Monday 21 December 2020

Jenny Smith, from Jenny’s Bothy, Corgarff. An Appreciation

By David Dean



Jenny's presentation plate commissioned for her by fellow members of Cairngorms Hostels and SIH


David Dean tells the story of Jenny Smith, one of the original independent hostel owners.


After a lifetime dedicated to social and ecological causes together with establishing her distinctive, on message hostel, ‘Jenny’s Bothy’, Jenny Smith died in March of this year.  

She is buried alongside a grandfather she sadly never knew at Innis Na Birlinn cemetery by Corran Ferry on Loch Linnhe.  Jenny’s most beautiful and distinctive headstone is to be erected before the end of the year.  Margie, Jenny’s elder sister, who retired in 2019 from working in End-of Life care in the state of Maine, USA cared beautifully for Jenny for the last six weeks of her life. Margie tells us:-  “The rough shaped headstone is of Kishorn Granite from Loch Carron that formed in water and has small dots of fossilized fish and other cloudy blue/grey markings.” There will be a number of small gatherings in different parts of northern Scotland in the Spring of 2021 to celebrate Jenny’s life.   I will be happy to pass on details of these to anyone who asks when I have them from Margie.  

Seeking out independent hostel owners who had injected something distinctive of themselves into their creations...

I first met Jenny, walking midway along her rough hostel track to the main road where stood her car, not the most robust of vehicles.  It was in 1998 as Valery and I were seeking out independent hostel owners who, in doing what they did, had injected something distinctive of themselves into their creations.  Invariably these turned out to be people of substance for whom their hostel brought together their creativity, dedication to a cause and an ability to translate those qualities and life experience into a welcoming hostel experience for those who came to stay with them as guests. We wanted to learn from these people as we went about launching a hostel of our own at home in the Cairngorms.  

Jenny Smith


For the next twenty years, Jenny, whose credentials for being among the topflight in our list of hostel keepers, became a treasured guest in our home bringing her collie to romp with our dog on the moor. We shared food, talk of values, of the potential of independent hostels, elemental living and incidental healing.  By this I mean that, by chance or design, each of us had found ourselves as the ‘listener’ to numbers of our guests who just needed to talk.  Faced with this challenge, Jenny had so much to offer in that, over time, she had battled her own disquiet and knew innately how to reach the spot with a troubled guest.

Helping promote political change...

Jenny had a visible vibrancy about her, called a spade a spade, fought for her causes ranging from homeless squatters in London in the 1970’s as well as using her art training to teach screen printing and photography to low income people at Lenthal Road Press, Hackney which was dedicated to demonstrating how these skills could help promote political change in boroughs throughout the capital.  

It was in 1977 that Jenny made her home at Delachuper, Corgarff, right on the three hundred year old rough stone Wade Military Road running  from Corgarff Castle to Aberdeen. At that time all the water for the house dropped or slowly dripped, depending on the rainfall, into a bucket under a tiny spring across the track and there was no electricity available. To provide herself with an income in a remote, rural area with little work available, Jenny set up a business making stripped Shetland wool sweaters on a hand knitting loom exhibiting her great talent in mixing colour.

Jenny's Bothy

 In 1982 she decided to create “Jenny's Bothy” in the small barn behind towards the river which had been set up some time before as a private hostel by the previous owner. There was a monstrous Jotul woodstove, centrally positioned and around which huddled a couple of two tier bunks, two singles and a shared spacious kitchen and dining space.  A small room for two was alongside at the end of the substantial stone walled byre. In time Jenny upgraded the water bucket supply to a collection tank on the hillside that gravity fed water to the house and hostel doing much of the plumbing herself and organised an electricity supply to come over the River Don through bog and woodland. The aged Tilley lamps were retired to the emergencies store.

Besides providing hikers and skiers with bunk beds and cooking facilities, many small groups from all over Scotland came and used the Bothy for a variety of self-development workshops including singing with known traditional music Scottish singers. In the Fall of 1992, she hosted a Canadian Indigenous healer, Red Thunder Cloud on a herbal teaching tour of Eastern Scotland.”

During these years Jenny took breaks to visit Edinburgh and other places and continued her life of political activism. In 2011 she closed the Bothy due to issues of poor health realizing that she would need to move to a less arduous environment in which to live, eventually moving to the Findorn/Forres area on the coast of Moray.

David Dean, former chairman, SIH/IBHS making the presentation at Jenny's farewell party at the bothy

We saw Jenny for the last time, at our own retirement gathering in late 2019. We heard afterwards that she largely had organised this event much, as we had her own commemorative plate presentation in 2011. Jenny used her eight or so years in her new home in Findhorn village pursuing yet another enterprising scheme, a community garden right on the High Street in Forres.  She was clearly unwell on the day of our party and the handing over our hostel to incoming steward tenants.  In a few moments aside from the group she put us in the picture as to her rapidly declining health.  We miss hugely her robust hilarity and determined arguing of her point as well as her interest in the experience and views of others.  Countless bothy goers will remember with fondness and gratitude what she did for them and, most importantly, who she was.

I could not have written this tribute to Jenny without the encouragement and additional detail supplied to me by Jenny’s sister, Margie Spencer-Smith. Thanks also to the many of Jenny’s guests, friends met along the way. I am most grateful to them all.


David Dean    Lazy Duck Hostel  ‘Original’  1999 to 2019

dean.davidj@gmail.com

www.lazyduck.co.uk


Monday 30 November 2020

Support Our Hostels

This year has been a very challenging one for hostels. Like the rest of the tourist sector, they have been very hard hit by the necessary national and local lockdowns and by the various operating restrictions brought in to fight the spread of COVID-19. 



Unfortunately, the very nature of hostels is that they are a sharing environment. Our guests share dormitory bedrooms with strangers, they share private rooms with friends from other households and they all share communal facilities like kitchens, dining rooms, lounges, toilets and showers. Social distancing rules and limits on mixing with other households have meant that hostels have had to severely limit who can stay, what facilities are open and who can use them. All of this has had a major financial effect on all members of Scottish Independent Hostels (SIH), more severe than the effect on other types of accommodation providers.

Our members have done their best to comply with all rules in place, they have adapted, and they have tried to continue trading. They have also gratefully accepted all financial help on offer from the Scottish and UK Governments. Despite that, our whole industry is facing an uncertain future and sadly some SIH members may not survive.


We are not taking it lying down, though. From the outset SIH has taken a lead in publicising the plight of the hostel industry and we have taken our case to the UK and Scottish Governments. We are very glad that other hostelling organisations have now followed our lead. 


Since the start of July we have:

  • Surveyed our members to find out the effects of COVID-19 on their businesses
  • Prepared a detailed report and analysis and submitted it to the Scottish Government
  • Contacted all Scottish MPs and MSPs with hostels in their constituencies
  • Lobbied industry organisations such as VisitScotland
  • Arranged articles or interviews in the media (BBC Alba, Radio Scotland, TGO Magazine and the Guardian amongst others) 
  • Updated Government and other interested organisations whenever a rule change has affected our members
  • Created the “Support our Hostels” slogan and logo, now used by other hostelling organisations
  • Linked up with Independent Hostels UK, Hostelling Scotland and the YHA England and Wales to launch a nationwide lobbying campaign


We will keep up our efforts to campaign for our unique industry which we love and believe in, just like you. The fight goes on. You can all help by raising awareness of our struggle and by continuing to use our services, even if at the moment we can’t run our businesses as normal. Support our Hostels! 

2020 Directors: Laurie, Jackie, Greg & Dominique




Wednesday 2 September 2020

Biking and Hiking in Perthshire

Comrie Croft


Scotland was made for mountain biking and hiking.  We are truly spoilt with the fantastic range of paths and trails across the country.

Last weekend we took a trip to Comrie Croft in Perthshire.  Comrie Croft started life as a hostel and has grown its accommodation, activity and food offering into a mini-resort on the site of a hill.  

Comrie Croft Trails



The surrounding mountains and valleys offer even more activities including rafting, distilleries, exploring abandoned castles, quiet glens, standing stones, waterfalls, Loch Lomond National Park at Loch Earn, fishing or swimming in local lochs and rivers.

It’s eco credentials are evident, with recycling centres dotted throughout and worm toilets for the brave.  They also do a roaring business in DIY weddings; tie the knot in the forest, the barn or farmstead courtyard. 

The Crofters

Friendly “Crofters” are busy throughout the site, always with a friendly smile and keen to help.  The atmosphere was relaxed and happy, and best of all, because we were outside most of the time, there wasn’t facemask in site. 

What did we get up to?  

We biked the trails, there are a lot to choose from; blue, red or black depending on your skill and bravery.  You can hire bikes onsite from Comrie Croft Bikes. 

Comrie Croft Mountain Bike Trails

We explored the forest, following the marked paths.

Comrie Croft Perthshire Walking Trails Paths

We hung out.

Comrie Croft Perthshire Swing

And we had a wonderful lunch in the tea garden. They use fresh, wildlife friendly produce from their own Market Garden, creating a range of homemade delights. Totally delicious. 

For our next visit, we need to stay the night.  Hostel, Nordic Kata or Eco Camping?






Thursday 20 August 2020

8 Scottish Secrets for Autumn

Explore the wonders of Scotland at one of the most spectacular times of year. From late September and through to November, you can enjoy fiery autumn leaves and bright blue skies.  The weather is still mild, but there is a good excuse to get cosy during the cooler evenings in your hostel. 

1. Active Autumn

If you have a taste for adventure, Ardenbeg hostel at Craggan Outdoors in the Cairngorms, is the ideal choice for you.  The tricky bit is choosing between canoeing on the River Spey, mountain biking on the tracks of the Glenbeg Estate, tackling the high ropes course, clay pigeon and too many more to mention. 

They have lots of special offers available over autumn, check out their website

Ardenbeg Hostel Craggan Outdoors


2. Star Gazing


Aucheninver Hostel on the NW Coast, is the place to get away from it all.  They're running Dark Sky Retreats; gazing at the stars on a clear night has to be one of the most magical and memorable ways to experience Scotland.

Aucheninver Hostel Scotland


3. Night Biking

Obviously, biking is great during the day, but have you ever experienced the thrill of biking at night?  Galloway Activity Centre are running a night time mountain bike ride around the Galloway Forest Park, in the South of Scotland.  To get to the start of the ride, you and your bike will experience an exciting power boat trip across Loch Ken in the dark before disembarking and starting the route. Find out more...

Galloway Activity Centre


4. Glory at Glencoe

Mother nature at its best; enjoy the autumnal Highland colours in Glencoe, in Lochaber Geopark in the Highlands. It is the perfect base for exploring the area of Lochaber, known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK.  Cosy indoors, great outdoors; stay at Glencoe Independent Hostel


Glencoe Independent Hostel


5. Wild Swimming

A bunkhouse with a beach? John's Bunkhouse in the Western Isles is situated right beside a beautiful tidal beach which is popular for swimming and kite surfing all year round.  They're in a great position to explore North Uist and its environs and for day trips to Harris, South Uist and Barra.

Johns Bunkhouse


6 Wildlife


There are miles of stunning coastline with amazing wildlife to explore on Mull. It's just a short hop on the ferry from Oban. Keep an eye out for red deer, otters, seals, eagles, basking sharks and many more species. Stay at the eco-hostel, Craignure Bunkhouse 

Isle of Mull

7 Sanctuary on Sanday 

Possibly the perfect place to relax? Head north to Ayre's Rock Hostel on the Orkney Island of Sanday. Explore the sand dunes and unspoilt beaches of this tranquil island.  It's a mecca for wildlife enthusiasts (lots of seal pups in autumn) and has an impressive archaeological heritage. 

Sanday Hostel Orkney


8 The Colours of Comrie

Perthshire is world renowned for the wonderful colours of autumn. It's large expanses of tranquil woodland and some of the country’s oldest and tallest trees, ‘Big Tree Country’ is a great place for an autumn forest walk.  Stay in Comrie Croft and you'll also get a big and colourful welcome - it's a hostel by night and outdoor adventure hub by day (with Tea Garden and Farm Shop).  

Comrie Croft Perthshire


Find your perfect hostel in Scotland - use our hostel map

Monday 27 July 2020

Support Our Hostels




Staying in a hostel will be a different experience for a while but there will always be a warm welcome.

Reopening our hostels safely means that many of the communal facilities that make a stay in one of our hostels so great are not always available.  We hope you do choose to stay at one of our hostels.

What makes hostels so great


Those memorable evenings spent chatting with other guests in our hostel lounges, swapping stories about what you’ve been up to that day and where you’re heading next.

The ability to knock up a cordon-bleu meal or simply use the microwave in our kitchens.

Keeping your costs down by buying a bed in one of our dorm rooms.  That feeling of setting off in dry clothes the next morning after using the hostel drying rooms.

Your support is vital 


A recent survey of our hostels revealed that without further financial support a third of our hostels may not survive to Spring 2021.  It just shows you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

We’re lobbying the Scottish Government to raise awareness of the particular challenges our hostels are facing and to ask for consideration in the allocation of any future financial support.

Please support our campaign posts on our Facebook page and share them with your friends.

Support from others



We also had support from, BBC An La



 The Great Outdoors magazine



and Munro Moonwalker's Blog who’ve highlighted the plight for hostels.



Wednesday 22 January 2020

WANTED: Hostel-Loving Owner



It is with great sadness that we have come to the decision to sell our beloved hostel here in the beautiful loch-side town of Inveraray, Scotland.

We are looking for a new hostel-loving owner to come and breath a new lease of life into this community project we have started.

Inveraray Hostel is located in the historic loch-side town of Inveraray, Argyll and is just a minute’s walk of the town’s amenities, restaurants & tourist attractions.

The hostel is in a superb location for exploring nearby hills, gardens, lochs, glens, cultural sites & islands on the West Coast of Scotland.

Key Facts:

  • Recently decorated & designed gardens
  • Solar panel roofs
  • Fully-equipped guest kitchen
  • Communal dining area
  • Shared bathrooms
  • Drying room
  • Bike shed
  • Car parking

Hostel Website: https://www.inverarayhostel.co.uk/

For all enquiries please contact
hostel@campbellwright.co.uk


Saturday 18 January 2020

Goodbye Abernethy Bunkhouses, we'll miss you!

This week, Abernethy Bunkhouses said goodbye to their last guests, marking the end of an era.  Not only has the hostel been home to many happy groups over the years, Patricia and Richard have been a huge part of Scottish Independent Hostels, giving up their time to promote hosteling across Scotland.


You'll be sadly missed by everyone at SIH and all your guests.  Enjoy your "retirement" 😉!








To end the blog on a happy note, we still have wonderful hostels in the area:

The Lazy Duck Hostel  - A hidden gem with wood fired hot tub and sauna, in Nethy Bridge. Phil and Sarah offer a very warm welcome to guests visiting the Cairngorms National Park.

Nearby:
Fraoch Lodge - Andy and Rebecca run Scot Mountain Holidays from Boat of Garten in the Cairngorms. The hostel is perfect for keen walkers, cyclists, wildlife enthusiasts. 

Ardenbeg Bunkhouse - Keith and his family run the award-winning Craggan Outdoors activity centre, based in Grantown-on-Spey, near Aviemore. The hostel can sleep groups of up to 23 people.

The Smugglers Hostel - 'Highest Hostel in the Scottish Highlands'! Located in the picturesque village of Tomintoul, this four star, 20-bed hostel is surrounded by stunning countryside waiting to be explored.