Cairngorm Lodge Hostel – Family Hostelling

Disclosure: This is a paid collaboration with Cairngorm Lodge Hostel.

Where Is Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel?

The Cairngorm Lodge hostel is just beside Loch Morlich, just 4 miles from Aviemore in the Cairngorm National Park. It’s easy to get to along the A9 from either the South (around 2 hours from Perth) or from the North (only an hour from Inverness).

Despite being very easy to access, it is located in the perfect place to explore the forests and hills around the remote Cairngorm mountains. In the winter you can even ski at the Cairngorm ski resort.

Cairngorm Lodge Hostel

Facilities

The hostel has a range of facilities available, we didn’t use them all as we were only there for a couple of nights. However, there is a drying room for drying off soggy outdoor clothing (particularly useful in Scotland!) and a laundry room to clean dirty clothes. We didn’t use either of these during a stay, but they are definitely useful facilities to have!

We definitely did use the bike storage room outside. It was very useful to store our bikes and not need to worry about them attached to the back of the car. The room can also be used to store skis in the winter, so you can bring your own or rent and keep them safely locked away when not in use.

There is free Wi-Fi for guests, which I found pretty reliable. You can get the code at reception. Plus alcohol and snacks are also available to buy at the hostel reception desk.

Cairngorm Lodge hostel also has a small cafe where you can buy dinner or breakfast. When we visited it was early in the season and the dinner selection was quite limited, nothing that the kids would eat! So we didn’t eat in the cafe. However, we did book the hostel breakfast, which was delicious. You can see a photo of the vegetarian cooked breakfast option below. There is also cereal, toast and yoghurt available, along with a selection of cold and hot drinks.

If you prefer to make your own meals you can use the kitchen downstairs. There are cubby holes to put your food and fridges too. You must label all your food so that it doesn’t get mixed up and so staff can throw out anything that gets left behind.

If you wish to socialise there is a lounge room and a tv room. We visited the lounge one evening after dinner so the kids could play pool. I’m not sure if they know what they’re doing, but they enjoy playing it anyway! It’s 50p per game of pool.

The Rooms

Many people believe that booking a hostel means sleeping in a dorm with others. However, this is no longer true and you can book your own private room for you and your family. Some hostels have en-suite rooms, but the room we stayed in at Cairngorm Lodge Hostel was a shared bathroom.

The rooms are basic, but clean and have everything you need for your stay. Beds are made up ready to use with the Scottish Hostelling custom fabric! When you leave you are simply asked to take towels and sheets downstairs to put in the laundry basket.

The toilets and showers are cleaned every day. They are lovely and modern, although I do recommend trying to be first to have a shower at around 5pm so you get to use them clean. The floors can get a bit wet after several people have used the showers, so definitely make sure the kids wear shoes/sandals for going to the loo!

Budget Friendly

One of the main reasons to use a hostel is that they are budget friendly. The rooms are cheap and you have the ability to cater for yourself with the public kitchen. This saves so much money on expensive meals out and buying lunches!

The price for each hostel and rooms vary so I won’t list prices here, however a room for a night is always well below a £100 for a family of 4. You can add in breakfast and meals too for an extra cost. Towels also cost extra if you’re sharing a dorm, but are free for those in private rooms.

Things To Do in Aviemore?

There is a lot to do in the surrounding area, so I’ve split it up into the main local areas below. Aviemore is the nearest town, however Rothiemurchus is between the hostel and Aviemore and the lodge is located in the Glenmore Forest Park.

Aviemore

Only 4 miles from the hostel, Aviemore is where to go to buy supplies and for a variety of cafes, restaurants and activities. There is a good sized Tesco in town, an Aldi supermarket, a small M&S attached to the petrol station and a bakery.

There are lots of restaurants to choose from when you visit the town, we really like La taverna on the roundabout as you enter Aviemore. However I’ve also heard good things about Cheese and Tomatin Aviemore.

If you need new walking gear or forgot your waterproof jacket you will find plenty of outdoor shops to replace them. There are a variety of shops along the Main Street, with car parking in various locations.

It’s in Aviemore that you can also board a steam train on the Strathspey railway, taking you several miles North and then back to Aviemore again. You can read more about what to do here in my Aviemore Itinerary.

Rothiemurchus

Rothiemurchus Estate is a couple of miles down the road toward Aviemore. Here you can find a farm shop and cafe, plus a whole host of activities. I’d recommend booking online in advance to guarantee the activity, particularly during the summer months.

Activities include; fishing, quad bike treks, ropes course, falconry, archery and water adventures. Plus lots more! You really need to head to their website to see the full list of activities. Some activities have age restrictions, so make sure you check these if you have younger children.

You can also take a lovely walk around Loch An Eilein, which also has a large car park and public toilets. Entrance to the car park does cost a little, but you can also walk out from the main road where the farm shop is.

Glenmore Forest Park

The hostel is located in the Glenmore Forest Park, you can find maps at the reception area. There are various way marked paths through the forest that are used by both walkers and cyclists. I’d recommend mountain bikes to use on the paths as they can be quite bumpy! It’s also possible to hire bikes nearby.

Across from the hostel is Loch Morlich, a large freshwater loch. You can find Loch Morlich Watersports here where you can hire kayaks, paddle boards, canoes and boats. There is also a sailing club just around the loch. The beach is sandy and well used by tourists and locals on sunny days. It’s possible to walk around the loch too, although we haven’t tried that yet as the kids want to play on the beach!

Loch Uaine is a couple of miles walk along the forest paths from the hostel. It’s a beautiful green colour, however do not paddle or swim in the loch as it’s full of leeches! The kids found it fun to walk round the edge and catch leeches on sticks to compare sizes before letting them go in the loch again. But definitely don’t touch them!

Above the forest you will also see the Cairngorm Mountain Railway. The funicular takes you up to the top of the Cairngorms for fantastic views and maybe a snack at the cafe. It’s also the best way up in the winter if you are planning on skiing!

Right next door to the hostel is the Glenmore visitor centre with cafe and the Cairngorm Reindeer centre. You can go for a walk up the hill to see the reindeer with a guide too!

Further Afield

if you’re staying longer than us then families may want to visit some other local attractions. Nearby just off the A9 is the Highland Wildlife Park, a lovely safari park whose star attractions are the 4 polar bears. A little North of Aviemore is Landmark Forest Adventure Park, it has various water slides, play park areas, ropes courses and more. Plus a dinosaur area, butterfly house and awesome illusions.

Just outside of Newtonmore is the Highland Folk Museum. Here you can find replica buildings from a variety of time periods, mostly the 1700-1800’s, with a lot to explore and enjoy. It’s free entry, but donations are very welcome, especially as there’s so much to see and do!

Can Families Go Hostelling?

Yes! As I’ve mentioned above, hostelling Scotland has private rooms for families. So there is no need to worry about sharing dorms any more. It’s also particularly good for families on a budget, with cheap rooms, kitchen for preparing your own meals and outdoor activities to enjoy.

• A weekend in Oban hostel, gateway to the Isles, the perfect coastal retreat.
• Head North into the Highlands and visit Pitlochry hostel by train or road.
• Enjoy beach days at Achmelvich hostel, where white sand meets turquoise sea
• A stunning island retreat at Port Charlotte hostel on Islay
• Enter Cairngorm National Park for an adventure at Cairngorm Lodge hostel

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