Caithness
On the main road near the Castle of Mey, the Hawthorns has five very spruce, super-spacious ground-floor rooms with mini-fridges. There are two triple…
Must-see hotels in Scotland
Orkney
The island’s watering hole is near the ferry and has refurbished rooms with good bathrooms. It's run by a friendly couple who also do decent if…
The Trossachs
Linley is a spick-and-span B&B with bright rooms and a helpful owner. The upstairs double rooms with en suites are worth the extra cost: beautifully…
West Highlands
This handily located hostel, just 1.5 miles southeast of Glencoe village, is set in an old farmhouse with six- and eight-bed dorms, and a bunkhouse with…
Shetland
This bungalow in Sandwick offers some marvellous vistas over the Isle of Mousa from its hilltop vantage point. The two rooms share a bathroom; the small…
Outer Hebrides
This campsite, 1.5 miles north of town off the A857, has a sheltered woodland setting, though the tent area is mostly on a slope – get there early for a…
The Trossachs
One of a number of noble 19th-century houses in Callander, Glengarry offers comfortable B&B accommodation just east of the centre. Rooms are large, with…
Ullapool to Kyle of Lochalsh
This free campsite (donations are requested) by the Torridon Countryside Centre is tents-only (no bookings required). There are good showers and toilets,…
Kirkwall
This attractive pale-blue-and-yellow hotel is gradually being modernised by personable new proprietors and is worth keeping an eye on. The attic rooms are…
Shetland
On the A968 below the haunted ruins of Windhouse, you'll find this well-kept, clean, snug camping böd (hut), with power and a pot-belly stove to warm your…
Aberdeen
This unexceptional but good-value hostel, set in a granite Victorian villa, is a mile west of the train station. Walk west along Union St and take the…
Loch Ness
This snug, friendly hostel housed in a cottage and barn has six-bed dorms, one double and a large barbecue area. It’s almost a mile from Drumnadrochit,…
Ullapool to Kyle of Lochalsh
Duncraig Castle offers luxurious, offbeat hospitality, as long as stuffed animals don’t offend you. At the time of research it was closed for substantial…
North & West Coast
This hostel has excellent facilities and a to-die-for spot on the southern shore of Loch Duich. Cheap meals are on offer and there's a licensed bar. A bus…
The Trossachs
By Loch Lubnaig, this simple park-run campsite with nine bookable lochside pitches plus a couple of motorhome bays is 4½ miles north of Callander on the…
Caithness
In the heart of town, this budget backpacker option has en suite dorms, mostly four-berthers with aged mattresses, a spacious kitchen and traveller…
Borders Region
The Wetherspoon chain has done a makeover on this large, handsome black-and-white Peebles pub. It's a place with some character and makes a handy place to…
Edinburgh
The Amaryllis, a cute little Georgian town house on a quiet backstreet, has five bedrooms; some are a little cramped, but there's a more spacious family…
Lerwick
Cheerfully run, this sound selection has spacious, very well-kept en suite rooms with good showers. The top-floor rooms have plenty of character, with a…
Orkney
This cosy, clean, modernised spot, 6 miles from the ferry at Moaness, has two four-bed dorms and is popular with walkers. You can also camp outside and…
Dumfries & Galloway
Formerly the customs house, this is now a popular, solid old pub. Some of the tastefully furnished, refurbished rooms have brilliant views over the…
Southern Highlands & Islands
The cottage where George Orwell stayed is in a gloriously remote location in Jura's north. It sleeps eight and is 7 miles from the main road on a rough…
Fort William
Convenient for Glen Nevis, Ben Nevis and the end of the West Highland Way, the Glenlochy is a sprawling place with three modern apartments set in a huge…
Skye
Rustic accommodation 3 miles north of the Mallaig–Armadale ferry, on a farm full of Highland cattle and Eriskay ponies. No longer offers individual dorm…
Loch Ness
A friendly hostel set in a converted house in the middle of the village, this place offers single, twin and family rooms – some en suite, and some set in…
Loch Lomond
Perfectly located for both the West Highland Way and Ben Lomond, this is very near the SYHA at Rowardennan and provides 10 berths in upstairs bunk rooms…
The Trossachs
The cheery welcome from the musical owner here makes up for a few minor quirks in the rooms. It offers solid comfort with a good central location, decent…
Inverness
Set in a rambling old house with comfy beds and views across the River Ness, this hostel has a party atmosphere, and organises pub crawls in town. It’s a…
Moray
The 12-room Boyne is a cosy and atmospheric place (ie bedrooms are small) but is looking a little tired and in need of some TLC. More like a B&B than a…
Edinburgh
A pretty average guesthouse with seven high-ceilinged Victorian rooms spread over three floors, and vegetarian-only breakfasts (but no eggs!). The family…
Islay
The sports field in Port Charlotte has a campsite – there are toilets, showers, laundry and a children’s play area in the main building, which also has a…
Southern Scotland
This caravan park is in a lovely, quiet location close to the beach. There are various caravans and chalets available to rent by the week or for a few…
Southern Highlands & Islands
These three comfortable and modern self-catering holiday chalets, sleeping from two to five people, are just a 10-minute walk from the ferry pier at…
St Andrews
When the university is out of session, the central McIntosh Hall, a student residence, opens up as visitor accommodation with budget single and twin rooms…
Mull
A quiet, family-friendly campsite 1 mile west of Tobermory on the road to Dervaig, this place also has a self-catering house, cute little glamping huts…
Fort William
Large, traditional, family oriented hotel bang in the middle of town, with mostly smart, businesslike rooms – be sure to ask for a recently renovated one,…
Orkney
Characterful and a bit chaotic, this place can make for a relaxing away-from-it-all retreat, with great star-watching on clear nights and opportunities…
Shetland
This pebble-dash bungalow is a handy year-round two-room B&B with some water views at the south end of Baltasound. A twin and a double are cosy and…
Fort William
Part of a modern hotel and restaurant complex, the Bank Street Lodge offers the most central budget beds in town, only 250m from the train station. It has…
Mull
You can camp for free in a lovely setting at the southern end of the beach at Calgary Bay. There are no facilities other than the public toilets across…
