A nice, simple hostel on a quiet, fascinating island, August 31, 2003
Reviewer:
a.butler@lancaster.ac.uk
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
I spent five days here a while back (1998, I think), at the end of the season (mid-September) and hope to go back sometime soon. The youth hostel is the only budget accommodation on the island, so if you want to visit the island you really have to stay there ! Fortunately, the youth hostel is in a fine location for exploring this very beautiful island (Raasay), with spectacular views over to Skye (the Trotternish) from the front door, and the path up Dun Caan (the most popular walk on the island) starting nearby... the only snag is that it is a fairly long and steep walk (3 miles ?) up from the ferry terminal to the hostel, and that there is no public transport on the island itself. The hostel - and indeed the whole island - both seem very quiet, with everyone keeping pretty much to themselves; that said, the hostel staff were helpful in giving good advice to me when it came to local walking routes. The facilities at the youth hostel itself are very similar to those of a simple youth hostel anywhere in Britain - fairly large dorms (about 10 beds each), a small self-catering kitchen, bed linen provided, and a shower. So, nothing special, but all perfectly adequate: the one slightly problematic feature was that the showers were not in the same buildings as the dorms. There is a shop fairly nearby (1 and a half miles away, halfway between the hostel and ferry), but it does have erratic opening hours and rather limited stock (mainly tins), so you should really bring some food with you. One more thing: Raasay is a very strictly religious island, and I was warned that everything but the hostel is shut on the Sabbath, even the children's playground !
