Following a £130,000 refurbishment, one of Scotland's oldest youth hostels has been transformed into arguably the most eco-friendly accommodation in the UK. The hostel has recently been awarded the coveted Gold Award under the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

The Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) will officially launch the new-look Loch Ossian Youth Hostel on Tuesday 2 September 2003 at a special ceremony, where UK hillwalking expert and editor of TGO (The Great Outdoors Magazine), Cameron McNeish, will declare the rustic hostel open for business.

The sympathetic refurbishment of Loch Ossian Youth Hostel underlines the Scottish charity's original commitment as a not-for-profit body that provides accommodation in some of Scotland's more remote but most beautiful areas.

A former boathouse on Loch Ossian, the building was first leased to the Association in 1931, providing walkers, ramblers and nature-lovers with comfortable but basic accommodation in a highland setting. Situated at the hub of many walking routes on the edge of Rannoch Moor, the hostel has served as a Munro-baggers' base station for years and has been a delight to nature lovers.

Unfortunately the years have taken their toll on the building and its fabric was badly in need of more than just routine maintenance to keep it standing.

Last year, the SYHA launched an appeal to provide funds to undertake the necessary repair work, and over a third of the much-needed cash came from its members alone. Funding also came from grants made under the Fresh Futures /New Opportunities Fund programme, The Cross Trust and private trust donations.

The result has been a hugely successful environmental project for the SYHA, which has included a renovated eco-friendly structure, renewable energy and ecologically sound water and waste disposal systems, which take into account the fragile local environment.

A new dry toilet system, one of the first for Scotland, has been installed, which requires no flushing and produces composted material from disposed waste. Any liquid is evaporated using a photovoltaic solar-powered fan.

The grey water system processes used water from wash-hand basins and sinks through a sand and gravel filtration system, the final stage of which is a natural reed bed. Any food waste is trapped by a sieve and transferred to one of the two on-site compost bins, to be later used as mulch for the new trees planted in the surrounding area.

Power in the youth hostel is provided by a wind turbine that generates electricity to meet all of the hostel's requirements. A multi-fuel stove provides heat and hot water for both washing and a heating system. Even the windows have been created using recycled floated glass.

Much of the work on the hostel has been designed to increase the energy efficiency of the building, making it more environmentally responsible. Yet care has been taken to ensure that the hostel retains its original characteristics, including the original colour of stain on the outside walls, to preserve the rustic image which has proved so popular with guests over the years.

Not content simply with being eco-friendly, the SYHA has also taken into account the hostel's impact on the local wildlife, particularly the protected bat colony which roosts in the hostel's attic. After seeking expert advice, "bat-friendly" timber primer and paint, which is based on water rather than oil, have been used throughout the refurbishment to ensure these unusual visitors are made as comfortable as possible.

The hostel is a haven for wildlife lovers, with regular sightings of deer right outside the front door, as well as pinemartin, otters, red squirrel, golden eagles, capercaillie, ptarmigan, grouse, peregrine falcons, countless insects and plantlife. The loch also has trout and pike, both of which can be caught almost from the hostel door.

Mr John Dickson, Chairman of the Scottish Youth Hostels Association, said: "Loch Ossian is the epitome of youth hostelling. It embodies everything that we stand for: affordable comfortable accommodation providing access to the most remote yet most beautiful areas in Scotland."

"We are absolutely delighted that we managed to raise the funds to carry out such an extensive and environmentally-friendly refurbishment of this particular youth hostel, yet keep its rustic character. I am sure that the many people who have come to love and treasure Loch Ossian Youth Hostel will be delighted with its redevelopment and its eco-friendly design."

Cameron McNeish, Editor of The Great Outdoors, said: "There is an inextricable link between the traditions of youth hostelling and Loch Ossian Youth Hostel. I can't recall SYHA making such an appeal like this before and I am delighted that they have been successful in saving part of Scotland's hostelling heritage. I think it is important to remember that SYHA is committed to saving old traditional hostels like Loch Ossian - no commercial organisation could hope to make such hostels profitable."

NOTE TO EDITORS -

You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to the official launch of Loch Ossian Youth Hostel on Tuesday 2 September 2003 at 1415 hours.

Please note that Loch Ossian Youth Hostel is only accessible by train and media should meet at Corrour train station from 1250 hours where a buffet lunch will be served.

Please note, a house photographer will also be in attendance and can wire out photographs immediately after the launch if needed.

For further information, please contact Carolynne Coole on 0141 248 5030 or email ccoole@barkers-scot.com

Loch Ossian Youth Hostel -

There are 20 beds in the youth hostel and it normally receives around 2,000 overnights a year.

SYHA exists, to help all, but especially young people to experience and appreciate the Scottish countryside and places of historic and cultural interest in Scotland, and to promote their health, recreation and education, particularly by providing low cost accommodation for them on their travels.

SYHA has 70 youth hostels across Scotland and works to provide access and affordable accommodation in more remote areas as well as towns and cities.

SYHA is an active member of the International Youth Hostel Federation, which embraces 60 countries, with 4,000 youth hostels and 3.8 million members worldwide - the largest budget accommodation provider in the world.

ENDS