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


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
07/06/2025
Ratagan is simply an amazing place, a jewel amongst the Scottish Youth Hostels. Tom was super friendly and fantastic in exchanging tips. Rooms are very spacious and well organised, the lochside location is superb, everything is spotless clean, and importantly, it's a place where you will meet passionate and interesting likeminded souls.Aldo
07/06/2025
BrillHelen
06/06/2025
It would be great to provide a gluten free muesli or cereal for breakfastGloria
03/06/2025
Unforgettable and life affirming in so many ways, thank you.Mark Old
03/06/2025
FabulousShona
02/06/2025
I could have some chats with other visitors in living room and share good tips about tours in Scotland.Tourists in the hostel involving the main staff were kind and had opened mind.Juhee
01/06/2025
Great location, welcoming staff, good facilities (beds have privacy lights and USB charging points). They reverse bottom bunks for members!C Hall
01/06/2025
Very good location, really friendly atmosphere and excellent service.Gwil Cooke
01/06/2025
I stayed there for 5 days and it was my best hostelling experience ever. Nothing a bother and excellent, immaculate facilities.Zoe
27/05/2025
AmazingFiona
27/05/2025
great place. lots of opportunities for adventures.izhar
25/05/2025
I be back as soon as possibleWalli
24/05/2025
Top value for money, great location for my activities, freedom to come and go as please. Nice big kitchen to store and label food. Nice chill-out area. Can't fault anything.Stuart Blakeley
20/05/2025
Fabulous location, well-equipped kitchen, cozy communal lounge with great views, comfortable beds, friendly & helpful helpful - all great!David C (Edinburgh)
18/05/2025
A perfect location, stunning scenery and super friendly staff!Sarah R
15/05/2025
Great! Please keep that old living room as it is, such comfy and nice atmosphere with view on the lakeJiji
14/05/2025
Very happy to be there. A smart and easy stay. Great beds too.Marilyn wanderer.
14/05/2025
The whole family loved staying here. My wife and I felt at ease and the children loved being by the water.Philip
13/05/2025
ExcellentElinor
13/05/2025
Clean and tidy hostel in a beautiful area. Ideal for hillwalking and sightseeing. Everyone really helpful. Facilities are good and plenty of room for everyone. Wifi not great, only in lounge but I believe they are hoping to rectify this.Lindsay
12/05/2025
So calm and peacefulSaxoann
12/05/2025
The attention to detail, cleanliness and comfort of this hostel, rates it one of the very best I've stayed in.mgp20jam
10/05/2025
Warm welcome from the staff, friendly, comfortable accommodation. Lovely sitting room with beautiful views in an amazing location.Lynda
09/05/2025
Well maintained hostel, friendly staff and a magnificent view of the Five Sisters from the lounge- what's not to like?George
08/05/2025
Fabulous hostel in a great locationMark R
06/05/2025
OutstandingOk
06/05/2025
We booked a long weekend stay at this hostel already months ago, a thing to consider as it seems spaces get booked up quickly. And no wonder! The location is stunning and the hostel cosy, welcoming and clean. A special mention to Tom, who was very helpful, accommodating and quick to respond to all our requests and questions via email. Staying in this hostel allows you to meet a diverse array of lovely people, all there to enjoy this stunning part of Scotland.Federica G
06/05/2025
Great hostel with friendly staffJelmer
06/05/2025
This is a lovely and quiet location. All necessary facilities and amenities are available. The vibes are great and you can meet some lovely people here. This is also a good base if you want to go to Skye or just enjoy a couple of days away from the noise and hustle of modern life. Grab a book or do absolutely nothing- you'll enjoy both!N&R
04/05/2025
Just what I needed whilst Munro baggingYes
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.