Lochranza Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
Surrounded by hills on three sides, this four star VisitScotland accredited youth hostel sits in an attractive lochside village in the north of the Isle of Arran. Close by, on a narrow peninsula extending into beautiful Loch Ranza, is the imposing ruin of a 13th century castle.
Perfect for groups, families and individual travellers, the hostel offers guests a wide range of comfortable hotel like private en-suite rooms and spacious shared accommodation, all with individual lockers and bedside lights. The excellent washroom facilities are all equipped with hairdryers. Guests can opt for a continental breakfast (please remember to pre-book), or take advantage of the large, well-equipped, self-catering kitchen.
Other facilities include free WiFi, a laundry and drying room and free onsite parking, as well as a secure cycle store for up to ten bikes. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine or local craft beer in one of the hostel’s two cosy lounges, one with a TV and both with excellent views over the loch. Basic provisions, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception.
The hostel benefits from a great bus connection, with the bus stop only a five minute walk away.
Lochranza is an ideal base for tackling the many trails and ridges of the Arran mountains, including Goat Fell, the island's highest peak. Experienced cyclists will enjoy the challenge of the circular 58 mile ride round the island but, for the less ambitious, the Cock of Arran walk offers a beautifully scenic low level trek, starting and finishing at the hostel. Arran’s only whisky distillery is a short walk away and well worth a visit.
Lochranza 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) 1770 830 631 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?
- Friendly knowledgeable staff
- Stunning loch side location surrounded by magnificent scenery
- Comfortable private ensuite rooms available
- Luggage store
- Secure bike store
Lochranza Youth Hostel


Facilities & Services
Season
March to October (RentaHostel available all year)
Reception Hours
07:30-10:00 and 17:00-21:30 (22:30 Fridays)
Check in
16:00 - 22:00
Check out
07:00 - 10:00
Access Hours
Hostel opening times 07:00-22:00 and after 22:00 by keycard entry
Amenities
Pet Dogs Welcome
Free Wifi
Private Rooms
En Suite Rooms
Family Rooms
Suitable for Groups
Catering Available (Breakfast Only)
Packed Lunches Available
Guest Kitchen
Alcohol Licence
Free Tea and Coffee in Guest Kitchen
Lounge/TV Room
Laundry Room
Towel Hire
Drying Room
Luggage Store
Bike Store
Suitable for wheelchair users with assistance
Suitable for Wheelchair Users
Access with limited mobility
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Guest Reviews
08/01/20
We had a great stay. The hostel was warm and cosy but also spacious and well laid out. The location could not be better, near wonderful scenery and walks but also on the local bus route. Saw an otter, a red squirrel and many (very tame) red deer nearby. Our Hostel Manager Simon was friendly and helpful; when the main ferry was cancelled on the day we were due to return to the mainland he helped us look at other options (we all got home that day in the end!) The 2 dogs had a great time tooKerrytamsin
01/01/20
We had a wonderful stay at Lochranza. We went as a group os 40. Hostel is well equipped with great kitchen facilities and everything is very clean. Bedrooms were comfy and cozy. Simon was the manager and he was on hand to help with anything we needed. Location is stunning. The stag came to the garden every day to be fed carrots. Quiet side of the island which was great.ElleD
14/10/19
Amazing. I sayed in a private room and the hostel is easily as good as a Premier Inn. Plus there's the added bonus that it's set in one of Scotland's most stunning locations, especially in autumn. Falling asleep after a long day's hill-walking and hearing only the stags on the surrounding Lochranza mountains is so blissful.Jon Drink
14/10/19
Great hostel in a stunning location. Has lots of character but also well maintained and excellent facilities. Although we were there on a very busy weekend there was plenty of room and it did not feel crowded. Staff were very helpful and it had a good ambience.Gillian
03/10/19
Easy to get to, lovely location, comfortable accommodation.Lynn
01/10/19
Really enjoyed my stay. Staff were helpful. Location ideal. Dorms comfortable. Kitchen really well equipped. TV was a nice surprise. Thank you.Mags
01/10/19
Good quality accommodation for 4 cyclists. Manager most helpful and welcoming. We took our own room and it worked very well. Breakfast was generous. Self catering looked comprehensive. Hostel clean and well maintained.The location is classic Scotland - sea, mountains and green.Michael Burke
30/09/19
Wunderfull place to stay, very friendly and helpfull staffMartin
27/09/19
Lovely as usual.Katarina
22/09/19
Great place to stay,very help staff and very clean.Beautiful place to stay.S smith
19/09/19
The location was great! Situated between the distillery and the ferry in the quiet town of Lochranza with a beautiful view overlooking the water. It's not your typical hotel but the rooms were clean with shared bathrooms. Overall, the building was nice and great value! We did not eat the breakfast as we were in a hurry to catch the nearby ferry but it looked reasonable. I would definitely recommend this place as a base for exploring the Isle of Arran.A Bourdages
19/09/19
Excellent more than happy to recommend First ClassRuss
18/09/19
Stayed for two nights to attend a wedding in Lochranza. Perfect location as wedding reception held in the village hall next door! Staff were very friendly and helpful and made us feel very much at home. The hostel kitchen is very well equipped so we were able to cook our own dinner and breakfasts. Weather was absolutely beautiful. We will be back.Ritva Colville
18/09/19
A beautiful location right next to the Castle and close to the ferry, enjoyed my stay!Ravensgully
18/09/19
Wonderfull place and really nice peopleThérèse
14/09/19
Very handy location, especially when biking and taking the ferry to Claonaig. All the facilities are very good, and it was a pleasant place to stayMary
09/09/19
Lovely clean hostel and accommodating staffLaura Campbell
30/08/19
A lovely clean and well equipped hostel but the best thing about it is its location. It's right on the loch and there are amazing views out over the loch and the hillsides. Excellent self catering kitchen and comfortable rooms. Well worth a visit.Carole
27/08/19
Located in the beautiful Lochranza, the location was perfect to easily go around the isle. The staff and hostel were just fantastic and I will definitely go back there on my next visit to Arran.Aaricia
26/08/19
Eine gute Unterkunft, um Lochranza und Umgebung zu erkunden.MartinW
26/08/19
The Isle of Arran is absolutely beautiful and our stay at the Hostel in Lochranza reflected the warmth and brilliant service that we found everywhere we went on the island. I cannot recommend the Hostel enough . The staff could not have been more helpful and the location is stunning .Patricia McElwee
25/08/19
Great hostel experience. Welcoming, pleasant and knowledgeable staff. Comfortable room and simple but excellent breakfast.Peter Carlisle
21/08/19
Michael was very welcoming. The hostel was very comfortable and in a great location near Lochranza castle. Opportunity to socialise or be quiet. Red deer come right up to the hostel.Mary Oxfordshire
15/08/19
Great place to stay, friendly staff and great facilities. Very peaceful location and lovely views. Plenty of wildlife- in the grounds of the hostel and out and about- deers, rabbits, birds etc.Nina
14/08/19
This is the third time that I have stayed at the Lochranza Hostel and it was every bit as good as the last two. The place is warm, comfortable, clean and tidy and is run with great efficiency and charm by Natalia and Michal who are always ready to help and for whom nothing is too much trouble. Added to all that is the superb location looking out over Lochranza with its beautiful river, deer, sea-birds,herons and the lovely ruined castle with the sea and the Kintyre hills beyond. Magic!Andrew Howes
13/08/19
Lovely friendly hostel, beautiful setting in Lochranza. Superb kitchen facilities as well as in the communal lounge areas. Perfect for families as well as individualsJacqueline
10/08/19
This is an excellent place to stay in an awesome location. The beds are more comfortable than average the atmosphere is incredible. You will find friendly families on holiday and happy hikers to share meals with in the excellent kitchen.J
08/08/19
Really nice hostel, friendly and helpful staff. Great kitchen facilities and nice lounge area. Nice rooms. Nice little reading light on each bed and wee shelf for phone or watch. Very peaceful and beautiful surroundings outside.Douglas Beattie
06/08/19
Fantastic location. Friendly staff and good modern facilities. Bit of a smell in common areas at times but I think that is the green recycling systems. Perfect base for cyclists or walkers.Allyson
06/08/19
Such a lovely location and a magical hostel. The last time I was there was over a decade ago and the facilities have much improved! Lovely helpful staff and great value for money.Heather E Cameron
Perfect for groups, families and individual travellers, the hostel offers guests a wide range of comfortable hotel like private en-suite rooms and spacious shared accommodation, all with individual lockers and bedside lights. The excellent washroom facilities are all equipped with hairdryers. Guests can opt for a continental breakfast (please remember to pre-book), or take advantage of the large, well-equipped, self-catering kitchen.
Other facilities include free WiFi, a laundry and drying room and free onsite parking, as well as a secure cycle store for up to ten bikes. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine or local craft beer in one of the hostel’s two cosy lounges, one with a TV and both with excellent views over the loch. Basic provisions, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception.
The hostel benefits from a great bus connection, with the bus stop only a five minute walk away.
Lochranza is an ideal base for tackling the many trails and ridges of the Arran mountains, including Goat Fell, the island's highest peak. Experienced cyclists will enjoy the challenge of the circular 58 mile ride round the island but, for the less ambitious, the Cock of Arran walk offers a beautifully scenic low level trek, starting and finishing at the hostel. Arran’s only whisky distillery is a short walk away and well worth a visit.
Lochranza 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) 1770 830 631 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?
- Friendly knowledgeable staff
- Stunning loch side location surrounded by magnificent scenery
- Comfortable private ensuite rooms available
- Luggage store
- Secure bike store
Reasons to visit
Often referred to as Scotland in miniature, Arran is a popular place to enjoy the great outdoors with a number of activities on offer including hill walking, mountain biking and cycling, pony-trekking, fishing, golfing and water sports.
The youth hostel sits on the Cock of Arran trail, a beautifully scenic low level trek offering stunning views of the surrounding area. The hostel garden is a great spot for local wildlife. Regular visitors include red deer, red squirrels and golden eagles, with grey seals and otters often seen in the bay.
The local deer that populate the hillsides surrounding the youth hostel can often be found wandering across the beach close to the hostel after dark.
The hostel is within easy walking distance of the local Lochranza Distillery which offers a range of tours and even the chance to sample a wee dram!