Hostels in Scotland

Scotland is a thriving and historic land with buildings dating back to times older than the pyramids of Egypt. It's a country of 5 million people and a myriad of landscapes, with hostels in all of its principle cities, and most of the smaller towns as well.

Edinburgh is commonly voted among the most beautiful cities in the world, with both its old and new towns UNESCO listed. It also has over 400 public bars. Edinburgh Castle is the most visited tourist attraction with over a million visitors a year coming to visit and hear the One O'Clock Gun. The city is also home to the world's largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe which takes place every August for three weeks. The population doubles in size at this time and hostel prices sky-rocket due to high demand and low supply. Many locals rent their houses out at this time to tourists.

Glasgow is renowned for its energetic music scene and is home to most of the countries best live venues. Perth has a population of only 75,000 is makes a great base for exploring beautiful perthshire, or fishing on the River Tay, Scotlands longest river and containing prized Scottish salmon. There also the delightful Kinnoul Hill with commanding views north to Dundee. The cities around Loch Ness also attract hostel visitors coming to see the lake, either for its beauty or for the legend.

There is far more to Scotland than its cities. It's natural beauty is astounding. The highlands offer quaint villages and mountains to climb, including the largest mountain in the UK, Ben Nevis. There are hundreds of castles, seats of the old clans system, and scores of islands accessible by ferry from the mainland. Many people are not aware that wild camping is legal in Scotland, so camping offers an inexpensive way to seek out the more remote corners of the country (with certain caveats -- Google the Scottish Country Access Code).

Accommodation in Scotland covers all budgets. Many places have hostels, including small Highland villages. The Scottish Youth Hostel Association is the biggest provider, but there are also many independent hostels operating. The main cities are busy with tourists all year, but in wintertime mainly hostels in the highlands close up shop for the winter.

Handwritten by local expert for Scotland hostels karamba