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
8/8/2022 12:00:00 AM
Brilliant place, very friendly and supportive people on the team - thank you!Guest Review
8/8/2022 12:00:00 AM
The location of the hostel is amazing! A really beautiful place. The receptionist was so nice. She waited for us even we were late for check-in time. We had a lot of rest, although it was a bit chilly.Carla
8/3/2022 12:00:00 AM
Fantastic location, lovely staff and beautiful hostel. Very clean.Guest Review
8/1/2022 12:00:00 AM
I really enjoyed my stay at the hostel. Will definitely be back in the near future to tackle the other munros around the region. View from the common room was beautiful/peaceful. Stayed in the female dorm, spacious, bright and well aired. Just a small feedback on the hot water heater in the bathroom downstairs - It's a bit temperamental with super hot water followed by cold water then back to hot water again even when the temperature dial is left on medium, but it could be just me user error :)SK
8/1/2022 12:00:00 AM
Realy nice stay !Delphine
7/31/2022 12:00:00 AM
So pleased I chose Gairloch Sands YH for our stay during our NC 500 cycle tour. Spectacular location, top place.Rob Graham
7/29/2022 12:00:00 AM
Staff were welcoming, communicative, helpful and made everybody feel included, a real gift to be fostered. A great place to visit exercise your body and view oodles of natural beauty.John
7/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
First hostel we have stayed in for a while and we were very pleased. The hostel manager was very pleasant and helpful. Our private room was spacious with a fab view. Only a short drive in to the town and the campsite very close where you can get a really good breakfast.Helen
7/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
The hostel is in a great position with fantastic views. Check in was easy, the staff were welcoming and the facilities were excellent in the warm and well-appointed buildingBrian Brennan
7/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
We hadn't been here since several years before Covid, but it's still lovely. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the local shops are good.Ailsa
7/15/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great comfortable stay with our family when the rain and wind was too much on the local campsite xSara
7/14/2022 12:00:00 AM
Amazing place and stay. The view is incredible.Ben was the best host ever..he helped us in any possible way.We took the diner and wee breakfast at the hostel ,it was delicious.For sure it was the best place we had in all our journey.Tashan Bremond
7/7/2022 12:00:00 AM
Perfect location for coast watching. Don't miss out the lounge which has all the feel of a Victorian hunting lodgeMumbles Head
7/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
Welcomed on arrival by Ben who was very helpful.Views from the house were beautiful looking out to the sea and the mountains beyond especially from the lounge window.Kitchen well organised with pictures of what was inside the cupboards so easy to find everything.Bedroom and bathroom facilities very good so very happy and would recommend it to stay at and I certainly plan to go back there again.Romilly Carter
6/26/2022 12:00:00 AM
Fantastic location and equally good hostel facilities. Our room on top floor was also excellent. Evening meal selection was good and of great quality and value for money. Staff also very friendly and made our experience that much better.David P
6/21/2022 12:00:00 AM
This is my new favourite youth hostel. The location couldn't be better with the idyllic views. The staff were all friendly, interesting and interested which really made the stay. The attic room we had was more than spacious with views across the water the islands of Scotland. To be honest I didn't want to leave. We will be back.Paul Sander
6/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Sara was top host. Thank you.scichy1
6/13/2022 12:00:00 AM
always wanted to stay here...finally made it. Great location and lovely old fashioned house wirh good modern facities. Loved the lounge and its view.Staff so helpful and friendlyLucy
6/8/2022 12:00:00 AM
Just perfect as a base for outdoor activitiesScotty Mitchell
5/29/2022 12:00:00 AM
First time in a Youth Hostel very pleasantly surprised ,very friendly and accommodating. Wish we had booked for longer.Dave Pam
5/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Traditional hostel, comfortableGraham
5/8/2022 12:00:00 AM
Sara was absolutely exceptional in her service. She did everything in her power to make my stay a comfortable one.SirSurly
4/20/2022 12:00:00 AM
Wonderfully welcoming staff, immaculately clean everywhere. Quiet & very comfortable. We had a really great one night stay here. Thank youJoD
3/21/2022 12:00:00 AM
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
3/18/2022 12:00:00 AM
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
9/24/2021 12:00:00 AM
stunning location, a view that could be difficult to beat, very helpful staff, clean and well managed during COVID times.PW
9/15/2021 12:00:00 AM
Lovely location, friendly hosts, very clean and good facilities. Everything you would want!Becky
8/30/2021 12:00:00 AM
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
8/20/2021 12:00:00 AM
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
8/9/2021 12:00:00 AM
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
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).