Types of accommodation

Hostels and bunkhouses

Shared dorms or private rooms, usually with a guest kitchen. What to expect, what to check, and 72 examples from our region guides. We hold no prices: check each property’s own site.

Facts last checked 1 November 2026. Britlens is independent: see our editorial policy.

The Royal Mile looking down towards St Giles' Cathedral — Old Town & Royal Mile: 5 examples of hostels and bunkhouses in our guidePhoto: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ben Nevis above Fort William and Loch Linnhe — Fort William, Glencoe & Ben Nevis: 4 examples of hostels and bunkhouses in our guidePhoto: Viewfinder at English Wikipedia, Public domain

Loch Broom with the white houses of Ullapool on the far shore — Ullapool, Coigach & Assynt: 3 examples of hostels and bunkhouses in our guidePhoto: Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photos show the areas, not the properties: we use no hotel or stock photos.

What to expect

Hostels can have dormitory rooms shared by four to 10 people, often in bunk beds; for more money you can usually get a private room.^[1]

Before you book

Check whether dorms are mixed or single-sex, and whether bedding and towels are included.
Ask about lockers and bring a padlock if you need one.

Examples in our region guides

72 places in 23 regions whose type in our data matches. Types and details come from OpenStreetMap or the property’s own site;^[3] they are examples, not recommendations, and we have not inspected them.

The Scottish Highlands (13)

Orkney (10)

Kirkwall Peedie Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel, Kirkwall & central Mainland
Orcades Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel, Kirkwall & central Mainland
Ayres Rock (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel and campsite, North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond
Chalmersquoy (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel and campsite, North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond
Eday Community Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel, North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond
North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory (property website, opens in new tab) Guest house and hostel, North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond
Papa Westray Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel, North Isles: Rousay, Westray & beyond
Rackwick Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel, Scapa Flow, the South Isles & Hoy
Birsay Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel, Stromness & the West Mainland
Brown's Hostel and House (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel and self-catering, Stromness & the West Mainland

Edinburgh (7)

The Outer Hebrides (7)

North Coast 500 (4)

Bristol (3)

Glasgow (3)

Northern Ireland (3)

Bath (2)

Mull and Iona (2)

Newcastle and Gateshead (2)

Nottingham (2)

Shetland (2)

Islesburgh House Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel, Lerwick & Bressay
Gardiesfauld Hostel (property website, opens in new tab) Hostel and campsite, Northmavine, Yell & Unst

York (2)

Yorkshire (2)

Other types

B&Bs and guest houses Rooms in a smaller, often family-run house, with breakfast.
Inns and pubs with rooms Rooms above or beside a pub, often in an old coaching inn.
Hotels From budget chains to grand country-house hotels.
Self-catering: cottages and apartments Your own kitchen, from a city flat to a country cottage.
Camping, caravans and glamping Campsites, static caravans, pods, huts and other outdoor stays.
Farm stays B&B, self-catering or glamping on a working farm.
Country houses, castles and historic stays Rooms or whole buildings in historic houses, inns and castles.

Sources

Read on the dates shown. Rules, dates and services change: check the source before you rely on it. Pages marked “not read” refused automated access, so we state nothing from them beyond their existence.

Accommodation options (opens in new tab), VisitBritain, read 1 November 2026
YHA (England and Wales) (opens in new tab), YHA (not read: access refused)
Copyright and licence (opens in new tab), OpenStreetMap, read 1 November 2026