Berneray Hostel

BHEARNARAIGH

Berneray GHHT c

A hostel with great views and atmosphere set in a lively island community.

A hostel right at the edge of sea, the ever changing sea, with great views of south Harris, the Isle of Skye and North Uist.  Surrounded by croft land this lively island and friendly community is place to get engrossed in contemporary Hebridean life.

Berneray Hostel

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  • Open all year
  • Grid Ref: NF93228141 (OS Landranger Sheet No. 18 ), GPS location: 57° 43’ 2.28” N, 7° 09’ 14.27” W
  • From the public highway after coming over the brow of the hill you will see the sea ahead and the bus shelter to the right of the road, just before it bends to the left.  At the bus shelter, look to your right the hostel is the two white painted thatched houses on the foreshore.
  • 21 Beds in shared rooms.  6 beds in one dormitory, 7 beds in a second dormitory, and 8 beds in a third dormitory. There are no private rooms.  None are ensuite.
  • Each bed has a mattress and mattress cover, a duvet and duvet cover, and pillows with pillow cases.  It is compulsory to bring your own quilted or sheet sleeping bag.  Sheet sleeping bags may be hired for the duration of your state at a cost of £3.
  • This is simple hostel providing basic facilities for walkers and cyclists. We are not a luxury hostel.
  • Please note that all who use our hostel must pay our charges as shown on the official notice on the hostel notice board.
  • No camping.  We regret that no camping is permitted on the hostel site.  It is simply too small. The hostel is surrounded by croft land.  This includes the ruined black house across the burn which is to the south of the hostel.  The crofter does not want campers or camper vans on his land. This is in accordance with his rights under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
  • No facilities for camper vans.  Please note that there are showers and toilets at the Harbour.  There is an official toilet discharge station at the ferry terminal, just beyond the waiting room. 
  • Groups.  We provide no facilities for groups over five people.  We respectfully ask organisers of commercial groups to use alternative accommodation.  We have learned from experience that the expectations of large groups, especially groups where the participants is paying a fee to the organiser are simply not in accordance with the ethos of our hostels.  Our focus is the individual walker or cyclist.
  • Charges. Please see our charges here. Only hostellers who have paid their overnight fees for staying in the hostel may use this hostel. Day use is nor permitted for non-residents.
  • How to get the best out of a visit to our simple hostels
  • No advanced bookings can be taken. For this reason we cannot predict availability even the day before your visit.  However, no-one is ever turned away.
  • Dogs, other than Assistance Dogs, are not allowed within hostel buildings.
  • The warden lives nearby.  When you arrive please complete the register and pay your fee (if the warden is not there please use one of the envelopes provided and place this in the Honesty Box.
  • The hostel is renowned for the peace and tranquillity to be found at its beachside location and its community spirit.
  • Membership of the Gatliff Hebridean Hostels Trust is encouraged but is not a pre-requisite to using the hostel.  If you wish to support our work by becoming a members please complete and return the leaflet attached here.   Further information can be found on the Join Us page.
  • The Hostel Maintenance Organiser is Christine Fletcher.  Please report any maintenance issues including issues relating the equipment and facilities of the hostel.  Christine can be reached at Berneray@gatliff.org.uk
Picture Gallery of the hostel and the island of Berneray

Inside the hostel


Common Room and kitchen

  • Common Room/kitchen: with dining area and coal burning stove.
  • Fully equipped self-catering kitchen with gas rings, microwave oven, crockery, cutlery, tea towels, and hot water.
  • Three shared bedrooms with bunk beds (some camp beds also available)
  • Toilets and Shower: Separate to shared bedrooms, with instant hot water units.

How to find Berneray Hostel

  • Follow the road right round Bays Loch, past the shop and on until the metalled road takes a sharp turn left.
  • By now you will be looking out over the Sound of Harris. Keep on towards the sea shore along the track, past a thatched building on your right (the ancient gunnery of the Macleod).
  • At the bend in the road go through the gate.
  • The hostel is the two white walled thatched buildings on the shore.

Buses and Ferries

  • Route W17 from Eriskay ferry terminates within 100 yards of the hostel.
  • Please check the current timetable on the local authority’s web site.  www.cne-siar.gov.uk
  • Please check the current timetable for the Harris to Berneray Ferry on Cal Mac’s web site www.calmac.co.uk

Local Services

  • The nearest shop is the Berneray Shop and Bistro about two miles away.  You pass this shop on the way from the ferry to the hostel.  www.bernerayshopandbistro.co.uk  Closed Sundays.
  • Post Office is at Backhill (about a mile from the hostel, on the route to/from the ferry. Please check postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder/  for details of opening hours
  • Telephone Call box in shelter on jetty at harbour.
  • Large Co-op stores at Sollas on North Uist (closed Sundays)
  • Nearest petrol pump is at Lochmaddy (ferry port) (OS Map 18 NF917687) or at the Bayhead shop on the west side of the island (OS Map 18 NF 750684)
  • Nearest cash machine. Bank of Scotland Lochmaddy (OS Map 18 NF917685)