Ratagan
About About this youth hostel ....
Small and intimate, Ratagan Youth Hostel enjoys a stunning lochside location with views over the Five Sisters of Kintail. This warm and welcoming hostel offers a range of accommodation from private rooms to shared dorms all with USB charging points. The accommodation is split over two floors and none of the rooms are en-suite, but there are ample shower and washroom facilities available.
WiFi access is free for all guests and other facilities include: a large well-equipped self-catering kitchen, a comfortable lounge with views over the Five Sisters of Kintail, 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.
The hostel is surrounded by mountains, lochs and forests, but sits close to a 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 dog-friendly hostel. If you would like to book yourself and your dog into the hostel, please phone the hostel direct on: +44 (0) 1599 511 243 to check availability. There is a small charge of £7.50 per night for your dog when staying in our hostels.
‘Wee Breakfast’ and 'Heat it and eat it' evening meals available (Please remember to pre-book your breakfast).
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Why stay?
- Lochside location with magnificent views
- World famous Eilean Donan Castle eight miles away
- Friendly team with expert local knowledge
- Perfect base for hillwalking and kayaking
- Dog friendly
- Licensed, serving local beers and wine
For more information on the hostel, accessibility and the local area please click here
Ratagan Youth Hostel
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Facilities & Services
Season
April to early 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 arrival and access outside opening hours is available by prior arrangement
Amenities
Free Wifi
Family Rooms
Lounge Area
Drying Room
Bike Store
Suitable for wheelchair users with assistance
Pet Dogs Welcome
Private Rooms
Catering
Laundry Room
Secure Lockers
Access with limited mobility
Free Parking (nearby or onsite)
Guest Reviews
24/07/2024
Fabulous hostelRachel
24/07/2024
Everything was excellentRogartrambler
24/07/2024
Typifies what a good hostel should be. The perfect place to recharge and reflect after a long day in the hills. I can't wait to come back.James
22/07/2024
I enjoyed my stay a lot in Ratagan – the views from the hostel are already amazing: the loch and surrounding munroes & corbetts are breathtaking. The remoteness of the location brought a nice calmness with it, even without a car there is some great hiking to do in the area. I met lovely people who also stayed there and the receptionist was extraordinarily helpful and kind.Jennifer
19/07/2024
10 out 10Maclean
17/07/2024
Very friendly and helpful staff. Beautiful location.John Paul Marley
12/07/2024
Stunning location. The road to get there is amazing. The hostel is a few minutes by car from Eilean Donan Castle. But in its own rigth, the view from the hostel, standing on the shore of Loch Duich, is magical.Cozy public spaces and helpful staff.HelyettLouise
11/07/2024
It's in a great location, offers great VFM and I'll definitely be back.Guest Review
05/07/2024
Consistent high standards & friendly teamGary & Sandi Mills
01/07/2024
super nice and charming, amazing hospitalitysebas
27/06/2024
This was my favourite hostel - great location, views & the lounge could be in any 5 Star Hotel . Stunning!Ok
22/06/2024
Convenient base for many local hills.RichTea
18/06/2024
FantasticIain
18/06/2024
Very good hostel !Ali
04/06/2024
The service and atmosphere that you expect from a youthhostel. A friendly home away from home.. I certainly recommend staying there.Jasper Klootwijk (NL)
03/06/2024
We had a a group split over private rooms, female and male dorms, all facilities good.DiM
29/05/2024
The location is incredible, next to the lake, a peaceful and very beautiful place.Marco Vilanova
28/05/2024
Great location for walking. Very comfortable.Sharon
24/05/2024
Fantastic hostel. Amazing location and great staffJohn
23/05/2024
A stunning location with wonderful views. The hostel was very well run and staff and customers were very friendly and welcoming.C Dailly
22/05/2024
Wonderful hostel with super facilities.Charles
20/05/2024
A very convenient stop-over on our way to Skye. Although brief, it was very welcoming and the beds were greatSimon
19/05/2024
All rooms were clean , kitchen Very good, lounge and dinning room excellent.Roger Taylor
16/05/2024
What a location! I hope to be back.Guest Review
14/05/2024
Perfect spot by the lochVery welcoming and very cleanGuest Review
13/05/2024
Great to be in this location of lochs & mountains.Kevin
12/05/2024
Excellent time had by all.Rob
12/05/2024
I am leader/organiser of a hill walking group from Ayrshire. There were 17 of us in the area, half in the hostel. Everyone in the hosytel wenjoyed staying there. Kintail is excellent for hill walking of course and we all had a great visit ( texts and e-mails to prove this!). Like General McArthur , 'We will be back' - both to the area and the hostelDick Vernon
12/05/2024
All good and as advertisedGuest Review
10/05/2024
Great location in an idylic setting, very well run with everything needed for an outdoors breakGary & Sandi
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.