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.
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
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
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
11/07/19
My overall experience at Gairloch Sands was great, the staff is kind and helpful and the hostel is tidy and well equipped.Adam
30/06/19
Fabulous views from lounge. Friendly staff. Great location.David
30/06/19
This is a great hostel with amazing views and lovely facilities and staffAnonymous
28/06/19
Sara and Jules were very friendly and helpful; other guests were also friendly and there was a good atmosphere throughout. Hostel is in a lovely location and I slept extremely well too!Olwen R
26/06/19
Haven't stayed at this hostel since I did a LeJog in 2002 . It's great to see the hostel has lost none of its charm and atmosphere . Terrific location , everything a traveler needs on hand who is on a budget .David Varley
25/06/19
Can't fault it.Martin Holmes
24/06/19
Wonderful little hostel, with cozy rooms and a beautiful lounge with soaring views over the bay. Literally just up from the beach and lovely and quite. Has to be one of my favourite places!Calum
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
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.
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).
