Outdoor Discoveries

Hostelling in the Outer Hebrides

Apart from Kershader, which is owned by Co-chomunn Na Pairc, most of the hostels in the Western Isles are owned by the Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust. The trust’s website is well worth a look as it does more than introduce the hostels and tell us about its intriguing (to me, anyway) history. In fact, the website is almost as good an introduction to the islands as any, even if some sections might need a spot of updating and that can happen anyone. There are four hostels and each is situated a little away from the beaten track, never a bad thing. Advance bookings are not on offer but you shouldn’t be out of luck as regards a bed for the night, given their locations, and they are unlike many SYHA hostels in that they are open all year around. The tariffs are very reasonable too and, with the wardens being locals, you are contributing to the local community as well.