Glen Affric Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
We welcome the recent announcement by the Scottish Government on the responsible lifting of restrictions and are delighted to be able to plan for the re-opening of our self-catering kitchens from 1st November. Drying room facilities are now available at many of our hostels but we would ask you to please contact the hostel team directly to allow them to manage your access. The health, safety and wellbeing of our guests, employees and the communities in which we operate remains our main priority at this time. 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 our guests to continue to refer to Scottish Government guidelines and Transport Scotland advice on travel and social distancing when making their booking. Please remember, this guidance may be different in England and Wales.
A finalist in TGO Magazine’s Hostel or Bunkhouse of the Year 2018, Glen Affric Youth Hostel is unique and remote.
A former stalking bothy on the Affric Estate, this friendly eco-hostel offers a warm welcome and an unforgettable experience in one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland. A wind turbine and solar panels provide warm water and electricity, while the comfortable common room and kitchen are heated by wood and coal fires.
The hostel has two private rooms, as well as comfortable shared accommodation. Because of its remote location, provisions are limited and we ask guests to bring their own sleeping bags, torch, food, drink and appropriate clothing for the duration of their stay. There is a small hostel shop which sells soft drinks, juices, chocolate bars, healthy snacks, crisps and pouch meals. There is no WiFi or mobile phone reception at the hostel.
The hostel is only accessible on foot or by mountain bike, so please allow at least 3-4 hours to walk there. Its unique location is the closest you’ll get to an alpine hut in Scotland and a great experience waits for anyone prepared to make the effort to visit.
PLEASE NOTE:
- The hostel is situated on the Affric/ Kintail Way, a long distance path which has occasional signposts. However, we recommend that you bring a good map, a compass and torch, along with appropriate clothing for often very changeable weather conditions
- There is no refuse collection at the hostel, so anything you bring with you will need to leave with you!
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
For information on hostel accessibility please click here
Why stay?
- Unique and remote mountain location with stunning views
- It's one of a kind!
- A warm welcome & fantastic hospitality
- Warm and cosy
Glen Affric Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
April to September
Reception Hours
07:00-10:30 and 17:00-22:00
Check in
16:00 -21:00
Check out
07:00 - 10:00
Access Hours
Our porch is available for shelter outside opening hours
Amenities
Private Rooms
Drying Room
Guest Reviews
23/09/19
The warden was superb. Friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable, and providing a fresh scone and jam both evenings.Brian
17/09/19
Hannah immediately made us welcome and warm, with blankets, homemade scones and cups of tea. The atmosphere of the hostel, with its cosy kitchen and common room, both stove-warmed, was really welcoming — all the more so for the appalling weather outside!Great cooking facilities, hot shower, A++, a haven in Scotland's remotest wilds: will stay longer next time!Conrad
12/09/19
A warm welcome from Hannah, the warden awaited us on arrival - as did the homemade scones! This cosy hostel has to be the jewel in the Hostelling Scotland crown.carole hamilton
08/09/19
It was just a perfect stay, friendly and warm, we will come back....George and Ute
07/09/19
Hannah, the manager of the Hostel, is keeping the hostel so very well organised and provides such a friendly atmosphere that it is very easy for the guests to „tune in“. This makes the stay very easy going and pleasant, and everybody is just feeling fine!Sebastian Stier
05/09/19
Great place, great wardens, interesting guests, go for it!Mick Drury
25/08/19
A real mountain hut experience!Janneke
24/08/19
Alttbeithe is a most comfortable and well equipped hostel set in a scenic location. After a day on the hills it's a welcome haven. Credit must be given to Hannah, the warden, for creating a warm and relaxing environment and a sense of being at home with the family. Alttbeithe is how hostelling should be. Steve LucasSteve Lucas
23/08/19
Hannah made me very welcome, as she did with all her guests, and was friendly and helpful throughout my stay. Alltbeithe is a very special spot.Hugh Buchanan
19/08/19
Absolutely loved this little gem of a youth hostel. Such a special place. So much more than I was expecting out in the wilds. Hannah the warden provides a lovely warm welcome and provides such a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We were delighted to be provided with slippers when we arrived. We were in one of the very comfortable bed rooms in the main building which. Everything was very clean. We stayed the night biking through from Cannich to Morvich required quite a bit of bike pushing day 2.Jane
16/08/19
Had a fabulous two night stay at Loch Affric Youth Hostel where the manager, Hannah, could not have been more welcoming. Despite our inadvertent late arrival she made us feel right at home - loved the scones!A unique location that should be experienced by all nature lovers.Mike
14/08/19
Amazing location, simple hostel (but had everything a walker could need) fabulous staff (Hannah was an absolute star and made excellent scones!), very welcoming, great atmosphere. Takes longer to get to than you think!The Lewins
13/08/19
Fabulous location for munro bagging or Glen Affric Way trekking. Excellent warden (Hannah) made everybody feel very welcome and was exceptionally helpful. Its a small hostel with limited facilities but makes up for it with lots of character and an outstanding location in one of the most remote areas in Scotland. Very peaceful and relaxing even after a 12 hour walk in the wet - I will be back again.David
12/08/19
We thoroughly enjoyed walking out to the hostel. It is in a stunning location. Hannah's welcome , friendliness and her scones were exceptional. We would definitely have no hesitation in recommending this hostel.Rhodamc
11/08/19
We stayed in this hostel with 8 of our friends when we walked the Affric Kintail Way. Hanna was friendly and helpful and even baked us scones! It's a comfortable and well thought out hostel. I would like to stay again some day. ThanksK Spowage
08/08/19
What an amazing place to stay and drink in the beauty of Glen Affric and its surrounding peaks. Graham was the perfect host - thank you!Tania
02/08/19
A fantastic hostel with all the facilities you could want. Great welcome and well looked after by Graham the warden. Perfect place to stay if doing the Affric Kintail Way.Kathy
30/07/19
Breathtaking setting well worth the hike ! Hostel was spotless, warm and comfortable. Greeted with a delicious scone and coffee. Lovely manager who clearly enjoys what she does. Would highly recommend staying hereCraig Tipping
29/07/19
A fantastic hostel in an amazing location. Hannah made us feel welcome the moment we arrived. Can't wait to return.Alistair M
29/07/19
We had a two night stay in a private room at this hostel, it's in the main hostel building so no battling with the midges at night! The hostel is basic but so well organised. The welcome we received from Hannah the warden was fantastic. She made us a cup of tea and treated us to her wonderful scones when we came back from walking. The shop is stocked with drinks, pouch meals and snacks. Lots of books and games. The hostel has one star because of the facilities but the experience is 5 star.Julia
28/07/19
The popular hostel is set in some absolutely beautiful countryside. I shall be back; I got such a warm welcome and the area is stunning.Pam Beattie
27/07/19
Great stay. Friendly welcome and useful advice.....and great scones :) Comfort was mostly spoiled by the excess heat caused by the weather.Jimmy McCallum
24/07/19
A fantastic stay in an amazing hostel, with a really fantastic host in Hannah who welcomed us with tea and freshly made scones! Such an unexpected treat and Hannah was fantastic.Jo
23/07/19
The YH has everything u need and was a welcome respite after walking in the boggiest way. Hannah didn't know of our arrival until we fell into the porch at 11.30pm soaked through. She was amazing, putting the fire back on to dry everything out as it would have meant no walking the next day. We stayed in the private rooms within the Hostel itself. They were very clean and comfortable. After the next days walk, we were met with fresh scones and tea before heading homeward bound. 5 Stars !!AH
22/07/19
Got a taste for remote Youth Hostels after visiting Loch Ossian last year. Glen Affric did not disappoint! A fantastic experience with the warden, Hanne, providing home made scones on arrival and creating a wonderful, cosy, friendly atmosphere. The whole hotel was spotlessly clean and the kitchen was extremely well-equipped. Access to mountains was straight out the back door and start climbing - perfect!Rona Molloy
22/07/19
Staying at Glen Affric was a great experience that lived up to my realistic expectations; while there are limited facilities, that was fine, as the hostel is advertised accurately and I went prepared. Manageress Hannah was great: friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable and prepared for anything.Simon
18/07/19
This is a great hostel with a very hospitable warden. The location is amazing. There are not many hostels where you can see a golden eagle within a short walk!JOHN O'KEEFE
13/07/19
What an incredible place to stay. The location is fantastic, miles from the nearest road and right in the middle of spectacular mountains. The perfect place to get away from it all, with not even a hint of a phone signal or mobile data access. The warden was friendly, knowledgeable and super-helpful...even drying out my sleeping back after I'd succeeded in cycling into the river on the way in. The hostel was warm and cosy with the fire, and it was a great place to hang out in the evening.Geoff Pope
12/07/19
We hiked as fast as we could to get there by noon because we heard good things and really wanted something nice after the midgie- and rainstorms.We were not disappointed. We had a lovely welcome with tea, a nice chat with Hannah and the changeover team. Next time I looked at the clock, it was 17:00. Time flew there!Yasmin
Reasons to visit
Nestled amongst beautiful scenery, this former stalking bothy on the Glen Affric Estate is a haven for walkers and mountain bikers, nature lovers and those seeking solitude.
One for real outdoor enthusiasts, the hostel has 15 Munros on its doorstep and good tracks wind through the valleys for both walking and mountain biking.
The Falls of Glomach, a seven mile walk from the hostel, is well worth a visit.
