:00 AM
A great experience. Traditional and welcoming. I enjoyed it and will return.JBJB
7/29/2022 12:00:00 AM
Nice stay, Staff were friendly.Guest Review
7/29/2022 12:00:00 AM
A really convenient and central location to stay in Braemar. Ideal for Munro bagging and many other outdoor activities.Bill Brown
7/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Picturesque youth hostel in a fantastic location. Great kitchen and facilities. Easy to get to the centre of town and perfect for walking in the surrounding hills. Friendly atmosphere.PI
7/14/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great spot. Nice location in calming wooded zone, but very near centre of town. Really well set up for nearby Cairngorms, Glen Shee, Lochnagar trips. Well equipped kitchen space with complimentary coffee.Neil Watson
7/4/2022 12:00:00 AM
Lovely friendly staff. Facilities fairly basic as expected but well organised and covered all our requirements. Genuinely lovely hostel and great overall experience. Thank you!!Phil
6/30/2022 12:00:00 AM
Very welcoming manager. Nice atmosphere. Clean. Great location.SB
6/29/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great to find my bed made up and a towel laid out for my use in the private room I booked. Places to eat in Braemar were available but kitchen and dining facilities in the hostel were fine and not too busy. Fun to watch red squirrels and a pheasant in the hostel grounds.Alpenrose
6/27/2022 12:00:00 AM
An excellently run hostel, clean, tidy, peaceful and in a beautiful setting.John Knox
6/26/2022 12:00:00 AM
I had a great time; the hostel is right on the edge of Braemar which means it's in the perfect location for getting to dozens of hills by bike. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the hostel was always clean, and the drying room (a bit of a necessity for Scottish outdoors activities!) was well-organised and effective.Daniel
6/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great hostel in a beautiful location,Set just outside the main village centre of Braemar in a old Victorian building,Spacious rooms and good facilities make for a pleasant staySteven Allen
6/19/2022 12:00:00 AM
Traditional hostel in a nice location in the village of Braemar. Wasn't too busy when we visited, so was easy to chat to the other guests in the kitchen and dining area, making for a sociable experience. Staff friendly and helpful. Even saw a red squirrel in a tree outside the hostel.Ian Bruce
6/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
I had a very enjoyable stay. Absolutely wonderful staff. So friendly and welcoming- nothing was too much trouble for them. They were very knowIedgeable about the locality and were able to advise on walks, local attractions and places to eat. The hostel is an amazing old building with lots of character and atmosphere. It was kept immaculately clean and was very comfortable. Beautiful surroundings and lovely walks right from the door.cal mac
6/6/2022 12:00:00 AM
Lovely stay. Nice, friendly and helpful staff. Spacious and comfortable hostel. Good showers. Great location.Paul Nice.
6/4/2022 12:00:00 AM
Just what needed for walking and cyclingNgailik
5/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Warden was friendly and helpful, everything was clean and working and we had a comfortable stay.Sue
5/21/2022 12:00:00 AM
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
5/20/2022 12:00:00 AM
A great hostel in a great location, with friendly staff and fellow hostellers.Tony E
5/19/2022 12:00:00 AM
Ideally located for outdoor activities around Braemar. Good clean facilities and helpful staff.WGF
5/19/2022 12:00:00 AM
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
5/17/2022 12:00:00 AM
Had a great time at Braemar, friendly, helpful staff and an amazing location.James Jefferies
5/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Very comfortable hostel, spacious rooms, comfortable lounge, very welcoming staff. Lovely stayGareth Huxley
5/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
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
5/9/2022 12:00:00 AM
Very welcoming friendly staff. Whole hostel sparkling clean. Wonderful showers. Very comfortable beds. Staff really welcoming and helpful! Overall fantastic!Allison Grant
5/2/2022 12:00:00 AM
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
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.
