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.

News from David & Valery Dean, from The Lazy Duck, Cairngorms

Current and former owners of Cairngorms Hostels gathered on Sunday 1st Dec at The Lazy Duck in Nethy Bridge to mark the retirement of David & Valery Dean.  Having built their hostel business and associated camping and eco-accommodation within the now, six acre site, they have decided to hand over the running of the accommodation and associated care of the wildfowl on the Fhuarain Burn, to take life at a steadier pace.

A big part of the hostelling community

Over the last 20 years Valery and David have built up their business to include a variety of accommodation. More importantly, throughout this period, they have devoted their voluntary time to the wider hostelling business with David holding the appointments of Chairperson of Scottish Independent Hostels (formerly Independent Backpackers Hostels Scotland) and Cairngorms Hostels.  Along with Ian Bishop and Rebecca Mackellar, formerly of Slochd Hostel and Ardenbeg Bunkhouse respectively, they worked with the Cairngorms Business Partnership to bring hostels from both sides of the Cairngorms National Park together for marketing and business purposes. Valery, in the meantime continued to support David in the business whilst bringing up their family and grandchildren and well as visiting her mother, who also lived close by. Dealing with the quirky personalities of individual hostel owners has been tricky at times and at the helm, David used his tact and good humour to enable a diverse group of businesses to ‘collaborate to compete’ .

New steward tenants for Lazy Duck

David and Valery are leaving a superb legacy. The Lazy Duck now has new Steward tenants, Sarah Miller and Phil Hodgkiss  who are intending to treasure and maintain the ethos at The Lazy Duck and to retain, in a different way, its hostel status.  Independent Hostelling within the Cairgnorms National Park and beyond in Scotland,  is definitely more successful as a result of these two hard-working, caring and enabling individuals.

Hello Autumn (Part 3) | Top Tips for Scotland’s most Vibrant Season

Ballater Hostel, Cairngorms National Park

A great spot in the centre of Ballater, near Balmoral, on the east side of the spectacular Cairngorms National Park.

• Fantastic range of activities available throughout the National Park, all with the backdrop of the most colourful scenery.
• Sample one of Scotland’s most exclusive whiskies at the nearby Royal Lochnagar Distillery 
• Hire the whole hostel for groups or family gatherings - available for New Year!

Craignure Bunkhouse, Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides

Explore miles of stunning coastline with amazing wildlife, the autumn colours are spectacular! 

• Tobermory is a great place to stop and stock up on local produce. 
• Venture out and discover the tiny, enchanting Isle of Iona. 
• Availability for group/room bookings over Christmas and New Year

Isle of Muck Hostel, Inner Hebrides

A great place from which to explore the wonderful island of Muck, which is part of the Small Isles, on the west coast of Scotland. Warm and comfortable accommodation awaits whatever the weather!

• Perfect for walkers and wildlife enthusiasts.  Visit seal colony, white sandy beaches and take a walk up to the highest point on the island, Beinn Airein.
• Panoramic sea views at every turn making for a memorable holiday. 
• Winter special: mid Oct-mid March £350/week excluding New Year week.

Comrie Croft, Southern Highlands

Comrie Croft is awash with outdoor adventure opportunities over the autumn and winter. 

• Test out the biking trails, hiking trails and bushcraft skills
• If the weather has you heading for shelter, the Famous Grouse and Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre are nearby. 
• Comrie Croft Events: Wee Nosy Wedding Fair on 16th Nov 12 - 3pm. Winter/Christmas Market on 17th Nov 2 - 5pm

We ♡ winter hostelling...

Yes, Scotland in the summer is beautiful, you know that, we’re here to tell you all about Scotland’s winter wonderland.

Winter should be cold, and we mean the type of cold that makes your lungs double take, that makes the scenery about you glisten with frost, not a  mild, half-hearted chill that doesn’t require more than two layers.


1 Get cosy 
Why would you want to be anywhere else?  Nothing feels better than being outside on a frosty day and heading back to a cosy hostel for some hot soup and a game of cards.

2 Snow sports
You might even get a bit of snow on the hills in the distance which adds to the already spectacular views.  Or you can take to the hills on your skis, boards and sledges. Choose from Scotland’s five ski centres and enjoy excellent snow sports surrounded by Highland and Aberdeenshire scenery.

GLENSHEE | CAIRNGORM | GLENCOE | NEVIS RANGE | THE LECHT

3 Walking 
Then there’s walking in winter. From a scenic stroll in the rolling hills of the Borders, to the majestic heights of Glen Coe with its challenging mountaineering, there is something for everyone.

4 History
The castle and monuments are a bit quieter in the winter.  You can stroll the battlements and take yourself back in time without worrying about queues.

5 Food and Drink
We can’t forget the food and drink.  All that fresh air is going to make you hungry.  From mouth-watering steaks to fabulous seafood, you’ll get local produce that is hearty, tasty and delicious! And you can shop locally and get creative in your hostel kitchen.

6 Winter Fashion
Your North Face jacket needs a challenge. It’s fed up of keeping you warm at the bus stop, it wants adventure!

Galloway Activity
Centre

Winter Offers

Here are just a few of the winter offers at our hostels, see the hostel pages for more offers.

Corona Bunkhouse, Lochaber, only £24 per person per night in November, December and January.
A spectacular setting on the shores of Loch Linnhe near Glencoe and Fort William, the perfect base for exploring the Nevis Range, Mamores, Glen Coe and Ardnamurchan.

Galloway Activity Centre, Southern Scotland, has a cosy hostel and authentic Mongolian Yurts. Winter retreats in the Yurt include a cosy log fire and free use of the traditional wood fired hot tub. Bathe under the stars!

Ballater Hostel, Cairngorms National Park, enjoy the thrill of the outdoors, the beauty of nature, the serenity of being unplugged.

Ballater Hostel

Book online and receive up to 15% discount.

Ardenbeg Bunkhouse, Cairngorms National Park. They have long weekend offers, with the third night half price and great value off-peak midweek breaks.
It's just 15 minutes from Aviemore, and well situated for all that Britain’s largest national park has to offer.

Achaban House in Fionnphort, Mull. With no light pollution enjoy dark skies and identify the stars and constellations. And sunsets and sunrises are perfectly timed for breakfast and dinner.
20% discount for your winter visit to Mull and Iona when you stay 3 days or more.

Market Bay nr Achaban House, Mull

At The Hostel Door

20th June 2013



Sea King Helicopter Cairngorms

To look down on the wings of an aircraft streaking between the summits often in near silence, is a hill man's unforgettable experience.  When that aircraft is a Sea King  SAR helicopter everything is in slow motion and much, much louder.  Daily and even three times daily in the winter months here at the hostel we had rescue helipcopters and crews flying directly over us to the hill.  It was a heavy toll winter in the Cairngorms and on 8th December the summit wind speed on Cairngorm itself reached 165mph.