Braemar Youth Hostel

A really good base for exploring the area, and great value for money. The beds were comfy, everything was spotless, and I'd stay again. There's a well-equipped kitchen for cooking, plus a lounge where you can relax and play a few games.

That drying room was a lovely extra, especially useful in winter. I enjoyed my stay overall: the hostel was clean and tidy, the staff were welcoming, and there was a cosy lounge and comfortable dining area. The kitchen was fairly large and had what I needed. The top bunk wobbled whenever I moved, which made me anxious that I was disturbing the person below. The doors also shut pretty loudly, and that bothered me a bit when I was trying to sleep. The location is beautiful, though.

There are quite a lot of stairs to reach the rooms, so it's worth keeping that in mind. I only stayed a couple of nights, and saw red squirrels in the grounds. The hostel is centrally located in Braemar and very well run. Breakfast, with cereal and toast, is included, and the staff were very helpful. Maybe there are rooms for people with less mobility, but many guests come for walking and climbing, so the stairs may not be an issue for them. The photo isn't of the hostel.

The location is nice, but it doesn't make up for the problems. It was very overpriced, costing us more than an en-suite room in Edinburgh. The walls are paper-thin, so you hear everything. The driveway is ridiculously dark, there aren't enough showers, and the car park was extremely muddy.