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 rooms and shared dorms. 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 9 cars.
Journalist Fi Russell discovers 11 great things about a family break at Gairloch Sands
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
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.
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
24/05/22
Traditional hostel, comfortableGraham
08/05/22
Sara was absolutely exceptional in her service. She did everything in her power to make my stay a comfortable one.SirSurly
20/04/22
Wonderfully welcoming staff, immaculately clean everywhere. Quiet & very comfortable. We had a really great one night stay here. Thank youJoD
21/03/22
Such a wonderful place, so we'll loved and cared for by Sarah & Graham x a real sense of generosity and care following on from the very beginning when the building was gifted x thank you xDanabhaya
18/03/22
We've just returned from a two night stay at Gairloch Youth Hostel. It was our first ‘rentahostel' experience and it won't be our last. We loved having the hostel to ourselves. The hostel is cosy, comfortable and has sea views to die for. It's the perfect base for a relaxing break or a more activity filled outdoor adventure. There are lots of great places to eat on the doorstep and good food shops too, so you can eat out or cook local delicacies in the hostel's well equipped kitchen.Sam Grant
24/09/21
stunning location, a view that could be difficult to beat, very helpful staff, clean and well managed during COVID times.PW
15/09/21
Lovely location, friendly hosts, very clean and good facilities. Everything you would want!Becky
30/08/21
Wonderful. Dolphins, eagles, red throated divers, great mountains and beaches and helpful staff (and just enough midges to keep the place free of tourist hoards!)Knighties
20/08/21
It was our first experience staying in a hostel and we were pleasantly surprised by the warmth, cleanliness and the accommodation quality (Gairloch). The staff member Ben was very kind and helpful. We had our dinner and breakfast the following morning and the food was amazing. We as a family with three kids really enjoyed our stay and would be looking forward to visiting again.Swapna
09/08/21
We had supper there and it was really good (chill con carne was a bit spicy for kids, but perfect for me!) Rooms were great, washrooms were great.Carolyne
08/08/21
Great hostel in a lovely location! Would stay again.Helen
04/08/21
Great welcome from Ben who was helpful and let us know where everything was. Nice room and comfy bed.Gill C
04/08/21
Great hostel. Warden was exceptionally friendly and helpful.Given the Covid situation I thought the hostel was exceptionally well run and better than expected. Well done!Rockmonkey
31/07/21
Had a lovely stay, staff very welcoming and hostel clean and well keptLk
22/07/21
Team were welcoming and organised to respond to government restrictions. Showed an interest in what we were doing and offered advice when asked. Stay was comfortable and food good.MikeyH
15/07/21
We had a pleasant stay at the Gairloch hostel. The location of the hostel, overlooking the Loch and close to the beaches / town, was perfect. The hostel was clean, spacious and safe. Both Ben and Sara were very helpful and a good source of local spots to explore.Gurvinder
15/07/21
A great place to stay. A very warm welcome with simple but comfortable facilities. Dinner was lovely.Ant
13/07/21
Gairloch Sands is a wonderful place to staff. The friendliness of the staff really adds to the welcoming atmosphereGuy Hollingsworth
13/07/21
Myself and 3 friends enjoyed our stay at Gairloch hostel. We were made so welcome by Ben and Ben could not have been more helpful and friendly to us. The hostel was immaculate, all the covid rules in place and the facilities were perfect providing a great base for all our outdoor activities. The food was served timeously , very well presented , lots of it and was absolutely delicious . The location of the hostel is wonderful.Pauline McEachen
10/07/21
A warm welcome awaits at Gairloch Sands. We were lucky enough to get the penthouse suite! And wow what a view. Absolutely perfect for our family of five touring Scotland. Seeing the dolphins out in the loch from the YHA was the icing on the cake. Thanks guys.Em
07/07/21
Beautiful scenic location and a warm, friendly inviting place to stay. Will be back on my next trip.Yes
04/07/21
Gairloch YH is in an outstanding location and the staff Ben and Sara were incredibly friendly and helpful. We had a lovely room, only wish is that there were more rooms on ground floor for 2 or 3 people as the stair climb can be hard after a day out…Alison & Martin
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
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).
