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
24/05/22
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
23/05/22
An excellent hostel with lots of information on local facilities and points of interest. The staff were very helpful and considerate.Pete Feetham
16/05/22
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
09/05/22
Great location, friendly and helpful wardens, good kitchen, and super clean.Ji
08/05/22
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
05/05/22
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
04/05/22
Wardens very helpful dealing with rent a hostel bookingGlasgow HF Outdoor Club
26/04/22
Very well run hostel in a great spot!Dan
25/04/22
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
22/04/22
Hostel is very clean and well organisedDavid
10/04/22
Lorna the receptionist is an amazing woman, very kind and ready to help in every situation.Giuseppe
09/04/22
Lorna, the woman running the hostel, is a delight! So welcoming and very helpful. The hostel location is beautiful, you can hear the wave spilling onto the beach just behind the hostel. Glorious :)Iona & Robin
30/09/21
We had a wonderful 3 nights at Port Charlotte hostel. We couldn't believe the great views from the hostel dining room on our first morning - fantastic location. Karl & Lorna were so helpful & accommodating and recommended some great walks. Will definitely be coming back!Mel Coyne
30/08/21
Karl and Lorna ensured I had everything I needed when I arrived to make my stay as comfortable as possible. Thanks so much!Justin
27/08/21
We had a lovely 2 nights at the hostel & wished we had stayed much longer. The lack of a kitchen was a shame but not the hostel's fault. We would love to return.Sarah M
23/08/21
Fantastic place to stay, Karl and Lorna are welcoming, kind and helpful. The hostel is homely, well looked after and so very clean. All facilities just right for our needs. The location is perfect, beside the beach and there is an abundance of things to do in the area, whiskey tours, visits to museums, trip to Jura, walking, cycling, swimming and beautiful places to visit. A wonderful time had by all - we highly recommend the hostel and the hosts! Thank you.SM
18/08/21
Absolute pleasure staying at Port Charlotte again. Karl and Lorna are so welcoming and make the stay a joy. Already book for next year.James Dowsett
06/08/21
Lovely old building. Karl and Laura were absolutely fantastic..very friendly and helpful and made us feel very welcome. We loved the new beds with charging points - and the bike store!Sheila
02/08/21
lovely hostel, great location, right on the beach, in beautiful village. Facilities are excellent, great breakfast. And the hostel manager Carl and his wife are so helpful.The francis family
28/07/21
Excellent stay hosted by Karl and Lorna. Hostel was very clean and comfortable. No complaints.Ben
27/07/21
The hosts kept the hostel place very very clean and I really appreciate it the drying room they had set up. The hosts were very nice and tried to address each person's needs. They served a wonderful breakfast and it was very appreciated. I particularly liked having bikes available. They always smiled when they greet you in the morning by name. They let me use some of their tape and spare boxes to send a box home.Al Hunter
21/07/21
The gentleman that was running the hostel was extremely helpful, efficient and very friendly. The breakfast was very good value and the hostel is very clean with great facilities.Steve H
17/07/21
As always staying at the Port Charlotte Hostel is a very enjoyable experience and although things weren't exactly normal during these times, Karl and Lorna did their very best to ensure my stay was all that it could be. Everything is shipshape and super clean and I was made most welcome. The hostel is in a great location overlooking Loch Indaal and with great weather, was a perfect place to stay.Mary
11/07/21
VERY pleasant host (Kurt) who welcomed us warmly at 10pm and was eager to please and delightful throughout. Covid restrictions and social distancing had an inevitable effect on the atmosphere, but otherwise a grand stay. Hostel beds are never luxurious, but perfectly adequate.Damon
08/07/21
This little hostel was great, the lady checking us in was really helpful, she gave us suggestions on what to see and experience on the island, and was really approachable and friendly. The place was super clean a pleasure to stay in.Viviana
03/07/21
Absolutely brilliant wed booked very late and arrived at 10 30 pm. Your warden is a lovely chap and catered for us being vegan at breakfastEdric
01/07/21
We had a lovely stay at the hostel. Karl and Lorna were very welcoming, and super hosts.Phil and Rosie
27/06/21
Very welcoming and helpful staff, could not fault themWalter
25/06/21
The hostel was covid safe,. Excellent arrangements in place. The kitchen was closed but we had a BBQ in the garden with no issues. The rooms were spotlessly clean and very comfy as was the longe area. Excellent position for the village close to restraints. The safe were very friendly and helpful. Would definitely stay againMike
17/06/21
Lovely hostel, great hosts, made to feel very welcome. Thanks again, will be backAndrew
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
