Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
Please note – We are continuing to modernise our hostels and work will be carried out on the externals of Cairngorm Lodge from June to October. Our on-site team are working hard to minimise any disruption, but please be aware that you may experience some noise between 8am and 6pm daily.
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.
The 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
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 - October (RentaHostel available all year)
Reception Hours
07:00 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 22:30/23:00 at weekends
Check in
17:00
Check out
10:00
Access Hours
Late arrival and access outside opening hours is by pre-arrangement only
Amenities
Free Wifi
Private Rooms Available
Family Rooms Available
Suitable for Groups
Lounge Area
Cafe
Self Catering Kitchen
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)
Pet Dogs Welcome
Catering Available (Full Meal Service)
Complimentary Tea and Coffee available in Self Catering Kitchen
Guest Reviews
17/09/19
Very good hostel. Luxurious compared to the old days!Alastair Stuart.
16/09/19
Great Hostel in a lovely location. Excellent staff and great food. Be happy to return anytime.David Phillips
13/09/19
Great Location for hikes for all level of experience, including families. very well equiped self catering kitchen. and a fantastic Chef. Many good reasons to return for a longer stay.Lockers might be something to add to the rooms.lisl
12/09/19
The restaurant stood out. Exactly the right sort of food for hill goers and very good value!Mike M
12/09/19
The hostel is in a fantastic location and the staff are excellent. The food is great and the staff in the kitchen are very friendly and helpful. However, as a family of 6 (2 adults, 4 children), we found it very expensive at £129 for a dorm. I would definitely recommend the hostel - it has a good self-catering kitchen and generally a very good atmosphere.SB
11/09/19
Dave and the whole team at Cairngorm Lodge really make this such a friendly and welcoming hostel. I had evening meal and continental breakfast - all super and recommended. Stunning location too.Ron
11/09/19
Lovely hostel. Great staff!MANDY PEDEN
03/09/19
A clean, comfortable and friendly place to stay in an unbeatable location for any mountain lover. Walking distance to Loch Morlich and some beautiful hikes and just a short drive to the ski station to access the Cairngorm Massif.Judith Brown
31/08/19
Very friendly hostel with good facilities. Perfect location for the hills, lots of options for family adventures too. Nice meals from the kitchen, great value.Fiona
30/08/19
Great location, facilities and easy checkout! The kitchen could do with some essentials like cooking oil and seasoning.Andrew S
29/08/19
Relaxed and comfortable stay following several nights camping we were in desperate need of bed rest and luxury facilities like a hot shower!We booked last minute on the day and when we arrived to check in we were offered to upgrade to a private room which was free for a few extra pounds which was superb.Accommodation was super clean and staff so friendly. Will definitely be back. Ongoing upgrades were happening by 8am next morning to external building but it didn't impede on our stay.Laura Bell
28/08/19
Great staff, friendly and helpful. Nice location.No
26/08/19
Excellent.Duncan
25/08/19
Lovely stay in the middle of the Cairngorms. Staff were friendly and helpful and, even though we were a group of 6, we felt the facilities were more than what we needed.Irenaca de Montserrat
22/08/19
This hostel gave me all the things I needed. Clean and nice facilities for example. But most of all: a atmosphere, where an exchange between travelers was super easy and nice. I had a great time!Mary-Lou
16/08/19
Beautiful location (literally a 2-minute walk from Loch Morlich) with plenty of hiking trails nearby. Rooms were clean and tidy, staff friendly and helpful and common room comfy and welcoming. Would definitely book again!Victoria
11/08/19
Fantastic place to watch the weather roll over the Cairngorm mountains: warm welcome and friendly chatter as everyone dodged the midges!Di
11/08/19
The hostel was very pleasing, people were friendly, the kitchen had everything you need for your stay.Islam Ebeid
10/08/19
This hostel is home from home, with friendly welcoming staff, cosy shared lounges, members kitchen, dining room.The location is perfect: 5 minutes walk from lake with sandy beach, plenty of local easy access walks in gorgeous countryside.S and D from Northeast England
08/08/19
We loved staying at your hostel! It was definitely our favorite place yet!We'll come back!Sophia and Fiona
05/08/19
Very impressed, definitely the most friendliest hostel i have visited. As well as providing the best service.Weekend Hiker
05/08/19
I had an absolutely lovely stay at the Cairngorm youth lodge. The staff are lovely and always willing to help or chat. The common spaces create a good atmosphere with the other guests and kitchen facilities for self caterers are great (I can't comment on the food provided by the hostel as I never ate it). Overall I had a great stay at the youth lodge and would like to thank all the helpful staff who made the stay very enjoyable!Rebecca
02/08/19
Typically friendly and helpful staff. Great location and facilities.Craig
01/08/19
Cairngorm Lodge Hostel is an excellent hostel in a beautiful location. The staff are friendly, efficient and knowledgeable about the local area and beyond. The hostel is well run and is always spotless and attractive to visitors.The hostel has a friendly atmosphere and attracts a range of different visitors. It's a great place to stay.NO
31/07/19
Our youth club had an amazing stay and experience at the Cairngorms youth hostel lodge. We were very well looked after and greeted with friendly staff. The rooms were very clean and well presented for our stay. We enjoyed the atmosphere at the hostel and talking with staff and other visitors who gave us great travel advice. We had dinner at the hostel which were delicious and breakfast which was a nice buffet style. Thank you to all at the hostel who made our stay the best...Smelly Welly ClubSmelly Welly Club
30/07/19
I havn't been hostelling for over 50 years and was delighted to find that it feels much the same but with a very modern approach .. e.g. alcohol sold over the counter.The hostel offeres plenty of space to store food, cook and sit and eat .. with a lovely common room to relax in.And the hostel is surrounded by forests and hills which is what I came for.The Dalai Llama
30/07/19
The Services are very good. The meals are great. Thanks for all. Whole family were fine with place, services and meals. Thanks a lot for a wonderful time.KerstinKerstin
29/07/19
Great location, friendly team, good atmosphere, good food.Tempermental shower - varying temperature and water pressureNo
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.
The 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
Why stay?
- Fantastic location in the Cairngorm National Park
- Friendly, welcoming staff
- Great food
- Secure lockers and Luggage Store
- Private rooms available
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.
