HOSTELS IN INVERNESS
- Inverness--Capital of the Highlands, a delightful small city
- Moray Coast, Strathspey--Lovely wide open country with fine valleys and mountainscapes
- Great Glen--Long straight glen between tall mountain ridges and filled with lochs including Loch Ness!
- Far NE Scotland--Much delectable scenery of lochs, estuaries, hills, and boats to Orkney
Note: Many SYHA hostels close for 3 months in winter.
INVERNESS
Up the steep hill past the castle, just 300m from the city centre, are two hostels:
Address: 4 Culduthel Road
Tel: 01463-717663
Facilities: Small hostel, sociable, cosy lounge/dining room w open fire, books & stereo, small TV lounge, moderate kitchen, garden, mixed & single-sex dorms.
UK Trail opinions: As one reviewer says: Don't change anything! Though the kitchen is a bit too small and cluttered, the laid-back vibe is wonderful! We agree..
Reviewers' comments: Reviews are all enthusiastic. Quiet hostel with very good bunkbeds where you can sleep. Friendly, feels really safe. Beautiful view. Buddhism-like touch. Some find it cold in winter..
Address: 8 Culduthel Road
Tel: 01463-236556
Email: inverness + AT + scotlandstophostels.com
Facilities: 2 cosy small lounges, small dining room, small kitchen. Books, much local info. Background music. Limited parking. Very helpful staff..
UK Trail opinions: Cosy and homely small hostel but a bit cramped. Enthusiastic & helpful manager. Backpacker tours stop here. Background music a bit loud..
Reviewers' comments: Mostly very positive. They like the staff and the friendly atmosphere..
We have stayed in several hostels in Inverness and have no hesitation in recommending the Bazpackers for its really cosy atmosphere; the kitchen is a bit small and cluttered, but it's excellent for meeting people, albeit can be a bit quiet. We also liked the more raucous but really good-humoured atmosphere of the so-called 'Student Hotel' 50 metres further on.
The Ho Ho hostel and its partner, the Long Lie-in, appear to have closed.
The other 3 hostels all have a TV in the common room, and all have received some bad comments from some reviewers:
Address: 38 Eastgate
Tel: 01463-718756
Email: info + AT + eastgatebackpackers.com
Facilities: Lounge/dining with dominant TV & internet, small kitchen.
UK Trail opinions: Looks as if people find it friendly, but we are not enthusiastic about the limited kitchen and the TV in the only common area..
Reviewers' comments: All say it has good location, some say friendly staff, but no great enthusiasm. One said: very poor kitchen, no dining area except in lounge..
Address: 24 Rose St
Tel: 01463-241962
Email: info + AT + invernesshostel.com
Facilities: Modest hostel, lounge w internet and TV, good kitchen/dining area. Excellent location next to Bus Station..
UK Trail opinions: Very clean; TV is dominant in lounge.
Reviewers' comments: Mixed reviews, generally good. Many mention the large TV, so not good if you don't want to watch. Some mention a nearby Club is very loud at weekends. One waited for an hour because no one answered the door. One family had a reservation but they didn't honour it..
The Highlander Hostel, although on the main High Street, is hard to find as the entrance is in a side street:
Address: 23A High St
Facilities: Impressive building in heart of City, next to bus station. Kitchen, lg common room with dining tables and large TV..
UK Trail opinions: Large TV and 'movies all day' doesn't favour sociability, although atmosphere seems to be good..
Reviewers' comments: Location perfect, staff friendly & very helpful. Loud outdoor noise for sleeping. Common room shows movies all day. Too large to really meet people. Friendly atmosphere. Hostelz has 2 bad reviews saying: local people staying, rowdy crowd watching TV.
You have to walk 2 km from the town centre to the SYHA hostel. The main road is boring, but there is a pleasanter walk through residential streets:
Address: Victoria Drive
Tel: 0871-330-8529
Facilities: Lg comfy lounge, TV lounge, lg kitchen & dining area, seating in reception, outdoor tables, simple decor.
UK Trail opinions: Large hostel, the building looks austere and the decor is simple, but it's a comfortable and well laid-out hostel. You are likely to find large groups here, but there's space for everyone. The longish walk from town is annoying, but hostel has good parking.
Reviewers' comments: Most find it agreeable. Some complained about large groups, one or two felt the staff were not too friendly, but others thought they were friendly. All accepted it is not for partying, but comfortable for sleeping..
