Braemar
About About this youth hostel ....
We're delighted to be re-opening on 1 July 2024 following planned refurbishment works. Bookings are now being taken.
An impressive former shooting lodge, Braemar Youth Hostel sits in extensive grounds in the heart of Cairngorms National Park and is a great base for exploring Royal Deeside with its many castles and distilleries, including Balmoral Castle, the Queen’s Scottish home. Sitting on the ‘Snow Road’, the hostel is the perfect base for outdoor enthusiasts and is within easy reach of the Cairngorms and the ski centres at Glenshee and the Lecht.
The hostel boasts many traditional features and offers guests a range of comfortable private rooms and shared dorm accommodation. None of the rooms are en-suite but ample shower and washroom facilities are available. Other facilities include free WiFi, a bright comfortable lounge with TV, a drying room, laundry free onsite parking and secure bike storage.
Braemar is a dog-friendly hostel. If you would like to book yourself and your dog into the hostel, please phone the hostel direct on: +44 (0) 1471 822 442 to check availability. There is a small charge of £7.50 per night for your dog when staying in our hostels.
‘Wee Breakfast’ available (please remember to pre-book).
The hostel is also available for exclusive private rental.
Why stay?
- Great location
- Friendly staff with expert local knowledge
- Local shops and restaurants within walking distance
- Licensed, serving local beers and wine
For more information on the hostel, accessibility and the local area please click here
Braemar Youth Hostel
Facilities & Services
Season
Season: July to October (RentaHostel available from July)
Reception Hours
Reception Hours: Sunday to Thursday 07:00-10:00 & 17:00-21:30, Friday and Saturday 07:00-10:00 & 17:00-22:00
Check in
Check in: 17:00 - 21:30
Check out
Check out: 08.00 - 10:00
Access Hours
Access hours: Late arrival and access outside opening hours by pre-arrangement only
Amenities
Bike Store
Free Wifi
Free Parking (limited on-site) p
Drying Room
Catering Available (Breakfast Only)
Alcohol Licence
Laundry Room
Lounge/TV Room
Guest Kitchen
Pet Dogs Welcome
Private Rooms
Suitable for Groups
Shopping Nearby
Towel Hire
Family Rooms
Guest Reviews
05/11/2022
We really enjoyed our stay. The hostel was great - just our type of place. Staff helpful. Kitchen/dining/lounge area were lovely. Great location too, with lots of walks.Ian
03/11/2022
Reception was very accommodating and friendly when I arrived early, room was warm clean and comfortable, the Hostel is a lovely looking building nestled in the tree's at the entrance to Braemar, plenty of parking space, would recommend to everyone..AndyNewcastle
31/10/2022
Awesome from start to finish!! Excellent communication from Sarah prior to arrival dealing with an email enquiry, prompt and friendly service at check-in.The building and facilities are to an excellent high standard.The friendly atmosphere with other guests was incredible.Guest Review
29/10/2022
Very nice hostel. Friendly staff and welcoming homely feel.Paul Nice
28/10/2022
Excellent and great value for money on all counts. Superb drying room too!J Smith
27/10/2022
I was made to feel welcome right away. The layout of the hostel was a little confusing eg the women's washrooms were in a completely different place from the men's but all the rooms were clearly labelled. I felt secure in the dorm and my bed was comfortable, and the kitchen facilities were excellent.Jo
24/10/2022
The wardens were excellent, as was one of the guests who insisted on helping us take our luggage upstairs, despite my protestations. Having a clothes washing/drying room was very good.Marlies MacLean.
22/10/2022
Lovely welcome. Very polite and friendly staff. Very clean and well organised. Warm house with lovely hot showers. Great choice of breakfast. Beautiful setting in the scenic and charming village of Braemar. Lovely pubs, restaurants and coffee shops nearby! Thank you !David and Françoise
18/10/2022
Spacious rooms. Friendly staff and atmosphere.Colin
16/10/2022
Lovely hostel located on the edge of Braemar. Very spacious inside with a range of facilities available, and plenty of room outside as well with ample parking.Jack Thomas
10/10/2022
Excellent booking by telephone for a group with very helpful and knowledgeable staff. Superb, very friendly and comprehensive check-in. Don't you just love a good old-fashioned hostel? Excellent location for the mountains and also a short walk to facilities in town, in a beautiful old building and ancient tree- filled grounds.The building is a little dated inside, but full of traditional charm, and we certainly wouldn't want to lose this hostel!! Very warm, despite the high energy pricesOutdoorsy
10/10/2022
Had a great stay. Hostel clean,warm and comfortable. Staff very friendly, helpful and accommodating. No faults.KenHam
10/10/2022
Fantastic location. So much to do with hills on your doorstep. The option of cooking yourself or a wandering into Braemar is a great option. Great to meet so many interesting people in the hostel. 10/10wdmullen
20/09/2022
Fantastic hostel, staff are friendly and helpful Excellent location for a weekend of Munro baggingLb
20/09/2022
Very friendly and welcoming staff. Top cleanliness in dorms, toilets and communal areas with a great location. I can only recommend this place and will be back in future.Guest Review
19/09/2022
We always enjoy our stay at Braemar. Lovely heritage building, great location for walking and cycling and visiting Balmoral Castle. Friendly staffEllie
15/09/2022
Braemar is a clean hostel with very helpful and friendly staff it is very well situated to climb the Cairngorm mountains.Guest Review
29/08/2022
Lovely place to stay. Highly recommended.Anne Berthold
29/08/2022
Fantastic warm welcome from the hostel team. Loved our private room and the gorgeous setting. A great Hostelling experience. Glass of wine was very welcome after a long day in the hills!Claire
28/08/2022
Excellent location, breakfast, facilities and staff. Will definitely be backHazel Mair
28/08/2022
Comfortable, clean. All facilities fine. Loads of space in dining room.Al
27/08/2022
Staff were friendly and helpful. Good facilities and space for all who were staying there.Guest Review
27/08/2022
The staff were very friendly and helpful. Our twin room was at the top of the building and it was spacious and very clean with good storage space and a sink. On the same floor there were a toilet and a shower room, both very spacious and clean. The kitchen and the dining room are very large, so plenty of room for cooking and eating. The hostel is very nice and is within walking distance from the town centre and the bus stops and there are plenty of parking spaces. Highly recommended.Simonetta
22/08/2022
Had a fantastic stay in Braemar YH. Facilities all excellent and so clean. Kitchen huge and well-equipped, and lots of space in the dining area. Thank you for a great stay.Guest Review
22/08/2022
Lovely place and the warden was so nice and welcoming. Kitchen and dining facilities were excellent. The dorm was comfortable and well equipped.Guest Review
22/08/2022
Fabulous hostel, with super friendly, helpful staff. Looking forward to seeing it after the refurb.Jeamac
15/08/2022
Beautiful old house with comfy lounge and nice atmosphere, old school hostel I lovedGuest Review
14/08/2022
Been to this hostel more than once and on each visit never fails to deliver. Hosts are great nothing too much trouble. Friendly warm couple. Dont change the model it works.Guest Review
13/08/2022
Brought back happy memories of hostelling in the 1970s - except with much better facilities!Neil McRae
13/08/2022
Nothing has to be changed, everything was as good as we can hope, especially a warm welcome and a great care to everything. Jean-Michel GérardJean-Michel Gérard
Reasons to visit
Surrounded by the Grampian Mountains, Braemar is the ideal base for exploring Royal Deeside and the mighty Cairngorms. Balmoral Castle, the Queen's Scottish home, is nearby (open between April-July) and there are a host of distilleries for whisky enthusiasts to explore.
The village sits on 'The Snow Road', a 90-mile journey which takes you from the picturesque market town of Blairgowrie to the traditional Highland town of Grantown-on-Spey. The route traverses the highest public road in Britain through some of the most impressive landscapes in the eastern Cairngorms, linking the communities of Braemar, Ballater and Tomintoul.
With no less than 24 Munros within easy reach it's no wonder the area is popular with outdoor enthusiasts. It's also a perfect base for winter sports, as Glenshee is just eight miles to the south and the Lecht is to the north.
This ancient village is also home to the world famous annual Braemar Gathering and Highland Games. Held on the first Saturday in September, the event is regularly attended by the Royal Family and features the best pipe bands, pipers, Highland dancers and athletes.