Ratagan Youth Hostel
About About this youth hostel
Small and intimate, Ratagan Youth Hostel is has a stunning lochside location with enviable views towards Skye.
Perfect for groups, families and individual travellers, this warm and welcoming hostel offers guests a variety of room types, all with USB charging points, and all able to be booked as private rooms.
The accommodation is split over two floors and none of the rooms are en-suite, but ample shower and washroom facilities are available.
Guests can opt for continental breakfast served in the large dining room or take advantage of the well-equipped self-catering kitchen. Relax with a local craft beer or glass of wine in the hostel’s comfortable lounge, while enjoying stunning views over the Five Sisters of Kintail.
WiFi access is free for all guests and other facilities include a laundry, drying room, luggage store and secure bike shed. Basic provisions, including frozen ready meals, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception.
Although surrounded by mountains, lochs and forests, the hostel is just off the main road, with a bus stop only 1.5 miles away making it easily accessible by public transport. Free parking is available onsite.
Ratagan is a popular choice with outdoor enthusiasts and there are a number of low-level scrambles and ridge walks within easy reach of the hostel. The garden is ideal for launching kayaks for a paddle in Loch Duich, home to porpoises, otters and seals. World famous Eilean Donan Castle is only eight miles away.
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Hostellers Love...
Friendly and informative staff
Fabulous loch side location with stunning views
Great base for hill walking
Secure lockers and bike store
Private rooms available
Ratagan Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
March - October (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 is available by prior arrangement.
Amenities
Free Wifi
Private Rooms Available
Family Rooms Available
Catering Available
Lounge Area
Self Catering Kitchen
Alcohol Licence
Laundry Room
Drying Room
Secure Lockers
Bike Store
Access with limited mobility
Suitable for wheelchair users with assistance
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Guest Reviews
21/01/19
We take a full hostel rental at Ratagan every year for a club scuba diving weekend and Burns Supper- this is our 7th year and its always been brilliant- excellent accommodation and shared space; Loch Duich offers excellent mid-winter shore diving- even from the Hostel gardenGrampian Sub Aqua Club
12/10/18
It's so nice to be admitted earlier in the afternoon on a rainy day in the shoulder season...Philippe
11/10/18
Very welcoming, spacious and clean. Will definitely be back.Pete
10/10/18
Friendly, helpfulMarika
08/10/18
Immaculately clean, superb helpful staff and a great range of facilities.LSKC - Lothian Sea Kayaking Club
06/10/18
After a long, hard day in the Glen Affric I searched for a B&B. Surprised to find a YH in this little town.Really. After twenty years og YH I can say: This is the very best. The warden is it. She does anything possible to make your stay a perfect stay. Thanks a lot!!Rainer Duesmann
01/10/18
Friendly and peaceful.Colin
21/09/18
Spotless hostel and the staff could not be more helpful or obliging.No thanks
18/09/18
I came in late and had only one night at the hostel, so my experience is a bit short. Nice kitchen facility, cosy Lounge, breathtaking views to the mountain and lake. Friendly staff. I'd come again.Tania G.
12/09/18
Lovely location well run with everything you need to hand in the hostelGraeme
11/09/18
Great location. Very friendly and informative warden. Comfortable accommodation and well equipped kitchen. Down side is that it is all self catering with a limited selection of food to buy. However, the other plus points more than make up for this.Keith
03/08/18
Excellent hostel in superb setting. Very well run by helpful young couple. Lots of mountains to climb. Beautiful scenery on doorstep. Also eilean donan castle and brochs in glen elg. Need anti-midge spray though!Hamish
27/07/18
Ratagan is a fantastic hostel - clearly very well run, and set in the most beautiful scenery, with some fantastic ridge walks nearby.Jonathan
14/07/18
Very central locationBen
13/07/18
Very beautiful, secluded but easy access to hills, Skye, Eilen Donan etc. Don't just drive on to Skye; spend some time here.SJK
30/05/18
Stunning location, friendly staff. Hard to beat.Vic
26/05/18
Great hostel in a fabulous location.robert
21/05/18
Lovely hostel in great location.Johnnyb
19/05/18
Great hostel in stunning localJim
30/04/18
One of the best locations in Scotland!Santiago
30/04/18
The tearoom in Glenelg is outstanding, brilliant coffee and cakes.Fiona
25/04/18
Beautifully situated hostel and full of charactertrimart
06/04/18
One of Scotland's "must stay" hostelsPhil on the hill
19/10/17
Great place to stay, friendly helpful warden.Gordon
04/10/17
The Ratagan Youth Hostel staff were very accommodating to our family. We had to arrive late, but they made sure that we had a key and responded quickly to every email we sent. The hostel is in a beautiful spot. A great place to wake up and explore. It is reasonably priced, clean, quaint, and the staff are friendly and helpful. We would recommend it to anyone!Taylor Clan
02/10/17
Ear buds for the dorm. Lots of snoring, middle aged guys :}Simon
09/09/17
Its ok if you have a car. Make sure you have plenty supplies with you. Its fine though...BOB
29/08/17
Ideally situated on Loch Duich , great for accessing the hills , good cooking , dining area and lounge areas , good atmosphere all round , manager Bartoz was very friendly ,Stevie S
29/08/17
Stayed at Ratagan many times. Always a great visit despite the weather.Huckle
27/08/17
I always enjoy staying at Ratagan Youth Hostel: the position beside the loch is marvellous.PiperBob
Perfect for groups, families and individual travellers, this warm and welcoming hostel offers guests a variety of room types, all with USB charging points, and all able to be booked as private rooms.
The accommodation is split over two floors and none of the rooms are en-suite, but ample shower and washroom facilities are available.
Guests can opt for continental breakfast served in the large dining room or take advantage of the well-equipped self-catering kitchen. Relax with a local craft beer or glass of wine in the hostel’s comfortable lounge, while enjoying stunning views over the Five Sisters of Kintail.
WiFi access is free for all guests and other facilities include a laundry, drying room, luggage store and secure bike shed. Basic provisions, including frozen ready meals, confectionery and soft drinks are available to purchase at reception.
Although surrounded by mountains, lochs and forests, the hostel is just off the main road, with a bus stop only 1.5 miles away making it easily accessible by public transport. Free parking is available onsite.
Ratagan is a popular choice with outdoor enthusiasts and there are a number of low-level scrambles and ridge walks within easy reach of the hostel. The garden is ideal for launching kayaks for a paddle in Loch Duich, home to porpoises, otters and seals. World famous Eilean Donan Castle is only eight miles away.
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Hostellers Love...
Friendly and informative staff
Fabulous loch side location with stunning views
Great base for hill walking
Secure lockers and bike store
Private rooms available
">Reasons to visit
Ratagan Youth Hostel enjoys a stunning loch-side location and boasts an amazing view of the Five Sisters of Kintail mountain range from its sitting room.
Popular with cyclists, the Mam Ratagan Pass is a scenic hill road to Glenelg where you can catch the historic turntable ferry to Skye. This fabulous little ferry is one of a kind and simply the best way to travel to Skye. The short crossing provides magnificent views and the enthusiastic crew are always happy to tell you about the local wildlife, scenery and the ferry's history.
Low level scrambles and ridge walks are all within easy reach of the hostel and the garden is ideal for launching kayaks where you can take to the water to explore famous local landmarks such as Eilean Donan Castle.
There are plenty of Munros to tackle in the local area and The Falls of Glomach, one of the highest and most remote waterfalls in Britain, is within easy reach.
For wildlife enthusiasts, otters, seals and porpoises can often be seen from the garden and deer roam the surrounding hillsides.
Charter a fishing boat or let someone else do the hard work while you kick back and enjoy some fresh local shellfish at the Glenelg Inn or Sheena's famous tea hut.
