Cairngorm Lodge 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.
Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel is a former shooting lodge in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, seven miles from Aviemore with stunning views towards the Northern Corries.
Recently refurbished, this hostel offers a range of comfortable private rooms and spacious shared accommodation with separate washrooms. Guests can opt for a continental breakfast, lunch or evening meal served in the dining room (please remember to pre-book), or take advantage of the large, well-equipped self-catering kitchen.
The hostel is licensed so why not relax and enjoy a locally brewed beer or a glass of wine in the cosy lounge while taking in the view across the Cairngorms. Other facilities include a pool table, laundry, drying room and secure bike store. Basic provisions, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception.
Due to the hostel’s remote location, WiFi is free but access is limited.
Local activities include hillwalking, climbing, snowsports, mountain biking, pony trekking, watersports and fishing. Most activities take place on the Rothiemurchus Estate, a fabulous area with many easy paths through the Caledonian Pine Forest. The Scottish Whisky Trail is also nearby and, for something different, visit the Reindeer Centre, where you can feed and learn about these friendly free-roaming animals.
The hostel sits across the road from the banks of Loch Morlich, which boasts the highest sandy beach
in the UK.
Cairngorm Lodge 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) 1479 861 238 to check availability. There is a small charge of £5 per night for your dog when staying in our hostels.
Please note: Dogs are allowed in the common room/lounge
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
For information on hostel accessibility please click here
We’re committed to delivering the highest levels of cleanliness. To find out more about our Cleanliness Commitment please click here.
Book with Confidence. To find out more about our Covid-19 Flexibility Guarantee, please click here.
Why stay?
- Fantastic location in the Cairngorm National Park
- Friendly, welcoming staff
- Great food
- Secure lockers and Luggage Store
- Private rooms available
Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
January to October (RentaHostel available all year)
Reception Hours
07:00-10:00 and 17:00-22:30 (23:00 at weekends)
Check in
17:00 - 22.30
Check out
07.00 - 10:00
Access Hours
Late arrival is by pre-arrangement only
Amenities
Pet Dogs Welcome
Free Wifi
Private Rooms
Family Rooms
Suitable for Groups
Lounge Area
Cafe
Alcohol Licence
Laundry Room
Drying Room
Shopping Nearby
Pool Table
Secure Lockers
Luggage Store
Bike Store
Access with limited mobility
Suitable for wheelchair users with assistance
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Catering Available (Full Meal Service)
Free Tea and Coffee in Guest Kitchen
Guest Reviews
20/09/21
I stayed here with friends for two nights. The room was clean and the beds were surprisingly comfortable. We ate in the restaurant both nights and found the food delicious and good value for money. Although the self-catering facilities were closed due to COVID-19, hot water and tea and coffee were available.A beautiful location and a perfect place to stay, even for a group of friends who are young at heart, if not in age!Lady Eleanor
15/09/21
The room and facilities in the hostel were all spotless clean,new bathrooms were fitted which was great to see they are modern and the power shower was excellent. The staff were very friendly and accommodating.Marta
12/09/21
Nice and clean. Friendly staff. A decent breakfast before a day's walking too.AMRen
05/09/21
Very nice hostel, clean, friendly staff, perfect location for walks and water sports. Definitely will be back again.Mike
04/09/21
Lovely stay, staff were wonderful.Fran tastic
31/08/21
Great location, friendly staff. A very good idea to have tea and coffee freely available in reception Very nice lounge.Philip Benson
10/08/21
Excellent hostel in a great location. COVID restrictions limit things a little bit (communal kitchen, washing, etc) but apart from that we had an excellent stay.Surrey Hills Running Club
10/08/21
Great place to stay. Staff were very helpful; room was clean and food good. What more do you want?Sean Tarver
08/08/21
Cairngorm lodge is a great hostel in a wonderful location. My daughter's first stay at the SYHA and she can't wait to return.Scottyinmacc
06/08/21
Very helpful and friendly staff, coping well with the restrictions caused by Covid. Good evening meals.Anne
01/08/21
Fantastic stay in beautiful hostel. Lovely private room with double bed, friendly staff, smart private bathroom. Amazing location.Ed
24/07/21
Love this place great locationMargot Toussaint
23/07/21
Hostel is marvelous. I stayed with my 3 boys. Staff are friendly and informative, especially the chap on reception. Brilliant location and lovely fish and chips for dinner! You can even get a drink! Tables outside if you can brave the midgies! Felt safe and clean, despite the pandemic. We had a great stay.Angela and family from Edinburgh
16/07/21
Welcoming. Badly sign-posted - but we love that. Excellent drying room. Some hikers / runners like a beer later in the evening so maybe sort that. Food was EXCELLENT. Fabulous. As was the food service. Literally made me smile from ear to ear and feel very chilled. Loved it. Clean and quiet.Jonny McG
12/07/21
Great location nice clean room comfortableHelen
10/07/21
Really enjoyable couple of nights away with the kids experiencing something new by staying in the Hostel rather than a hotel or camping. Staff were very friendly, informative and knowledgable of the local area. Hostel was very clean and COVID safe. Obviously not all of the facilities were available to us during our stay but that was completely understandable. Would highly recommend a stay and we will definitely be back.Stuart Bathgate
07/07/21
Really great value for money. Lovely setting just across the road from Loch Morlich Beach. Recently refurbished bathrooms and lounge. Lovely conservatory area to eat breakfast in. Great that each bed has it's own little reading light, shelf with a plug and usb charging area!Yes
04/07/21
The hostel is very well located with lots of things to do. The staff is so nice and kind, very helpful, patient, professional. I loved my stay. I strongly recommend!Andrea Rodriguez
02/07/21
It felt very safeEric
28/06/21
Wonderful hostel, welcoming staff works very well with covid guidelines.Margot Toussaint
22/06/21
Great hostel with relaxed and friendly staff who are keen to help. A shame that the pandemic has impacted parts of the hostel experience but this is the same across the country for now.Colin Baird
13/06/21
Great staff and super atmosphere. Great to be back hostelling. I will do lots more.Struan
10/06/21
Lovely spot and ideal for starting your walks particularly if you haven't got a car. We stayed 6 days and there was enough choice of meals. The bathroom was very good, shower excellent. The people/staff were very friendly and seemed to work very hard to keep the place running well and clean. We could have paid more for packed lunch and had more variety.Steve and Tricia
07/06/21
What a wonderful hostel! The staff were so friendly, the food was absolutely delicious plus great value, and the setting next to Loch Morlich absolutely stunning. Could not have found a more perfect base from which to set off on our hike through the Cairngorm mountains. Would have given 10 stars if possible!Adam P
01/06/21
I have been to Cairngorm Lodge YH many times and the refurbishment (new toilet/shower facilities), new flooring are excellent. I always enjoy my stay here as the location is just perfect.I was made very welcome on arrival and check-in was smooth and efficient. Evening meal and wee breakfast were very good and great value. All staff were very helpful and pleasant. Covid-19 arrangements were being managed well.Barbara
15/10/20
Even with the CoVid19- routine we missed nothing. The rooms were comfortable and clean, as were the private bathrooms. We could help ourselves to tea or coffee at the lobby and had a private table at the eating area. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Last but not least the location is stunning next to Loch Morlich. We recommend the cosy Pine Marten Bar for dinner nearby. We will be back. :-)Chris & Sylvio
08/10/20
Given that we are all living with extensive Covid-19 restrictions, it is great that the hostel is open at all. We were warmly welcomed and given great instructions for our stay. Really enjoyed everything about it. It's not SYHA fault that some of the facilities are not available but we had a recommendation to go to the nearby bar for a meal which we really enjoyed. Well done Cairngorm Lodge and SYHA.Christine
24/09/20
The only reason it's not 5 stars all the way is because of the Covid situation and the lack of facilities due to it. Usually with kitchen and drying room etc it would be 5 stars for all. The new bathroom renovations are great! And the staff were superb and well organised as always.I feel that perhaps the room pricing should have been slightly cheaper to reflect the limited facilities.I look forward to a return to normality at some point soon and the full five star reviews that will follow.Russell.
23/09/20
The lodge is ideally suited for experiencing the avimore area. I have one downgraded the atmosphere because due to COVID no one was socialising ( quite rightly) so there was no normal banter and meeting people which is an enjoyable part of hostelling. The staff were very welcoming .Vic Galpin
13/09/20
Really friendly and helpful. Great to have the Pine Marten cafe at the bottom of the drive, too.Paul
Reasons to visit
Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel sits within the Cairngorms National Park, voted one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by National Geographic Traveller Magazine. The park, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, has something for everyone - from castles and distilleries to family attractions, water and snowsports, wildlife watching, and some incredible high and low level walking and cycling routes.
Visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, sample a craft beer at the Cairngorm Brewery, discover Loch Morlich and the highest sandy beach in Britain and explore the Craigellachie National Nature Reserve.
Cairngorm Lodge is the perfect location for families, groups and individuals looking to take advantage of this natural playground.
