BUG Review
For those wanting to ascend Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, via the popular tourist path this Norwegian-style hostel is perfect – the path begins just across the road. The hostel caters for outdoor enthusiasts and less active visitors with a large kitchen, lounge areas and drying room.
Price Dorm bed £12-18.50 (£11-17.50 HI/SYHA) Prices are in British pounds and are inclusive of all taxes.
Pros:
Alpine wooden building near beginning of path to Ben Nevis
Cons:
The staff. Poor staff leads to many problems in the hostel.
eoinmckay
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(2)
Right, its a nice wooden building with lots of character, situated right at the beginning of the path to Ben Nevis' summit. Thats the pros out of the way. There is however, a serious problem with the staff, in particular one odious individual (the young one with long hair who claims to be Scottish despite speaking with a faux-Australian accent).
If you are unfortunate enough to be put in the dorm, you will be sharing it with about 30 other people!! Yet there is worse to come. One night, a very drunk, mentally ill (more of that later) and abusive Glaswegian was admitted to the common room downstairs, where he harrassed the guests and swore at staff, yet incredibly was still admitted to the dorm. He spent all night having flashbacks to his military service, laughing hysterically, talking to himself and pounding his fists against the wall, and this was in a room where children were staying!! Needless to say, no-one had any sleep that night. The staff when informed the next day, shrugged their shoulders and said 'we know him.' Then the heating for the water broke. No-one could have a shower so went to inform reception. The aforementioned odious creep, simply smirked and said 'its difficult to get a plumber on a Sunday', he was also rude the previous day when we asked what the weather forecast was for Ben Nevis and seemed to spend his time sitting in reception, surfing the internet, boasting of his travels around Africa and being generally useless.
You are much better off staying in Fort William in a nice place and doing an the extra 2 miles at the beginning of your trek.
Was this review helpful to you?
(Review ID: 8506)
Worst hostel of our Great Britain trips, May 25, 2008
Pros:
We don't have to visit it again
Cons:
Stench, mould at the windows and walls, dirty showers and toilets
Shella LaRoche
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(2)
I think this hostel doesn't need to care for proper maintenace so close to a popular mountain range.The staff had a devil may care attitude and it was LOUD not just NOISY. The doors were banging constantly. toilet flushs to be heared, footsteps on the stairs etc., no isolation at all.The rooms reeked of stale sweat and had mould on the window frames. Our window couldn't be closed properly. We didn't even bother to take a picture, just try to get some sleep and go.
1 of
1 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
(Review ID: 6239)
Perfectly fine, June 3, 2004
Reviewer:
Jill
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
This hostel is everything you would expect from a hostel. Its only a mile or so from Fort William which is walkable for a few beers.I did hear that the place had bed bugs but after the West Highland Way it didnt really bother me. I didnt see any.
