Loch Ness · Scotland
Loch Ness Lochside Hostel
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Booking.com
With my friends we really could not comprehend all the good reviews even with hostel standards. First of all, the place seemed dirty. I mean everywhere. There was rubbish all around the property. The matrasses were filthy if you looked underneath (trying to avoid bedbugs). The rooms are literally empty, there is no locker or even a small cabinet, you cannot store your luggage anywhere in the room. Rooms are also very small. Bathrooms, showers did not seem to be too clean as well. We understand that Scotland is expensive especially the countryside, but in this hostel you get a small room in a dirty environment, (in a hostel run by volunteers!) for the same price as a nice hotel room in Glasgow or Edinburgh. It is one of the most horrible cost/value experience of my life, and I've been to numerous countries. I certainly would not recommend it, only if you don't have any other choice or you have a very low need for at least cleanliness.
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Confirmed Booking.com
Staff weren’t very friendly. Kitchen was dirty. I’m not 100% sure where I was bitten but 36 hours after my stay I had bites on my legs arms and back that look like bed bug bites. One staff member made some very inappropriate jokes about terminal illness within earshot of staff and guests.
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Confirmed Booking.com
Bus service is bad and intermittent, take note last bus 917 / 919 at 6:15pm, I have no choice but to book and stay at another hostel in town. I would appreciate when I email the receptionist, they should have warn me about the last bus service schedule ends at 6:15pm beforehand as they mentioned Check-In is between 17:00pm to 23:00pm, as a foreigner I thought bus service will run at night but it wasn’t. Wasted time and money due to poor communication. The limited bus service mean I couldn’t stay long at Fort William or other places because last bus 919 is 17:40pm, unless you drive else it’s very inconvenient to stay here due to the limited bus service and remote location, it is faraway from the nearest town and the tourist attraction. Bed and pillow was soft, when I told male receptionist there is bug biting me, he show no cares except saying “ I guarantee you there no is bed bugs or mosquitoes here, only midges as reported..”, there is no solution to get rid of the midges in the room, please think twice before you book this hostel just because of its cheap price.
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Vibe Analysis
Loch access is the headline here: the hostel sits right by Loch Ness, with a private pebble beach for cold dips, wave-watching, and that strange quiet you only get when the water is basically at your door. It is also handy for Great Glen Way walkers, with a mountain hike behind the hostel and big loch views from the common areas and terrace. The best version of the place is social, casual, and a bit scrappy in a fun way. There are shared spaces for games, music, pool, fireside hanging out, and events like Scottish dancing or pancake mornings. The kitchen is useful for self-catering, hot drinks may be available, and there is usually some food and drink to buy on site, which matters because this is a remote stretch. Rooms are basic rather than polished, and the whole setup feels more like a youth-hostel basecamp than a tidy boutique stay. Some beds have lights, charging points, and small organizers, while other rooms can be tiny, damp-feeling, noisy, or short on storage. Come for loch swims, communal chaos, trail energy, and a big nature backdrop; keep expectations practical on comfort and maintenance.
Signals to check
- The hostel is remote, local transport can be limited, and having a car makes logistics much easier.
- Rooms can be small and basic, with limited storage or privacy in dorms.
- Bathrooms and showers can be cramped, dated, or too few at busy times.
- Cleanliness and building condition are inconsistent, especially around kitchens, fridges, bathrooms, carpets, and damp areas.
- The social scene can be lively and fun, but sometimes loud, volunteer-heavy, or hard to settle into.
- WiFi and mobile signal may be weak, especially away from the common room.