Archives: Discovery Pages

Mull, Arran & Oban: Bunkhouses, hostels & bothies

Independent Hostels and Bunkhouses on Mull, Arran, the surrounding islands, around Argyll, and in Oban.

Mull

Mull is a great family holiday destination, with plenty of things to see and do.  Calgary Bay is home to one of the most accessible and photographed beaches in Scotland.  This magical island with its rugged and enchanting scenery is ideal for eagle spotters and otter watchers, while the magnificent Duart Castle is a great family day out. A family visit to Mull could not be complete without a visit to Tobermory where the children’s TV program, Balamory,  was filmed and where whale and dolphin watching trips set out. There is a choice of hostels providing friendly and flexible self catering accommodation on the Island of Mull as well as on many of the smaller surrounding islands.

View of Mull from Iona

View of Mull and the mountains beyond from the Isle of Iona.

Iona

Iona, a small island off the coast of Mull, is a place of peace; a spiritual land with a small Christian community. The island also has a very special hostel, which welcomes artists and travellers and offers them a quiet sanctuary.

Mull and Iona view from bunkhouse

Bute

The Isle of Bute is renowned for its gardens and architecture, visit Ardencraig Gardens and Mount Stuart House.  And for the golfers, Bute has 3 golf courses. Inland the Kintyre Peninsula, Knapdale and the Mull of Kintyre are all worth exploring. Visit the beach at Saddell where Paul McCartney and Wings filmed the video for their hit, ‘The Mull of Kintyre’. Climb the hill ‘Torr Mor’ while staying in a hostel or bunkhouses near Campbeltown and visit the Springbank malt whisky distillery. Hostels and bunkhouses in these locations are perfect for those travelling among the isles around Argyll.

Arran

Arran is the most southerly Scottish island and is easily reached from Glasgow. Take the ferry from Brodick to Ardrossan. Visit Brodick Castle, the Isle of Arran Heritage Museum, and the Isle of Arran Distillery. Visit Lamlash the largest village in Arran with overlooks Holy Island from Lamlash Bay. While Machrie Moor on the Isle of Arran has stone circles and standing stones which you can explore on foot.

Ceilidh in Oban at Corran House Hostel

Oban

The lively port of Oban, known as ‘The Gateway to The Isles’ as the ferries to many of the Islands leave from here, also boasts a choice of hostels and bunkhouses. The ideal place to stop and relax before you take a ferry to the islands. With no minimum length of stay,  single nights are easy to book at hostels and bunkhouses. Hostels with their communal areas and self-catering kitchens provide the perfect environment for you to meet other travellers, and share stories and holiday tips. A journey around the hostels in Argyll and the Isles will create memories to last a lifetime.

 

Cairngorms, Moray & East Scotland: Bunkhouses, bothies & hostels

Hostels and bunkhouses in Aberdeenshire, the Cairngorms, and the Moray Coast

The Cairngorms National Park with its native woodland, lochs and high mountains is a remarkably accessible part of the Scottish Highlands. In the Cairngorms National Park, you will find wild landscapes and isolation only a few hour’s drive from Edinburgh. Even a drive up the A9 dual carriageway gives a glance into the wilderness. The ancient Caledonian pine forest and mountains of the Cairngorms provide miles of natural habitat for the Red Squirrel and the Golden Eagle. Some of the rarest animals in Scotland. The mountains of Cairngorm, Lochnagar, and many more Munros and Corbetts are ideal for the day walker and climbers. Long distance walks like the Speyside Way, the Deeside Way, the Cateran Trail, and the Dava Way gives the opportunity for a longer walking holiday. Here you can immerse yourself in the Wilderness experience.

The Cairngorms by Road

For those interested in touring the Cairngorms National Park by car there are lots of attractions and towns to visit. Grantown-on-Spey, the historic capital of Strathspey, is worth a visit as is Aviemore the ski capital of Scotland. You can stop off in Braemar in the heart of Royal Deeside or visit Balmoral Castle. Travel down the Spey valley or Glenmore. Visit Glenshee, Nethybridge, or Newtonmore. The Cairngorm National Park provides an ideal base for year-round activities including water sports on the lochs, pony trekking, and fishing. In winter there is skiing and ice climbing.  In Spring, Summer, and Autumn the ski runs make challenging cycle trails for the adventurous mountain biker. For the family, there are off-road trails such as the Deeside Way and Old Logging Way. The Moray coast has attractive fishing villages, still immersed in the fishing trade, wide sandy beaches, and interesting coastal geology.

Walking Adventures Near Moray

There are several long-distance paths including The Moray Coast Trail. The Moray Firth is famous for its year-round population of bottle-nose dolphins which can often be seen jumping out of the water. All along the coast Otters and many birds can be seen. The more southerly part of this map cover Angus, a maritime county. Angus is a country of small towns like Forfar, Kirriemuir, Arbroath, and a rich fertile farming county with views of the Grampian mountains. This area of East Scotland is ideal for exploration, why not use the self catering accommodation on the map above to plan your adventure?

Orkney & Shetland : Bunkhouses, bothies & hostels

Hostels, Bunkhouses and Bothies in Orkney and Shetland

Visit the Orkney hostels, bunkhouses or bothies on one of the 70 Orkney islands and you will find you become part of island life. This is especially true of the accommodation on the smaller of the Northern Isles, such as North Ronaldsay. Some of the most ancient sites in the UK are on Orkney. The 5000-year-old Skara Brae preserved village, Maeshowe a chambered burial tomb and the Ring of Brodgar stone circle are all close to Stromness. Visit the towns of Kirkwall and Stromness to see pretty little shopping streets, harbours and ports. The smaller Northern Isles can be reached within one day’s travel by ferry from Kirkwall harbour which is served by regular public transport.

Skara Brae ancient village on Orkne

Skara Brae ancient village on Orkney

You may think that Shetland is remote being at the far North of the UK, but the Northern Isles are the hub of a travel network that reaches out to Scotland, Orkney, Shetland, Iceland and Norway. On the Shetland Isles, you can visit the many islands, walk and explore the boundless seascapes. The isolation of the islands has led to the development of unique fauna and flora and the bird life is exceptional. Cultural events on Shetland include the Up Helly Aa Guizers festival of fire in Lerwick which celebrates the burning of a Viking galley with dancing till dawn.

More about the islands that make up Shetland

Where Scotland meets Scandinavia and the North Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean lie the islands of Shetland . They have a rugged beauty and the people are known for the friendliness of their welcome.  Visit Shetland to see wildlife, coastal birdlife and enjoy the community spirit.

Nesbister on shetland

One of the Camping Böds on the Shetland Isles

The largest island, the Mainland, is one of the largest Scottish islands.  Fifteen other inhabited islands make up the archipelago.  The islands have  a rugged coastline and many low, rolling hills.  The early history of the islands was influenced by Scandinavia with many settlers from Norway. The islands did not become part of Scotland until the 15th century.  Fishing, tourism and the oil industry provide Shetland’s income and employment.

Flybe operates from Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Sumburgh (Shetland). Logan Air flies to and from Fair Isle

More about the Orkney Islands

The Orkney Islands are an archipelago of 70 islands, 20 of them inhabited, lying just north of Caithness. The Pentland Firth, which separates Orkney from mainland Scotland, is just 6.8 miles at its narrowest point. Seals on Isle of Sanday Orkney Seals on Isle of Sanday, one  Orkney’s Northern Isles.

The Orkney islands are generally low-lying with most of the land area being farmed. The soil is surprisingly fertile, which helps support a population of 19,000 and produces beef, cheese, whisky and beer for export. The climate is very temperate, average temperatures are 4 degrees in winter and 12 degrees in summer. Occasional very strong winds account for the absence of trees. Although the islands probably supported trees in the dim and distant past, archaeological evidence suggests they have been without trees for at least 5000 years. Tourism is increasingly important to the economy, with people attracted by the natural environment as well as by cultural aspects: some of the best preserved neolithic remains in Europe, artefacts of World Wars 1 and 2 and the vibrant Orcadian culture of the present day.

Standing Stones of Stenness Standing Stones of Stenness, five miles northeast of Stromness on the mainland of Orkney

The Orkney Islands are a special place for ornithologists and the lesser twitcher, with many RSPB reserves. Visitors to Orkney can look forward to watching Great Skua, Red Throated Divers, Gannets, Arctic Tern, Puffins, Guillemots, Hen Hariers, Merlin, Snipe and Stonechats, to name but a few. Skara Brae is the best preserved Neolithic settlement in Europe and is a UNESCO world heritage site. In addition, there are many other well-preserved Neolithic remains, such as the Ring of Brodgar, the Maeshowe Passage grave and the Standing Stones of Stenness. Scapa Flow is one of the best natural harbours in the world and was the UK’s chief naval base during both world wars. After the Treaty of Versailles, the German Fleet was interned there and eventually the Germans scuttled 51 of their own ships to prevent their use by the British. In 1939 a German U-Boat slipped into Scapa Flow and sank HMS Royal Oak, with the loss of 833 lives, after which Churchill ordered the construction of barriers between the islands, thus controlling entry to the harbour. These barriers now form a series of causeways carrying roads. Scapa Flow is now popular with recreational divers exploring the wrecks, although the wreck of the Royal Oak is a protected war grave. Visitors can reach The Orkney Islands by ferry or plane. Ferries run from Gills Bay, Aberdeen, Scrabster and John O’Groats on the Scottish mainland and from Lerwick, Shetland. The main airport is Kirkwall (Orkney Mainland). Flybe operates from Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, Aberdeen.  Logan Air flies to and from the Orkney Northern Isles.