Housebuilding

Spring is coming - it really is. Honest. This bitter easterly will turn to the warm south or the wet west, the ground will warm (eventually); grass, pasture flowers, leaves will force their way through softening ground- and at last my highland cattle will get their heads down to sweet new grass. This matters  on a small farm with limited opportunities for harvesting summer fodder, and  outwintered cattle who suffer whatever the highland climate throws at them. Even the new calves have to endure the rigours of this bitter spring, fighting their way into life at a hard time of the year.

AT THE HOSTEL DOOR

It was more than ironic that on the night we saw the tail lights of our beloved Landy Defender 90 disappear beyond the woodshed for the last time semi serious snow of late March should fall once more in the night with a vengance.  Had we done the right thing in swapping both car and Landy for a single 4x4 car?  We hope so.

AT THE HOSTEL DOOR

There was an expression of deep thankfulness in the man's face.  The traces of anxiety I picked up immediately on opening the door to him vanished and even the transitory look of guarded disbelief lasted only a second or two.  Yes indeed we did have room for him in the hostel.  Just as well really for dusk was on us, snow on the ground, the temperature  already minus three and had we been full and with no bed for him I could see myself needing to put him in the Landy and both of us heading off to a neighbouring hostel with available beds.

What is Hostelling in Scotland?

Lets take a look at the hostel sector in Scotland - do you really know what it offers?

There is a diverse variety of rooms from dormitories with bunks to family rooms with ensuites.  There is a wide variety of buildings from lighthouses and railway sleepers to Georgian Town Houses.  There are different styles of hostel accommodation from backpackers and bothies to bunkhouses and of course, well, hostels.  Sometimes hostels are part of activity centres or university campuses - no wonder people get confused! So what sets hostels apart from other types of low cost accommodation?  Certain factors are the same across all hostels.