Gairloch Sands Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
Unfortunately due to social distancing restrictions we are unable to open our self-catering kitchens for the time being. We will continuously review this and open these facilities as soon as we can do so safely. 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 guests to refer to Scottish Government guidelines and Transport Scotland advice on travel and social distancing before making their booking.
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. Packed lunches are available for groups of 5+ if booked in advance and 'heat it and eat it' evening meals are available to purchase for your convenience. The hostel is also 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.
Gairloch Sands 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) 1445 712 219 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?
- 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
Late check in available on request and by prior arrangement. The youth hostel is closed between 10:00-17:00
Amenities
Pet Dogs Welcome
Free Wifi
Alcohol Licence
Private Rooms
Family Rooms
Catering Available (Breakfast Only)
Free Tea and Coffee in Guest Kitchen
Lounge Area
Laundry Room
Towel Hire
Drying Room
Secure Lockers
'Heat it and Eat Meals' available
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Guest Reviews
16/06/21
We arrived last minute and Sara was so friendly and helpful in making our booking and getting us into a room - she even booked us a table at a local pub for dinner! Was a relief after driving in the rain that she was so helpful. The hostel had awesome views also of the Loch and had loads of info about things to do in the area!Lucie
15/06/21
Great experience at this youth hostel. Very friendly and helpful staff.Helen
09/06/21
What a great place, peaceful and beautifulMichael tait
07/01/20
We really enjoyed our stay at Gairloch Sands over New Year. The kitchen, dining and lounge areas were perfect for our needs as a large group - and the proximity to the beach was ideal!SD
07/10/19
An excellent experience for our group of school children. It was great value and ideal for accommodating large groups, with all the needs catered for whatever activity we were doing.John
25/09/19
Absolutely fantastic stay at this beautifully kept hostel. Stunning location and all the facilities we needed to make our group of family & friends weekend getaway unforgettable. Thank you to Sara & Jules!Cashymac
17/09/19
A lovely building in a stunning location! A welcome refuge from the weather...Super facilities with plenty of space, a very well equipped kitchen, large dining room and a cosy lounge with fantastic views! Staff were lovely, very welcoming, friendly and helpful. A very clean and well run hostel, which I will use again!no
28/08/19
Cozy common rooms with beautiful view to the sea. Fireplace. Everything is very clean. Friendly lady running the hostel.Sabine
26/08/19
A beautiful place to stay, with a great view.Annica
25/08/19
Wonderful location, great staffCatherine & Co
24/08/19
This is a lovely hostel in a wonderful location with friendly and helpful staff. The decor and furnishings in the lounge surpass those of any other hostel I have stayed in.LM
23/08/19
Very Cozy, Well equipped Kitchen,very Clean,very friendly and helpful staff.guests we're also all friendly,respectful and polite.this Hostel is defintely is run by Love.Julia
19/08/19
Perfect place to stay - very well run.John
18/08/19
We stayed 2 nights. Great experience, nothing negative say about our experience. Beautiful Hostel!Peter and Marsha Canada
14/08/19
Another lovely smaller hostel with everything needed for a pleasant stay in this stunning area.Tony
03/08/19
Nice hostel for one night. Parking avaiable. Kitchen contains all facilities. Bathroom very clean. Nice location even if it is not in the center of Gairloch. I would recommendClelia
03/08/19
Absolutely stunning area with kind and friendly people. I have had really awful stays in hostel before and this by far was the best. I felt safe and at home. Would definitely recommend and would come again. Also Jules is a star!Chloe.B
29/07/19
Visited Gairloch Sands several times since 1970's and still love it! Clean, comfortable and friendly warden. Will return!Tracy Short
29/07/19
A very warm, friendly and informative welcome from the warden (Jules), who worked hard to make our stay very pleasant and pleasurable! The hostel's lounge is comfortable, with beautifully scenic views across the Gairloch to the mountains, and out towards Skye and the Summer Isles.The accommodation was clean, comfortable and family friendly. The optional breakfast (cereal, fruit, fruit juice, bread/toast, tea or coffee) is well worth considering! A great base for outdoor enthusiasts!James Riddell
29/07/19
Wonderful location besides the midges.Warmly welcomed and good recommendations for the travel receivedChristian
29/07/19
Great hostel, friendly welcome and accommodating. Stunning locationNicola
24/07/19
Nice little hostel just outside Gairloch. Staff extremely helpful, nice and clean and comfortable.Cameron
24/07/19
I got lucky in choosing a night when not many staying, so loads of space. Great drying room. Hostel manager could not have done more to make it a wonderful stay. Breakfast excellent, inc option to start early due to the hostel being quietChris, Sheffield
23/07/19
Very friendly welcome (from Jules?) and she was very helpful during our stay. The hostel as always has a cosmopolitan group of guests and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.Alan MacRae
19/07/19
A good place to stay on the NC500.Ian
16/07/19
One of the prettiest hostels I've been to. Nice staff and an amazing location15/07/19
Idilic location, easy check in, spotless and comfortable beds.Andrew
15/07/19
Gairloch Hostel is an amazing little place full of warmth. The rooms and facilities were clean and the available meals made our evening! However, the nature surrounding the hostel is the true star! What a sunset on the beach! Would highly recommend a stay here.Mel from Germany
14/07/19
I arrived on my bike in pretty poor weather around 3pm, and although reception wasn't open, the hostel was, so I was able to dry my kit, shower and make myself at home. It's a few miles out of town so not easy to pop out for supplies or dinner unless you have a car, but the hostel provides these things at reasonable prices. The upside of the location is its uninterrupted views across Loch Gairloch and over to Skye, even from the living and dining rooms! Friendly, informative staff too!Patrick Roman
13/07/19
Beautiful location, great facilities, comfy beds and Sara was especially helpful and friendly to us and made us feel very welcome.Charlotte
As you’ll appreciate, advice on Covid-19 is constantly changing and we would ask all guests to refer to Scottish Government guidelines and Transport Scotland advice on travel and social distancing before making their booking.
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. Packed lunches are available for groups of 5+ if booked in advance and 'heat it and eat it' evening meals are available to purchase for your convenience. The hostel is also 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.
Gairloch Sands 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) 1445 712 219 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?
- 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).
