Braemar
About About this youth hostel ....
An impressive former shooting lodge, Braemar Youth Hostel sits in extensive grounds in the heart of Cairngorms National Park and is a great base for exploring Royal Deeside with its many castles and distilleries, including Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s Scottish home. Sitting on the ‘Snow Road’, the hostel is the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts and is within easy reach of the Cairngorms and the ski centres at Glenshee and the Lecht.
The hostel boasts many traditional features and offers guests a range of comfortable private rooms and shared dorm accommodation. None of the rooms are en-suite but ample shower and washroom facilities are available. Other facilities include free WiFi, a bright comfortable lounge, a drying room, laundry free onsite parking and secure bike storage with the facility to charge e-bikes.
Braemar is a dog-friendly hostel. If you would like to book yourself and your dog into the hostel, please phone the hostel direct on: +44 (0) 1339 741 659 to check availability. There is a small charge of £7.50 per night for your dog when staying in our hostels.
‘Wee Breakfast’ available (please remember to pre-book).
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Why stay?
- Great location
- Friendly staff with expert local knowledge
- Local shops and restaurants within walking distance
- Licensed, serving local beers and wine
For more information on the hostel, accessibility and the local area please click here
Braemar Youth Hostel
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Facilities & Services
Season
Season: Open all year
Reception Hours
Reception Hours: Sunday to Thursday 07:00-10:00 & 17:00-21:30, Friday and Saturday 07:00-10:00 & 17:00-22:00
Check in
Check in: 17:00 - 21:30
Check out
Check out: 08.00 - 10:00
Access Hours
Access hours: Late arrival and access outside opening hours by pre-arrangement only
Amenities
Bike Store
Free Wifi
Free Parking (limited on-site) p
Drying Room
Catering Available (Breakfast Only)
Alcohol Licence
Laundry Room
Guest Kitchen
Pet Dogs Welcome
Private Rooms
Suitable for Groups
Shopping Nearby
Towel Hire
Family Rooms
Lounge Area
Guest Reviews
25/07/2024
Top class hostel, clean, very comfortable, good value and friendly. Can't fault it. Highly recommend.Trish
24/07/2024
Exceeded my expectations. Comfortable and clean.Rebecca
24/07/2024
One of the best hostels in Scotland, and that is saying something!Hashbrown30
23/07/2024
ExcellentAndy
21/07/2024
Nice, clean, setting good, and good and FRIENDLY staffjdehoog
21/07/2024
Good location with good facilities and good local shops, pubs, restaurants ??Colin
20/07/2024
Great last minute stopover in Braemar Youth Hostel. Lovely old building and great welcome from the warden.Nick
19/07/2024
GreatCornelius Neil
19/07/2024
Great experience. First time in a hostel for many years and it was way better than I expected it to be! Great furnishings in the lounge and very relaxing atmosphere overall. Staff very attentive tooKste
18/07/2024
Brilliant hostel . Lovely team ??. Thanks so much.Luke
16/07/2024
Good value, friendly, perfect for outdoor pursuitsPaul
12/07/2024
Very pleasant stay in newly refurbished accommodation.Guest Review
08/07/2024
Really great hostel. Good atmosphere. Great staff. I wish you well.Paul Roper
08/07/2024
A modern hostel in an old stone building with beautifully furnished lounge area, big spacious and well equipped kitchen located in the stunning cairngorms national park and a short distance from Balmoral castle. Would definitely go back again to stay here and explore the area with my family. Highly recommend. Friendly staff and great facilities!E.explorers
07/07/2024
I had a fantastic stay at the recently reopened Braemar Hostel. I've always loved this grand old lady, located a couple of minutes walk from the centre of Braemar, with a beautiful elevated position set amongst the pine trees. The interior is now stunning, very tastefully decorated and extremely comfortable. Some fellow guests described it as feeling like a boutique hotel and I agree! I received a very warm welcome from Harrison and the whole hostel has a very friendly atmosphere.Guest Review
06/07/2024
Lovely converted hostel in a quiet location but close to the village. Very nicely renovated with a beautiful lounge. Very spacious kitchen and dining area as was the dorm.Guest Review
06/07/2024
Great hostel, easy to use, spaciousGuest Review
03/07/2024
Brilliant-looking forward to going back already, thank you all.Tracy
05/11/2022
We really enjoyed our stay. The hostel was great - just our type of place. Staff helpful. Kitchen/dining/lounge area were lovely. Great location too, with lots of walks.Ian
03/11/2022
Reception was very accommodating and friendly when I arrived early, room was warm clean and comfortable, the Hostel is a lovely looking building nestled in the tree's at the entrance to Braemar, plenty of parking space, would recommend to everyone..AndyNewcastle
31/10/2022
Awesome from start to finish!! Excellent communication from Sarah prior to arrival dealing with an email enquiry, prompt and friendly service at check-in.The building and facilities are to an excellent high standard.The friendly atmosphere with other guests was incredible.Guest Review
29/10/2022
Very nice hostel. Friendly staff and welcoming homely feel.Paul Nice
28/10/2022
Excellent and great value for money on all counts. Superb drying room too!J Smith
27/10/2022
I was made to feel welcome right away. The layout of the hostel was a little confusing eg the women's washrooms were in a completely different place from the men's but all the rooms were clearly labelled. I felt secure in the dorm and my bed was comfortable, and the kitchen facilities were excellent.Jo
24/10/2022
The wardens were excellent, as was one of the guests who insisted on helping us take our luggage upstairs, despite my protestations. Having a clothes washing/drying room was very good.Marlies MacLean.
22/10/2022
Lovely welcome. Very polite and friendly staff. Very clean and well organised. Warm house with lovely hot showers. Great choice of breakfast. Beautiful setting in the scenic and charming village of Braemar. Lovely pubs, restaurants and coffee shops nearby! Thank you !David and Françoise
18/10/2022
Spacious rooms. Friendly staff and atmosphere.Colin
16/10/2022
Lovely hostel located on the edge of Braemar. Very spacious inside with a range of facilities available, and plenty of room outside as well with ample parking.Jack Thomas
10/10/2022
Excellent booking by telephone for a group with very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Superb, very friendly and comprehensive check-in. Don't you just love a good old-fashioned hostel? Excellent location for the mountains and also a short walk to facilities in town, in a beautiful old building and ancient tree- filled grounds.The building is a little dated inside, but full of traditional charm, and we certainly wouldn't want to lose this hostel!! Very warm, despite the high energy pricesOutdoorsy
10/10/2022
Had a great stay. Hostel clean,warm and comfortable. Staff very friendly, helpful and accommodating. No faults.KenHam
Reasons to visit
Surrounded by the Grampian Mountains, Braemar is the ideal base for exploring Royal Deeside and the mighty Cairngorms. Balmoral Castle, the Queen's Scottish home, is nearby (open between April-July) and there are a host of distilleries for whisky enthusiasts to explore.
The village sits on 'The Snow Road', a 90-mile journey which takes you from the picturesque market town of Blairgowrie to the traditional Highland town of Grantown-on-Spey. The route traverses the highest public road in Britain through some of the most impressive landscapes in the eastern Cairngorms, linking the communities of Braemar, Ballater and Tomintoul.
With no less than 24 Munros within easy reach it's no wonder the area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. It's also a perfect base for winter sports, as Glenshee is just eight miles to the south and the Lecht is to the north.
This ancient village is also home to the world famous annual Braemar Gathering and Highland Games. Held on the first Saturday in September, the event is regularly attended by the Royal Family and features the best pipe bands, pipers, Highland dancers and athletes.