AT THE HOSTEL DOOR: in memory of Gerry Howkins

This week's news from Margaret at SIH that the legendary Gerry Howkins of Gerry's Hostel, Achnashellach has passed on will make hundreds and hundreds of folk who knew him or had met him at his hostel or in the pub reflect awhile.  Gerry epitomised the values he held on to and boisterously, convincingly waved in front of us all.  Others, I hope will write more intimate and well informed appreciations of Gerry and his half century as host and so much more.  I have stayed only fleetingly with him in Glen Carron twenty five years ago and spoken with him several times as a fellow hostel keeper.  My then teenage son and I were exploring in the hills above Craig and happily immersed ourselves in the evening craic around the fire. Gerry, certainly a not to be forgotten character and I sense I am the richer for having him cross my path.

In these columns back in March, 2013 I wrote of an incident that could well be Gerry to the tee.  Of course, it is Gerry and now seems the right time to appreciate the man and his values.

“Hostel Keepers or 'Hosteliers', I like that one, are a funny breed.  Many are ferociously independent, full of scary stories or even practices.  You may remember the legendary tale reported in the press at the time with incredulity where a single female hostel guest had arrived to find no hostel keeper but doors open and welcoming.  The open fireplace greeted her along with records and record player, bits and pieces of food and tell tale ex forces swaying and creaking two tier bunks.  I know this to be true because I too stayed there most happily many, many years ago.  It was a chilly October afternoon so she presumed to light the fire.  Enter later the Hostel Keeper with bucket of water which he throws on the growing  fire.  “There's no fires here until November at the earliest!”  His comment to the press ran something like, “ Weel I'm full every weekend; I must be doing something right !”

Hostel Keeper”

We could speculate:-  “  Is that right St. Peter, there's definitely no smokin' here?  Fine, I'm in.

Hostel Keeper

(The image shows Gerry playing petanque in the garden of Ashnashellach Hostel - a favourite pastime of his)

Further thoughts from SIH members and Gerry's guests:

That's very sad news.We have fond memories of Gerry - he was certainly a character. Dave & Lynda, Sail Mhor Croft Hostel Dundonnel.

I remember Gerry as a great stalwart of the independent hostel association.  He was one of a kind;a character whose like will not pass this way again. Gavin, Dun Flodigarry Hostel, Skye 

Sad news indeed. I've never met Gerry, or stayed at his hostel, but his reputation as a pioneer of independent hostelling and a provider of accommodation with real character went well before him. We've had lots of people stay with us who had fantastic tales to tell of staying at Achnashellach. I didn't know that he opened Gerry's in 1964! And just look at what he started: the independent hostel scene in Scotland is thriving and the group he helped found has over 120 member hostels. Nice one Gerry. RIP. Andrew Donaldson Comrie Croft

I did not know Gerry, but my thoughts go out to the family. RIP Gerry.  yours aye Jock & Gwen Cousin, Balmaha House Bunkhouse

Very sad ! Stayed there once and had happy times Clive Siddal 

Sad to hear about the news of Gerry Howkins from Gerry's Hostel. Although I did not know Gerry personally, I can see that this really is the end of a hostelling era.  Thoughts are with his family and friends

Best wishes Jayne, Smart City Hostels

Very sad news his knowledge and experience played had a positive influence on SIH Paul Allan Ayres Rock Hostel

Sorry to hear about Gerry. Please include my condolences should this be possible.Kind regards, Irene Drummond, Helmsdale Hostel

 
Sorry to hear the sad news. Gerry was a legend. David Nelson

We're very sad to note that Mr Gerry Howkins of Gerry's Hostel in Achnashellach passed away last Wednesday, 11th February. Gerry established the first independent hostel in Scotland and was a founding member of Scottish Independent Hostels, of which we're proud to be members.

Tales abound online about the character of the man, as well as the hostel itself which could be described as one for the purists and certainly distinct from the 'new breed' of hostels opening up nowadays. Founded in 1964, Gerry's was very much a walker's hostel and it's testament to Gerry's commitment to hostelling that it survived for over 50 years.
We hope that, like us, you'll pause for a moment to mark the passing of this hostelling pioneer. We particularly liked the following remark we found online, one of the many vivid recollections of guests-gone-by:
"There is no other hostel I've been to that has the same atmosphere as Gerry's on a wild winter night, with the superb fire & the ancient old records. Just don't take him down the pub to play pool & expect to win against "Gerry's Rules"."  George McConnachie, Coll Bunkhouse

 

 

An insight into 5-star Hostelling with Smart City Hostels in Edinburgh

Many people haven’t experienced Hostelling because they are not sure what to expect – and at SIH we know they are missing out.  Hostelling has changed dramatically in the last ten years from simple basic, budget accommodation to being the perfect choice for an overnight stay or holiday for many people.  
 

We asked Jayne Goodsir, Sales Manager at 5-star Smart City Hostels in Edinburgh about their approach to providing a high quality Hostelling experience for their guests.

Why is a 5-star Award from Visit Scotland important for Smart City Hostels?

It’s important to us because it shows we offer

a certain level of product and service.  There’s a general misconception in the UK about what a Hostel is: poor quality, sharing with many people and so on.  We have a friendly, relaxed, up-beat vibe where socialising and interaction with guests (in today’s world, this also means social media interaction!) is at the centre of what we do.  This is a different feel to a ‘typical’ Hostel

How you manage to keep costs so low and still provide a high quality stay?

We provide good value for money.  We will always be in line with what the budget accommodation sector in Edinburgh offers to guests in terms of cost.  We provide great service and a brilliant product for a reasonable price, and overall we ordinarily exceed guests’ expectations.  Personal touches such as the new home from home treats we are introducing for sale at reception soon (for example Australian Tim tams, Korean Sae Wookkangs and New Zealand Pineapple lumps) add to a guests experience

Why are all rooms ensuite?

Traveller expectations are now much higher.  You wouldn’t expect to stay away overnight and have fewer facilities than in your own home.  All of our rooms are en-suite, and our 8 bed dorms have 2 toilets and 2 showers for the convenience of our guests. This approach to providing what people need goes right through the facilities in the Hostel from our guest kitchen with utensils and some cooking ingredients to our free Wi-Fi throughout the building.

How do you keep your staff motivated to provide such great customer service?

 Our team are the life and soul of the building.  Given that our Hostel stay and experience is based on interaction, it’s of great importance that our team are the epitome of the values we hold as a brand.  Generally, the team are fantastic at customer service – they genuinely care about our guests and the experience they have with us.  We have brilliant team days out in Edinburgh so we bond as a team and learn more about each other’s jobs and departments within the Hostel that allow the building to function.  We also take in great local experiences, such as Camera Obscura, Can You Escape and the Edinburgh Dungeons, so that these can be recommended to guests through personal experience.  The team thrive on getting positive feedback, when they’ve been involved in the customer experience.

Who are your customers?

Our target audience in the main is between 18 – 35 years old.  However, we do have regular guests up to the age of 75 and children too.  International education groups stay with us throughout the course of the year.  At the weekends, we get lots of bookings from groups of friends looking to explore bars, restaurants and night life.  We have local, national and international guests stay with us.  We are very careful of the in-house mix of people at Smart City Hostels and ensure the guest experience is excellent.  We have just been awarded a Gold Trusted Merchant Award by Feefo (an independent review platform) for outstanding customer service.  

We are home to Bar 50.  The general public are welcome in Bar 50 and this bodes well with our guests / travellers.  The locals mix with our guests, who then get good tips and gain some knowledge from the real professionals on Edinburgh – the locals.

What is your main challenge?

Our biggest challenge is ‘Why should we stay with you when you’re selling at the same price as the budget hotel round the corner?’  It’s simple: the experience!  No matter your age, you’ll have much better fun. Those who are young at heart will enjoy a Hostel experience.  If you’ve not stayed in Hostel before (or within the past 10 years!) you should come and visit us.  I am sure you’ll be amazed! 

Catch up with Jayne again on next week’s blog when she gives us a great insight into why Edinburgh is such a great place to visit

Independent Hostelling in the Orkney Islands

The 70 islands and skerries which make up the Orkney Islands make it a magical place to visit.  The mainland towns of Stromness and Kirkwall have fabulous built heritage, culture and seashore settings  while the smaller isles offer an idyllic escape to a world of sandy shores, blue-green seas and amazing nature and wildlife. The whole of Orkney is an archeological wonder.
Scottish Independent Hostels have no fewer than 12 members throughout these islands.  For an affordable trip with lots of local knowledge provided, hostelling in Orkney is an excellent way to get a true flavour of the islands.  Our members are located in Stromness and Kirkwall on the mainland, in Birsay on the far North West coast of the mainland and on the islands of South Ronaldsay, North Ronaldsay, Hoy, Sanday, Rousay, Westray and Papa Westray.  Find out more about the individual Orkney Hostels here>

 

Top Tips from our Orkney Independent Hostels

Hamnavoe Hostel in Stromness is run by George Argo. The hostel is few minutes walk from the ferry terminal and travel centre and guests can watch the Northlink Ferry and the Hoy passenger ferry arrive in Stromness from the Hostel lounge window. From Stromness it is possible to stay overnight on the island of Hoy at the Hoy Centre Hostel or Rackwick Hostel, both run by Orkney Council, via the Hoy passenger ferry which leaves from Stromness, 7 days a week (on which you can take your bike). All of the Hostels on the Mainland of Orkney are accessible within one days travel from Hamnavoe Hostel; even the Outer North Isles can be reached within one days travel by public transport.  To do this you would take a bus to Kirkwall which departs hourly then a ferry to whichever island you wish to visit. Stromness is situated very close to the heart of Neolithic Orkney and the world heritage site which includes Scara Brae, Ring of Brodgar and Maes Howe. These can all be reached by bike or bus and some visitors on bikes may decide to continue north on the mainland to Birsay Outdoor Centre Hostel which is run by Orkney Council. Public transport is limited in Orkney especially in the off peak and shoulder months.  George recommends Orkney Transport Guide where you can see all ferry, bus and air transport timetables. Mainland Orkney is accessible by car from a base in Stromness and car ferries daily to most of the Islands.

Brown's Hostel, run by Sylvia Brown is also located in Stromness on he picturesque High Street, with storage for bikes.

St Margaret's Hope Backpackers is on the island of South Ronaldsay and run by Barbara and Fred Brown.  The Hostel is very handy for people arriving in Orkney either with Pentland Ferries which departs from Gills Bay & docks in St. Margarets Hope or Pentland Venture which departs from John O Groats & docks at Burwick. If you fancy a cycling trip to Orkney you can take your bike on both boats.  For onward travel, there is a regular bus service to Kirkwall where you can stay in the quaint Kirkwall Peedie Hostel formed from two fishermans cottages and run by Chris and Julia Wild.  Kirkwall is a transport hub for travelling to the rest of the Orkney mainland and islands.

Michael and Teenie Harcus run The Barn Hostel on the Island of Westray. The islands of Westray and Papa Westray have close links and work well together promoting each other's Hostels and visitor sites.

Papa Westray Hostel is community-run and with the shortest scheduled flight in the world connecting the two islands and therefore the two Hostels this makes a great trip for visitors.  There is also a passenger ferry which runs between the two islands. As you will gather, Papa Westray Hostel and The Barn Hostel are separated by a stretch of sea and the easiest way to get from one hostel to the other using public transport is an amazing journey in the 9-seater Loganair Islander plane which takes in the  'World's Shortest Scheduled Flight' (takes under 2 minutes!). From May to September it is also possible to get from one hostel to the other using the Orkney Ferries passenger boat 'MV Golden Mariana' and this summer our visitors have seen close ups of killer whale, porpoise, seals and seabirds from the 25 minute ferry journey between the isles! The ferry also takes bicycles.  Alternatively visitors staying in Kirkwall can island hop to Papa Westray Hostel on the subsidised Loganair Kirkwall to Papa Westray flight (currently only £21 return) which takes 12 minutes and gives visitors a great aerial view of the North Isles en-route to the hostel!  Papa Westray Hostel is open in October and for the rest of the winter. We offer discounts for stays of 3 nights or more and for groups booking at least 4 of our 6 en-suite rooms including over Christmas and New Year.

Ayre's Rock Hostel is run by Paul Allan and located on the Island of Sandy.  They offer free cycle use for all hostel guests and a car hire service with www.easycar.com. From Sanday there is a flight to North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory Hostel for just £19. Ayre's Rock Hostel is closed from the 11th Oct to 26th Oct 2014 but the best time to see Grey Seal pups is late autumn. The Grey Seal Breeding Watch will run in November 2014 with the Ranger, Roderick Thorne, who is also available to provide guided walks to visit the cam watch site.Wifi is set up in the Hostel so people can log on to watch seals and their pups, or you could choose to look out of the Hostel window to see the pups feeding.

Rousay Hostel is located on an organic farm on the Island of Rousay and is within easy walking distance from the pier, shop, restaurant, pub, bike hire and the bird reserve. It is easy to get to Rousay - once on mainland Orkney travel from Kirkwall to Tingwall Pier to cross by frequent ferry to Rousay.
Birsay Outdoor Centre and Rackwick Oudoor Centre are closed October - March
The Kirkwall Peedie Hostel is closed winter 2014/2015 only for family reasons from November 1 2014 - Mid March 2015.
All other Orkney Hostels are open all the year round apart from winter holidays - check with the individual Hostel.

Get Outdoors this Autumn

Autumn is a great time to get outdoors in Scotland, whatever your level of fitness and personal interest.  Low-lying mists and the smell of fallen leaves add to the autumnal atmosphere, whilst wild geese flying overhead herald the changing season.

Walking and Climbing

Crisp trails, dazzling colours and cosy bothies; walking in the Scottish countryside in autumn is a beautiful experience. Grab your boots and head for the hills! Our Independent Hostels not only offer comfortable and affordable accommodation but also a great choice of outdoor experiences to enjoy in autumn.

If you’re looking for adventure, then you can’t go wrong with a bit of “Munro-bagging”.  The Munros are the Scottish mountains over 3000 feet high and there are 283 in total throughout Scotland. Or you could head for one of our many long-distance routes; the West Highland Way is one of the most famous, but there are many others across the country. Try out our newest long distance paths; The John Muir Way which stretches from coast to coast across the central belt and the Ring's of Breadalbane walks in the ancient and undiscovered heart of Scotland. You will find our member Hostels dotted along these iconic trails, happy to provide a warm welcome and excellent local information.

SIH tips:

Cullen Harbour Hostel on the Moray Firth Coast recommends a challenging 6 harbour walk and the lovely stroll from Cullen to Findlater Castle along the coast.

Comrie Croft Hostel in the Highlands recommends The Clan Ring (part of the Ring’s of Breadalbane),  a 6 day circular walk. It goes right past their door and takes in some of the Southern Highlands very best scenery and history.

Fraoch Lodge runs mountain navigation weekends where you can learn all the skills for the hills!

Forest Trails for cycling and mountain biking

Many of our hostels hire out bikes or can recommend someone nearby; it’s a great way to see some of the remoter parts of Scotland as well as navigate the city streets. For the more adventurous cyclist, Scotland has more than 1150 miles of off-road routes marked by The Forestry Commission. From tracks suitable for adrenalin junkies to leisurely trails perfect for the whole family; there are a fantastic range of trails to suit all levels, complete with stunning scenery.

SIH Tips:

Galloway Activity Centre is situated right in the middle of 5 out of the 7 Stanes venues.  With a large boat shed providing secure storage on site, drying room, washing facilities and bike stands. Marthrown of Mabie Hostel is also located on the 7 Stanes Mountain Bike Trails, right in the centre of Mabie Forest.

Comrie Croft Mountain Bike Trails Centre is getting rave reviews, promising hostellers the very best of Scotland's mountain biking scene on their doorstep.

Portree Independent Hostel is an ideal centre when touring the Isle of Skye. If arriving on your own bike, store it on the hostel courtyard. Or you can hire a bike right next door.

Gulabin Lodge Outdoor Centre offers a wide range of outdoor activities in the autumn in Glenshee in Perthshire including a full range of mountain biking services.

Wildlife Watching

Wildlife is pretty active year round in Scotland, but autumn is a great time of year to spot iconic creatures such as red kites, red deer and red squirrels.  The vast wilderness of the Highlands means that you can see creatures living in their natural habitat without disturbing them too much.  The red deer become easier to spot in the autumn as they move to the lower ground for the colder months.  

 

SIH Tips:

Fraoch Lodge runs wildlife tours in the Cairngorms National Park, which is home to a quarter of the UK’s rarest species.

Watersports

Scotland is a popular playground for sailors and watersports enthusiasts with rivers, lochs, canals and 10,000km of beautiful coastline. From sailing and canoeing to white water rafting and canyoning, Scotland is the place to unleash your adventurous side. 

SIH Tips:

Lochaline Dive Centre has access to the clear waters of the Sound, which boasts some of Britain’s best-known wreck dives, in addition to an abundance of drift, shallow, scenic, and shore dive sites.

Uist Outdoor Centre near Lochmaddy offers instruction in kayaking on an idyllic Hebridean sea loch, surely the only way to learn!

Astronomical Adventures

We couldn’t finish without mentioning the dark skies experience.  It’s the perfect activity in some of the clearest night skies anywhere in Europe, just pop outside and stair upwards, you’ll be amazed at what you’ll see. 

 

SIH Tips:

Coll and the Cosmos: A stargazing break on the Isle of Coll which makes the most of the island’s incredible dark skies, using state of the art astronomical technology. The break has been specifically designed to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. Stay in the cosy Coll Bunkhouse.

Experience Dark Skies in the Galloway Forest Park. Stay at SIH’s Galloway Activity Centre.

Get out and enjoy those autumn colours before we start talking about the white fluffy stuff and the great winter sports Scotland has to offer!  

At the Hostel Door: September 6th 2014

Well, summer, and what a summer, came in and is now officially out again. The first of September is herald to autumn and on today's 'BBC Out of Doors Programme' we were not overly surprised to hear there might be a powdering of snow on the high tops up the strath from us. As usual the hostel team, or at least five of us, sat down to a Saturday working breakfast to look at the sharing out of tasks for the day and prepare for this afternoon's visitors.

We were interrupted by departing Graham, going a day early because of a work crisis way south. We presumed to tell him that he looked infinitely more relaxed and with more colour in his face than he had on arrival. Lone traveller Graham has been with us for six days in which time he has rubbed shoulders with, amongst others, a Spanish trio studying in Edinburgh, Sonja a returning team member, now teaching in Germany, Manuel an Edinburgh Uni. PhD candidate from Ecuador and Paul. Now Paul really was interesting. Arriving on foot, he knew his mushrooms as well as his wine, walked his socks off by day and was grossly entertaining or challenging, depending on your point of view, by night. On the evening of the day he left he rang to thank us effusively for his stay and to tell us that the rather yummy chocolate cake remains left in the fridge he solemnly bequeathed to all those in the hostel who remembered him.

Our team breakfast reminds me of the pattern of such things at Lake Wakatipu's Kinloch Lodge, Glen Orchy on South Island N.Z. http://www.kinlochlodge.co.nz/ There the staff team, led by the owners, Brits as it happens, shared the evening meal together most nights of the week. They would take it in turn cooking and looking after the other team members. This bonding, they told me, was a vital prerequisite for them being able to maintain the impressively high level of rapport, effectiveness and givers of rugged hospitality to their many guests.

Our team here let us off for a welcome mid August break. Temporarily demob happy we effectively lost ourselves in the Outer Hebrides for ten days and were more than pleased to drop in on other hostel keepers. Ruari Beaton at Am Bothan, Leverburgh, Isle of Harris www.ambothan.com/ has created a Gaeldom's Aladdin’s cave of a hostel on a slope overlooking the harbour there. A weathered rowing boat is slung from the rafters of the living area and I could not but admire the trusty and faithful Jotul No 1 woodburner which sends out just buckets of heat but which sadly Jotul have discontinued as a model. It can be burned closed or as an open fire. We have one here and it is sheer masterpiece.

Contented German motor cyclists were about to leave for the day. They come each year Ruari tells me and he is happy to share occasionally in their beers at dusk. Apart from his reaffirming of old friendships I like the way Ruari, who lives in an attached house of his own, tells me that he is not an 'in their face' host. Any tendency to 'over 'yarn' with guests who might just not be that interested, has long gone and I guess he values his own time with his four boats – well four at the last count, and his fishing. While he does just about everything himself from new building the hostel in the first place, to the everyday care of hostel and hostellers I see no resistance from him as his sister, on a rare visit from the south busies herself with the cleaning tasks which normally would fall to him.

In Tarbert, also on Harris, we note that the elegant town centre hostel, formerly Rockview Bunkhouse, now re named The Backpackers' Stop and revitalised after two years or so being empty has bright new primrose masonry paint and owners with an impressive track record in innovation. John and Harvey have spent five years in creating Lickisto Blackhouse Camping & Yurts. http://www.freewebs.com/vanvon/ Weathering all seasons in Harris is no picnic for the mainlander. When we visited we were all stoically managing the aftermath of Hurricane Bertha's legacy for the Western Isles yet here, in this string of islands, when the Gods are with you there can be little to compare. If what has brilliantly developed to welcome visitors at Lickisto can translate into the re invented Tarbert Hostel, The Backpackers Stop http://thebackpackersstop.yolasite.com/ then SIH has gained yet another thoughtful and committed member.

In all of this mild wandering thanks to skipper Derek Gordon and guide, Nicola Boulton one of us ploughed the fifty miles west to St Kilda. Now there's a place for Ruari or John and Harvey to contemplate! www.gotostkilda.co.uk/

Berneray Hostel is one three gorgeously rustic and windblown Blackhouse hostels renovated by the Gatliff Trust.  http://www.gatliff.org.uk/ Blasted by the ocean these more basic but thoroughly adequate and evocative shelters provide an unbelievable stillness inside their double drystone walls. Warden Jackie lives nearby and visits twice a day. Respect for the ancient building, for the volunteers and locals who make staying there possible and hosteller for hosteller imprinted on our awareness in our few hours of their company.

The route home had us impelled to drop in on old friend and true Highland gentleman, Gavin Scott- Moncrieff at Dun Flodigarry Hostel. www.hostelflodigarry.co.uk/ Characteristically Gavin and Annabelle were cleaning toilets as we drew up and yet, once settled in a corner of their warming tartan carpeted hostel dining room, we reminisced on the many years each of us has been involved with hostel guests and in this particular hostel owners' association, SIH. We were also, for the second time this year treated masterfully to the case for 'YES'. in the independence campaign. Like our earlier savvy 'persuader', Gavin has few if any doubts and puts copious supportive literature into my hand as we leave.

I blether with friend, Ian Bishop at Slochd Mor hostel, like Gavin, an icon in the hostel world http://www.slochd.co.uk/ We are in his bespoke bike building shed alongside the hostel and the odd drip from the rain shower outside keeps us on the move. A train from London to Inverness glides by just yards away on its way to Slochd summit. I was on that train yesterday I tell him, and waved, in vain. Ian, entrepreneur and engineer relocated his bike business from Inverness to the top of the pass here and then with his wife Liz and younger members of the family set about building his hostel stone by stone. Then came the inimitable hosting. A bike racer, skier, both cross country and downhill, Ian's renown as a past World Porridge Making Champion and Burns Night toastmaster gives an inkling as to his irascible humour and boldness.

For an appreciation of both Gavin and Annabelle and Ian and Liz's hostels just take a look at the website for The Forres Big Choir, http://www.forresbigchoir.info/site/trips.html They sing too the praises of John MacLean with his Iona Hostel. www.ionahostel.co.uk/ What these perceptive folk and others have to say about independent hostelling in Scotland is worth barrel loads more than that which we hostel owners might say about ourselves. Now let's spring into Autumn and continue to warrant these kind accolades.

Hostel Keeper

Australians and Macquarries can now stay overnight on Ulva to celebrate the "Father of Australia"

Our new member Hostel on Ulva now allows Australians to stay overnight on the Island where the “Father of Australia” Lachlan Macquarie was born in 1762.  Few people know about the link between the Isles of Ulva and Mull and the significance of the standing and immense character of Lachlan Macquarie who was the enlightened Governor of New South Wales for 11 years.  Ulva is a tiny, privately owned idyllic island lying just off the coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. The connection between these Isles and Lachlan Macquarie is an inspirational and poignant story.

Lachlan Macquarie left his Hebrides home as a young lad: he enroled in the American War of Independence aged 16.  His impressive military career lasted over 30 years and took him to many corners of the globe.  But his early life was tinged with tragedy; the death of his first wife of tuberculosis after only three years of marriage left him depressed and he returned to Mull.  There he met Elizabeth Campbell, who in 1807 became his second wife. Macquarie was soon after offered the position of Governor of New South Wales by the British Crown and he went back to Australia in 1809.

His legacy is inspirational and is crediting for shaping modern Australia.  As Governor he set about transforming a society that was starving, with no proper infrastructure or community values. Critically he identified the importance of education in building a nation. He created an environment in which commerce and manufacturing could flourish introducing coinage and establishing the colony’s first bank “The Bank of New South Wales” in 1817.  One of his main priorities was public health, very aware of the link between poverty, disadvantage, sickness and crime.  Many believe that it was Macquarie’s example of tolerance and humanity that set the spirit of egalitarianism and sense of fair play that is considered a defining characteristic of the Australian people today.

Lachlan Macquarie retired as Governor in 1822 and died in London 1824 while defending himself against  Commissioner J.T Bigge's damning report on his administration which he felt was too liberal. But Macquarie’s reputation continued to grow after his death and today he is regarded by many as the most enlightened and progressive of the early Governors who sought to establish Australia as a country, rather than as a prison camp

Macquarie was buried on the Isle of Mull in a remote mausoleum which is maintained by the National Trust of Australia and is inscribed "The Father of Australia". Macquarie formally adopted the name Australia for the continent, the name earlier proposed by the first circumnavigator of Australia, Matthew Flinders. As well as the many geographical features named after him in his lifetime, he is commemorated by Macquarie University in Sydney.

Click here for more information on Ulva Hostel

More information on the Ulva and Macquarie clan link can be found here> and click here for information on the Macquarie Mausoleum on Mull.

 

Coll Bunkhouse stars in innovation and customer service

5 star jumps for a 5 star Hostel!

Coll Bunkhouse, the community-run hostel on the Isle of Coll, has only been open for two years but is leading the way in how Hostelling can be a hub of innovation and customer service. This has been recognised by Visit Scotland Quality Assurance which has upgarded the Hostel to the highest possible quality assurance accolade of five stars.  Since it opened the Hostel has received excellent customer service  reviews which, coupled with its suberb facilities is a big influence on the grading.

One of the main aims of George McConnachie, Development Manager for Coll Bunkhouse is to extend the season for visitors, providing something special to tempt guests at less popular times of the year. The island recently hosted a three day chamber music festival, Music Coll, for the second year running, launched the successful new Coll Bird Festival in April this year and will again hold Coll of the Sharks in August, the annual festival of basking sharks.

 

5 Star Jumps for a 5 Star Hostel

 

The latest innovation is a partnership with Coll-based fitness instructor, Carol Flett, to launch a Health and Fitness Retreat as a fully catered short Hostel break with a focus on healthy living.  These breaks are iaimed at  guests who not only want a trip to the Isles but also to kick start a healthy living regimen or as a boost to an ongoing healthy lifestyle. As well as the health and fitness related workshops, guests can enjoy a range of activities including cycling, beach walks and an island tour. Local caterers to provide as much local produce as possible so the Hostel is really showing off the best that the Isle of Coll can offer.

Coll Bunkhouse really makes Hostelling a five star experience for all types of guests and at SIH we congratulate them on their success and vision.

 

Find out more on the Coll Bunkhouse website>