Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
A lochside lodge, sitting on the northern shore of Loch Gairloch, with magnificent sea and mountain views and easy access to fantastic sandy beaches.
Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel is a great base for exploring the North West Highlands, offering guests a range of comfortable private and shared rooms. None of the rooms are en-suite but ample shower and washroom facilities are available.
Guests can opt for a ‘Wee Breakfast’ of cereal, Scottish yogurt, fresh fruit, tea and coffee, or take advantage of the recently refurbished and well-equipped self-catering kitchen and dining room. The hostel is licensed so you can enjoy a beer, malt whisky or glass of wine while relaxing in the cosy lounge with panoramic views over Gairloch, the Torridon hills, Skye Cullins and outer Hebrides (on a good day)!
WiFi is free for all guests and other facilities include lockers, a laundry and a small drying room. Basic provisions, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception and the nearest shop is only a five minute walk away. The hostel has onsite parking facilities for up to 13 cars.
Dogs are welcome at Gairloch Sands, for a small fee, when guests book a private room. Please notify us in advance to ensure there is a dog friendly room available.
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Why stay?
- Welcoming staff with great local knowledge
- Stunning loch side location with magnificent views
- Private rooms available
- Secure lockers
Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
April to September (RentaHostel available all year)
Reception Hours
08:00 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 22:00
Check in
17:00 - 22:00
Check out
08:00 - 10:00
Access Hours
The youth hostel is closed between 10:00 and 17:00
Amenities
Free Wifi
Alcohol Licence
Private Rooms Available
Family Rooms Available
Catering Available (Breakfast Only)
Self Catering Kitchen
Complimentary Tea and Coffee available in Self Catering Kitchen
Lounge Area
Laundry Room
Towel Hire Available
Drying Room
Secure Lockers
Pet Dogs Welcome
'Heat it and Eat Meals' available
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Guest Reviews
16/06/19
Gairloch is remote but worth getting there. Huge views and huge character, none more so than the Manager Sara. Over the seven days that we were in Scotland, we got our best welcome here. She is a natural. Standards of cleanliness impeccable. Go the extra mile to get there and you will be rewarded.Kevin and Frank, Ireland.
08/06/19
Prachtige en rustige plek, super mooi uitzicht. Aardige staf.Eric
06/06/19
Very welcoming and hospitable. Everything that you needed after a long day cycling in atrocious weather. All good!Nigel Thomas
01/06/19
Excellent reception. Great sea views from the lounge, including otters...what's not to like ?John Richards
28/05/19
This is a lovely hostel in a great location. The staff were excellent and so friendly.Corran
22/05/19
Fantastic location with superb sunsets if you are lucky. A detour off NC500 route but worth it though cycle storage is limitedNC500
14/05/19
Excellent location and service with a smile from Vincent.Beds and room were the best kept of the three hostels we stayed at all weekend, comfy and welcomingRob
13/05/19
I spent one night at the Gairloch Sands hostel. I needed to check in outwith normal hours so contacted the hostel before my stay to arrange an early check in. Sara and Vincent were very accommodating and gave me a warm welcome when I arrived and showed me to my dorm, and provided me with all the information that I needed for my stay. The facilities were clean and comfortable and I felt 'at home' here. The location is well worth the short drive from the main road for the outstanding views.Karen Thorburn
12/05/19
Comfortable, homely hostel with friendly warden & good atmosphere. A great outlook with amazing sunsetsFiona
12/05/19
Amazing spot for a hostel.Lovely old house - we had a family room up top. Very comfortable, double bed for us and bunks for kids. Plus amazing view up the loch.Very friendly, clean hostel. Excellent kitchen, lounge with beautiful view.Even saw 2 sea otters from the lounge feeding on the shorelineSteve plus family of 5, NZ
07/05/19
Friendly and welcoming staff gives the whole hostel a great atmosphereJames Hotchkis
01/05/19
A little youth hostel with an extraordinary view on the sea and Skye far off. The bedroom on the top floor is really great with the view.Lily
25/04/19
Atmospheric hostel in glorious settingAlan R
18/04/19
I was happy to spend two nights there, would have to have enough time to stay a little more, I was full of nostalgy. I have appreciated the changements in the hostel which make it more special if it could be. I recommand+++Magali
13/04/19
Great spot!Marsaili
02/10/18
Wonderful house in a beautiful location.The whole hostel team is very friendly and supportive.We really like staying in this house and will come again.Thank you!Axel
30/09/18
Very nice hostel. Very friendly staff. Well equiped kitchen, nice lounge. Views of Sky and a lot of water. Everything clean. Very good value for money. Maybe a little remote, but I liked the feeling.Alexandra from Switzerland
05/08/18
Great place, great staff that give you lots of tips about gairloch, but also for the rest of your trip around the North Coast 500. The view from the hostel is amazing!!! We even saw dolphins passing by. Lovely and I would recommend it to everyone.Dutch backpacker
09/06/18
Beautifully sited hostel with very friendly helpful manager.Wyefour
09/06/18
excellent location the view from lounge is truly amazing .staff very accommodating and friendly will definitely be backmartin
07/06/18
Beautifully situated hostel with superb views. Fabulous beach nearby as is the intresting village of Gairloch. Many hill & aquatic adventures await!The hostel retains its character with wood panelled walls and ceilings - wonderful.Thehappyheadtorch
04/06/18
A great location for exploring the beach and wider area. I'd recommend a sunset walk every night followed by a cosy glass of wine looking out towards Torridan.Scot on tour
20/05/18
This will not be disappointing and is far more sociable/interesting than B&B.Le Corbeau
14/05/18
After 30 years visiting the west coast this hostel was a great new find. A short walk to the sands, amazing sunset and fantastic location for exploring the west coast. Smaller hostel which is fantastic, and good facilities.John Thorne
09/05/18
Excellent hostel, plenty of space.Jane
07/05/18
welcoming and friendlyOmdenker2
04/05/18
Make sure this one is on your visit list.JT
18/04/18
Excellent hostel, immaculate clean, amazing views.Katarina
13/04/18
A small and quiet Youth Hostel .The five-bed family room was pleasant. The kids enjoyed the available games and the binocular provided in the lounge. Beautiful view on the sea.Les 4 As
22/11/17
We rented the whole hostel for my birthday with rentahostel. There were 27 of us staying very comfortably in this beautiful old hunting lodge which has been a youth hostel since 1932. The location is stunning in the shore overlooking the torridon and Skye mountain ranges and our across the munch to the outer isles. The facilities are fantastic and we were all very warm and comfortable and the kitchen easily catered for us all. Would highly recommend this and would return again.Christine
Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel is a great base for exploring the North West Highlands, offering guests a range of comfortable private and shared rooms. None of the rooms are en-suite but ample shower and washroom facilities are available.
Guests can opt for a ‘Wee Breakfast’ of cereal, Scottish yogurt, fresh fruit, tea and coffee, or take advantage of the recently refurbished and well-equipped self-catering kitchen and dining room. The hostel is licensed so you can enjoy a beer, malt whisky or glass of wine while relaxing in the cosy lounge with panoramic views over Gairloch, the Torridon hills, Skye Cullins and outer Hebrides (on a good day)!
WiFi is free for all guests and other facilities include lockers, a laundry and a small drying room. Basic provisions, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception and the nearest shop is only a five minute walk away. The hostel has onsite parking facilities for up to 13 cars.
Dogs are welcome at Gairloch Sands, for a small fee, when guests book a private room. Please notify us in advance to ensure there is a dog friendly room available.
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Why stay?
- Welcoming staff with great local knowledge
- Stunning loch side location with magnificent views
- Private rooms available
- Secure lockers
Reasons to visit
Gairloch Sands provides excellent wildlife watching opportunities with dolphins, whales and otters often spotted at the front of the hostel. Golden sandy beaches are only a five minute walk away and boat trips to watch whales and dolphins are available from nearby Gairloch. The Torridon mountain range is a short drive away and the local village also boasts fine pubs, coffee shops, local seafood and an award-winning heritage museum. The famous Inverewe Garden is close by.
Loch Maree is one of the most picturesque lochs in Scotland and well worth a visit. Take a boat trip on the loch or walk through the surrounding countryside and catch sight of the wild deer who roam its banks. The more adventurous can take to the water with kayaking and canoe trips available locally.
With a number of Munros on the doorstep, Gairloch Sands is a popular destination for serious hillwalkers but there are a number of less strenuous walks nearby. The walk to Flowerdale Waterfall is uphill and fairly rocky, so not suitable for pushchairs or anyone with limited mobility, but for those able to make the climb the rewards are glorious views over the woodland and loch beyond and an impressive waterfall (especially after heavy rains).
