The highlands and islands of Scotland are most beautiful. The scenery is magnificent. The fresh air is plentiful and bracing. The islands are isolated and amazing and the hills and mountains are out of this world. Here are some tips and advice to help you make the most of your time in this wonderful country.

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Highlands and Islands of Scotland: Hints & Tips for Travellers

Host a Christmas House Party

Would you like to share the load of hosting Christmas for your family and friends? Here is our guide to hosting a Christmas House Party showing how to enjoy Christmas in a spectacular winter setting, with room for your loved ones to come along.

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christmas house party

School Group Accommodation

With accommodation of all sizes available for sole use across the UK. Independent Hostels are the perfect accommodation for school groups.

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accommodation for school groups

Christmas House Party

Independent Hostels are ideal for a private Christmas house party and some hostels host Christmas house parties which individuals, couples and families can join.

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christmas house party kendal hostel

Eco Hostels

Independent Hostels offers some great places to stay for the environmentally conscious traveller. In the Independent Hostel network there is a range of energy efficient Eco hostels to choose from across England, Scotland and Wales.

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Remote Holidays

Because of guests who enjoy remote holidays independent Hostels thrive in locations which would not be viable for holiday cottages or hotels. These remote hostels occupy historic buildings often with very few services, preserving shepherd’s cottages, lighthouses and farmsteads which would otherwise be left to decay.

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Remote Holiday Foel Fraith

Family Holidays at Independent Hostels

Family holidays using family rooms are available from the Independent Hostels UK network (IHUK) of over 300 houses, cottage and barns. In addition to the privacy of a multi bed room (sometimes with a double bed, often en-suite and ideal for any family size) they provide self-catering facilities, dining areas and other social areas where the kids are welcome to play.

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Sleeping in Unusual buildings

Several members of the 300-strong network of UK Independent Hostels occupy unusual buildings that used to be something else. These include lighthouse keepers’ cottages, railway carriages, schools, Methodist chapels and a courthouse. A large number have also been converted from old farm buildings and barns.

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Group Hostels

Groups seeking value accommodation will find a huge variety of places to stay with the Independent Hostels UK network (IHUK) of over 300 houses, cottages, camping barns and bunkhouses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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accommodation at group hostels

Walkers Accommodation

The Independent Hostels UK network (IHUK) of over 300 houses, cottages, camping barns and bunkhouses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland offer great value walkers’ accommodation. They provide self-catering, drying rooms and are generally set up with the outdoors enthusiast in mind. Suitable for singles, couples and groups seeking friendly, clean and inexpensive accommodation without membership requirements.

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walkers accommodation in the cambrian mountains

Family Holidays

The hostels ideal for family holidays are ones with family rooms and large shared areas. A family room can have a combination of bunks and beds and sleep between 3 and 8 people. It provides a place of security at night-time and yet the kids have all the fun of shared gardens and playrooms in the day.

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Bird Watching breaks

Independent Hostels, Bunk Houses and Camping Barns are useful resources for bird watching breaks – not only do they offer great value, but are also in many of the quieter remote areas and they particularly welcome bird watchers.

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Bird Watching breaks