Port Charlotte Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
Housed in a former distillery warehouse in the centre of the village, Port Charlotte Youth Hostel sits next to a safe sandy beach and boasts wonderful sea views.
Perfect for groups, families and individual travellers, this spacious and friendly hostel offers a range of accommodation from comfortable private rooms to spacious shared dorms. None of the rooms are en-suite but ample shower and washroom facilities are available.
Guests can opt for breakfast served in the dining room (please remember to pre-book), or take advantage of the modern, well-equipped self-catering kitchen.
The hostel has a large comfortable and cosy sitting room with stunning views of the Bay of Loch Indaal, guests can enjoy the well-stocked bookcase, games, socialising and the TV whilst relaxing with one of the local whiskies perhaps…
WiFi is free for all guests and other facilities include a laundry, drying room, secure cycle storage for up to 30 bikes and onsite parking for up to six cars. If the car park is full, it’s possible to park on the adjacent roadside.
Basic provisions, confectionery and soft drinks along with pizza and ice-cream is available to purchase at reception.
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
For information on hostel accessibility please click here
Why stay?
- Great hospitality from the friendly and knowledgeable staff
- Fantastic beachside location
- Sunrise over the Paps of Jura!
- Private rooms available
- Bike store
Enjoy a birds eye trip!
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.
Port Charlotte Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
March 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 arrivals and access outside opening hours available by prior arrangement. Due
Amenities
Free Wifi
Private Rooms
Family Rooms
Catering
Lounge/TV Room
Laundry Room
Drying Room
Towel Hire
Bike Store
Shopping Nearby
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Guest Reviews
8/10/2022 12:00:00 AM
Fantastic location, brilliant staff, very clean and great facilities. The manager saved our trip by looking out bungee cords to carry out a repair to a saddle pack. Super helpful. Highly recommendJason
8/6/2022 12:00:00 AM
Well equipped hostel in beautiful location. Welcoming and helpful staff. Plenty of useful tourist information about local area. Near to bus stop, pubs and shop.Sophia
8/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
An outstanding welcome and an exceptional assistance to find the right experience to follow on Islay. A huge Thank you to Lorna.Jean-Pierre (France)
8/1/2022 12:00:00 AM
We had a great time, just as in the years before.Gerrit
7/31/2022 12:00:00 AM
Very nice managers. They gave us all needed information about the stay on the island by email beforehand, helping us a lot in organizing the trip. The hostel is also very nice, in a very good location to visit both the south and the North of Islay. The hostel is near some restaurants and a pub as well. I would really recommand it also for families. There are confortable family rooms available.Chiara
7/30/2022 12:00:00 AM
We had an absolutely fantastic time staying at Port Charlotte Youth Hostel. The hosts were absolutely amazing, showed us our room as well as all the available facilities in the hostel. The room was neat and tidy, plenty of space for 4 people. Bathrooms and shower rooms are shared but nice and squeaky clean. Overall a fantastic trip to Islay and certainly no regrets in picking this hostel. I would definitely come back next time to book this exact hostel.Adrian
7/27/2022 12:00:00 AM
Fantastic wardens who create a safe welcoming and spotlessly clean environmentHeather Cunningham
7/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Excellent in all respects . Spotless clean .David Walker
7/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Good clean premises with very friendly and helpfull staff.B
7/22/2022 12:00:00 AM
The facilities are excellent, spotlessly clean, well organised, everything you need and Karl and Lorna are the loveliest couple ..... I wish them all the best. Islay is a wonderful island to visit, with spectacular beaches all around the coast and the best fresh seafood.Nancy & Rachel Docherty
6/22/2022 12:00:00 AM
What a lovely welcoming and friendly hostel. A real joy and a home from homeJeamac
6/18/2022 12:00:00 AM
We had a great time with Lorna and Karl, they are great hosts. Both provided us with good information about the island. The hostel was so clean and the location really awsome. I´ll be back next year!Florian
6/18/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great place, lovely hosts, very helpful (they even hired the taxis to get to the distilleries on a Sunday), we would deeply recommend this placeSophia and Olli
6/13/2022 12:00:00 AM
Islay, an island I return to every year on my bike! Staying at the hostel is always a great experience and both Karl & Lorna really do go the extra mile to ensure guests enjoy their stay. Overlooking Loch Indaal, listening to the waves & watching the sun go down, what a perfect location. Islay is a great place to cycle, with lots of amazing land and seascapes to enjoy. There are many less travelled roads that make cycling such a pleasure. An ideal place to unwind and relax.Mary
6/12/2022 12:00:00 AM
I'm Piero, from Italy. I was, alone, in your Islay hostel for 4 nights. It was my first time in Scotland, first in Islay, first experience in a hostel. About this: if I found myself so well it was only thanks to the help, patience, availability, courtesy, kindness of Lorna and Karl. For them 10 stars (for each one, not in total!). I don't know when I will be back in Scotland - and this time it will be with friends or children - and it will be Islay and it will be your hostel. Thank you. Piero.Piero
6/6/2022 12:00:00 AM
Excellent and well run hostel in a beautiful location. Lorna and Karl are very helpful and welcoming.Mike
6/6/2022 12:00:00 AM
We visited the island during the Whisky Festival and managed to get the last 2 beds. We received a warm welcome from Carl and he explained where everything was. The overall experience was fantastic: friendly and helpful staff, clean and cosy hostel, great guests and beautiful location. You will not be disappointed staying here!Liam Rendall
6/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
This is a nice place to stay. The managers really made me welcome. It felt good to be here; it's conducive to relaxing, contemplation, and good down-to-earth conversations with fellow travellers - all the things that a modern way of living tends to lack. Thank you.Guy
6/3/2022 12:00:00 AM
The perfect hostel. A fine historic building, a beautiful location especially at sunset and a great welcome from Lorna and Karl.Tommy
6/1/2022 12:00:00 AM
Incredible hostel, the staff are amazing, rooms are clean, facilities are well maintained. Thank you so much for having us stay.Moozerk
5/24/2022 12:00:00 AM
Lorna did a fantastic job of welcoming us and making our stay fun and relaxing. It was great to get some local knowledge of the island and some pointers for good beaches and live music etc. Thanks so much, everyone had a great time!Reuben
5/23/2022 12:00:00 AM
An excellent hostel with lots of information on local facilities and points of interest. The staff were very helpful and considerate.Pete Feetham
5/16/2022 12:00:00 AM
Karl and Lorna were fantastic and kept a really friendly hostel that was clean and welcoming. The location is fantastic and facilites are great.Uni of Exeter
5/9/2022 12:00:00 AM
Great location, friendly and helpful wardens, good kitchen, and super clean.Ji
5/8/2022 12:00:00 AM
Fantastic 4 x days at Port Charlotte hostel. Karl and Lorna are so helpful they really are the most wonderful hosts, they could'nt do enough for us. What an absolute pleasure it was to spend time in their company. Superb location a trip to remember. Many thanks Karl/Lorna. Hope to see you again soon when we "Island Hop", Thanks Again, Ian and Kim, BristolIan and Kim, Bristol
5/5/2022 12:00:00 AM
Fabulous location, super clean and friendly hosts. Everything you want in a hostel. Thank you Karl and Lorna. We'll be back ??Buns of steel trip 2022
5/4/2022 12:00:00 AM
Wardens very helpful dealing with rent a hostel bookingGlasgow HF Outdoor Club
4/26/2022 12:00:00 AM
Very well run hostel in a great spot!Dan
4/25/2022 12:00:00 AM
Still the best! My most enjoyable stay flew by much too quickly. Hope to be back soon. Thank you to Lorna & Karl for their care and attention & everyone there for being relaxed and friendly.Dave
4/22/2022 12:00:00 AM
Hostel is very clean and well organisedDavid
Reasons to visit
With endless white sandy beaches, towering cliffs and an RSPB nature reserve, Port Charlotte is the perfect base for families, outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts to explore and discover Islay.
Finlaggan, three miles from Port Askaig, features the tumbledown ruins of houses and a chapel on an islet in a shallow loch marking what remains of the stronghold of the Lords of the Isles. The setting is beautiful and the history fascinating!
Islay is probably best known as the home of some of the world's best Scotch whisky. With nine active distilleries, the island is a pilgrimage for whisky lovers. Take time to explore them all, but don't forget to pace yourself!
Islay is known for its fine food with fresh seafood a popular choice for most visitors. Other attractions not to be missed include:
- Museum of Island Life
- Kildalton Cross
- Kilnave Cross
- The American Monument
- Machir Beach
- The Round Church
- Outback Art Gallery
- Islay Ales Microbrewery
