Gairloch hostel marks major milestone
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A STUNNINGLY located Wester Ross hostel marks a major milestone today with a nostalgic tea party.
SYHA Hostelling Scotland is throwing the party for hostellers, friends and staff to celebrate 80 years of hostelling at Gairloch Carn Dearg.
A cosy former hunting lodge, Gairloch Carn Dearg Youth Hostel is one of the Association’s longest serving facilities.
It sits next to the sea with a sandy beach only five minutes’ walk away. Situated on a cliff top, the hostel has wonderful views over Gairloch, the Torridon mountains and the isles of Rona and Skye.
Hostellers are routinely transfixed by the glorious sunsets and keep an eye open whales, dolphins, basking sharks, otters, pine marten and rare birds – such as divers, puffins, and golden eagles – which have all been spotted from the hostel lounge down the years.
In her book, Torridon Highlands (1953), Brenda Macrow gives a flavour of what it used to be like: “The house is spacious and warm inside … The big cream enamelled kitchen range is the ‘last word’, and always hot. There is actually a bathroom with a bath in it, and running hot water, and a fine, cosy lounge whose windows overlook the sea.
“The warden and his wife greeted me with a friendliness which was like a balm to the wind-battered spirit. Outside the gale roared incessantly; but no one cared… We lit lamps and made more tea. The comfort and friendliness of Carn Dearg enfolded us until we forgot the wind, or no longer worried.”
The Sunday tea party runs from noon till 4pm. On offer are tea and cake, hostel memorabilia and tales of the past from the current manager and a former hostel warden from 1971.
Full details of Gairloch Carn Dearg Youth Hostel including directions may be found here
