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
14/09/2025
I had a lovely night's stay in Ratagan hostel. Welcoming and friendly the hostel provided a wonderful refuge from very inclement weather. I was able to dry my wet gear in the wonderfully efficient drying room and sit reading my novel all day in the comfy living room looking over Loch Duich at the rain teeming down. The wardens were so friendly and helpful and the hostel very clean. I particularly appreciated the small touches such as the complimentary tea, coffee and shortbread.I'll be back!Morag
12/09/2025
ExcellentNina
08/09/2025
I have used Ratagan YH several times over many years. I have found it to be the perfect base for climbing all the Munros in the area. It has all the necessary amenities… and more! I can't fault it.Yes
08/09/2025
Fantastic location of you are looking to do hillwalking and Munro bagging. Facilities are top notch with comfortable bedding, great kitchen and comfortable social spaces. Everything is clean and it was a joy to return after a day in the hills. Oh and the location is stunning, sitting right in the shores of a lock and surrounded on all sides by mountains.Jukebox
07/09/2025
ExcellentYes
04/09/2025
Everything fine, we especially enjoyed the great views over the loch and the mountains.Bonnie
29/08/2025
We loved our stay here. The location is stunning, the staff is super nice and the hostel has everything you need!Danielle
26/08/2025
Ratagan is a perfect place to stay. We were made very welcome and enjoyed cosy evenings in the lounge, watching the moon rise over the mountains. Thanks to a bus stop not too far off it is also accessible for people travelling without a car but who are good on foot.Stay longer than one night! It's worth it. After two nights we didn't want to leave and felt really sad that we had to. We will definitely be coming back! Thank you so much for everything.Katharina
15/08/2025
This is a stunning location for a hostel with views over Loch Duich to the Five Sisters. The atmosphere has always been friendly and the lounge is quiet, peaceful and with a great selection of books and magazines. The staff are very attentive and have great knowledge of local area. It's a pretty special place to stay whether going up hills or not!Dave from Glasgow
13/08/2025
I have stayed at the Ratagan hostel several times in the past and always enjoyed the view of the mountains across Loch Duich and the walks along the beach. The hostel is and has everything you need.PiperBob
09/08/2025
Great hostel with a friendly welcome.Steve
08/08/2025
A good Hostel, helpful staff, great value for moneyKristina
07/08/2025
It was a quiet and nice place.Anna
06/08/2025
Very well-maintained hostel in every respect, very comfortable bedrooms, well-equipped kitchen, very cosy common room. These features make this hostel an excellent accommodation. Strongly recommendedMatteo Pagani
05/08/2025
A place where you absolutely would love to stayNo
02/08/2025
Highly recommended, very memorableJ
30/07/2025
Great, no-nonsense service throughout.Richard Macgowan
29/07/2025
A fantastic experience! Loved that place.Vincent
27/07/2025
Top classPaddy Dcosta
26/07/2025
Great atmosphere, staff and location.Dave from Glasgow
21/07/2025
Excellent hostel, good kitchen, dining and sitting facilities. Good bedrooms and ample washroom facilities. All clean and tidy with excellent host.Keith
21/07/2025
Friendly greetings, The position is to die for, lovely garden to sit in & nice lounge area overlooking the LochChris
18/07/2025
FabulousAndy
17/07/2025
On paper, the walk for two miles from the main road with a rucksack sounds a wee bit daunting, but in reality it is worth it for the viewsof the loch and the mountains and the knowledge that redcoay soldiers may have walked Along this same "old military road".The setting of the hostel on the shores of the loch is breathtaking. The hostel itself is excellent and feels friendly and intimate. The warden too is excellent and goes out of his way to help, and ensure that people have a good stay.Kathleen
16/07/2025
It was a very nice stay. The hostel is very charming. The view is breathtaking. Very nice and welcoming staff.Vajka
16/07/2025
Staff are excellent very friendly Place is spotlessLb
15/07/2025
Fantastic - so clean and absolutely everything we need and in a wonderful location. The most magnificent mountains , lochs and cycling routes are on the doorstepPauline McEachen
09/07/2025
Great place to stay, friendly and welcoming in a beautiful part of the world. Fab place to start a trip into the mountains.Sara
02/07/2025
Had all I needed - well equipped kitchen (with freezer space - very impotent to me), was quiet through the night, plenty parking but couldn't have been further from the door (not so good!). Smiling staff - excellentCarole
30/06/2025
Friendly staff, hostel next to dramatic scenery. Comfortable accomodation and peaceful surroundings.Ian
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.