Frequently Asked Questions

If we missed yours, email TheNewtonmoreHostel@gmail.com or phone +44 7857 301402.

Booking and arrival

Why book direct?

Yes — booking through this site is the cheapest option for both of us (no commission).

What time can I check in?

Check-in is 16:00 to 21:30. Try not to arrive much before 16:00 — we're still cleaning. If you'll arrive later than 21:30, WhatsApp us on +44 7857 301402 and we'll work it out.

What time do I need to check out?

By 10:00. We turn the rooms around quickly. You're welcome to leave bags in the drying room until later.

Is there parking?

Not on-site. The village square is a one-minute walk and is free. There's never been a parking problem in Newtonmore.

Do you take groups?

Yes — the whole hostel sleeps ten. Whole-hostel exclusive use is £250/night by email enquiry — TheNewtonmoreHostel@gmail.com.

How much does it cost to stay at Newtonmore Hostel?

£25 per person per night in any of our three rooms. Dogs are £10 per stay (one fee covers the whole trip). No deposit, no booking fee through our direct site.

Do you accept walk-ins?

If we have beds, yes. Phone +44 7857 301402 or WhatsApp first — we're a small hostel and beds get booked the same day, especially in summer.

Is Newtonmore Hostel open year-round?

Yes — open all year, including winter. The wood-burner and drying room come into their own from October through March.

Can I book the whole hostel?

Yes. The whole building sleeps 10. Email TheNewtonmoreHostel@gmail.com for whole-hostel bookings — we set dates and price by case.

Are you on Booking.com or Hostelworld?

We're listed on Booking.com, but booking direct through this site is the cheapest option for both of us (no commission). Same rooms, same beds, same rate to you — we just keep more of it.

Rooms and facilities

Is there a kitchen?

Yes — a proper communal kitchen, not a microwave-and-kettle setup. Full oven, two hobs, fridge with shelves labelled per room, pots, pans, crockery for ten.

Are there en-suite rooms?

No, none. Bathrooms are shared on the corridor. That's the price of an old building, and it's part of why the rate stays low.

Is there Wi-Fi?

Yes, free, throughout the building. Good enough for streaming. Password on the noticeboard.

Is there a drying room?

Yes — properly heated, with rails for waterproofs and a spin dryer for socks and base layers.

Is bedding provided?

Yes — sheets, duvet, pillow. All clean, all made up before you arrive. You don't need a sleeping bag.

Are towels provided?

Bring your own towel.

Where can I store my bike?

Covered, lockable bike store round the back of the hostel. Repair stand and basic tools on loan — pump, multitool, chain lube.

Where can I store a kayak or paddleboard?

The bike store fits kayaks and SUPs too. There's a kit-rinse tap outside and the drying room takes wet kit just as well as a walker's.

Can I store luggage after check-out?

Yes — there's a corner in the drying room for bags after 10:00 check-out. Helpful if your train isn't until the afternoon.

Can I do laundry?

There's no self-serve laundry on site. Trisala can sometimes run a load for you if you ask in person on the day. For full laundry, there's a launderette in Aviemore (20 minutes away).

Dogs and families

Are dogs welcome?

Yes. £10 per dog per stay. Up to two dogs per booking — ask if you've got more. Dogs in the bedrooms is fine — but not on the beds. Dogs in the sitting room is fine if the other guests agree — but not on the chairs. Never leave your dog alone in the hostel.

Can I bring children?

Yes. No minimum age. Bunk beds work well for a parent and two children, or two children together. Children stay at the full per-person rate from any age — every body takes a bed. Maximum 10 people in the building at any one time (insurance limit). Babies count as one of the ten.

Is there an age limit on solo travellers?

No upper limit. Lower limit: 16+ travelling alone. Under-16s need a parent or guardian travelling with them.

Is Newtonmore Hostel dog-friendly?

Yes. £10 per dog per stay, max two dogs per booking. Dogs in the bedrooms (not on the beds) and the sitting room (with other guests' agreement) — not in the kitchen. Never leave your dog alone in the building.

Is there a place to wash a muddy dog?

Yes — outdoor hose and a dog towel on request. The drying room handles wet dog kit too.

Eating, drinking, getting around

Do you serve breakfast?

No. We have a proper kitchen and we trust you to feed yourself. The Co-op on Main Street is two minutes' walk; The Letterbox Café and Pottery Bunkhouse Café both do early breakfast within five minutes.

Is there a bus or train station nearby?

Newtonmore train station is at the end of the street — the Highland Main Line stops here hourly between Edinburgh / Glasgow and Inverness. Buses to Kingussie and Aviemore run several times a day.

Where can I get a pint?

The Glen Hotel on Main Street is the local. The Pottery Bunkhouse and a few cafés in Kingussie (10 minutes by bus) also have a small selection.

Where we are in Scotland

Where exactly is Newtonmore Hostel?

Newtonmore is a village in the Scottish Highlands, at the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park. We're on Main Street, a five-minute walk from Newtonmore railway station. Postcode PH20 1DA.

Is Newtonmore Hostel in the Scottish Highlands?

Yes — Newtonmore sits in the heart of the Highlands, in Badenoch and Strathspey, halfway between Edinburgh and Inverness on the Highland Main Line.

Is Newtonmore Hostel in the Cairngorms National Park?

Yes. Newtonmore is one of the few villages actually inside Cairngorms National Park — Britain's largest national park, the world's oldest mountains, and home to more red squirrels per square mile than anywhere else in the UK.

What's the nearest train station to Newtonmore Hostel?

Newtonmore station, at the end of our street — about a 5-minute walk. The Highland Main Line runs Edinburgh / Glasgow → Newtonmore → Aviemore → Inverness, roughly hourly.

How far is Newtonmore Hostel from Inverness?

50 minutes by car (A9), 1 hour by direct train. Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

How far from Edinburgh or Glasgow?

About 2h 15min from either by car. By train, around 2h 40min from Edinburgh and 2h 50min from Glasgow on the Highland Main Line.

Is Newtonmore Hostel near Aviemore?

Yes — 20 minutes by car and 30 minutes by train. Many guests use us as their Aviemore base: quieter, cheaper, and one short train stop south of Aviemore. The whole Cairngorms is on your doorstep from either.

Is there a hostel in Aviemore itself?

There are a couple of larger backpacker hostels in Aviemore. We're the closest independent hostel south of Aviemore, 20 minutes away, and we're inside the same national park. Smaller, quieter, and £25 per person.

What's the closest hostel to Cairngorm Mountain or the ski centre?

Newtonmore Hostel is about 40 minutes' drive from Cairngorm Mountain and the Cairngorm ski centre, via Aviemore. For winter skiing or summer mountain biking on the funicular, plenty of guests base themselves here.

What's the difference between staying in Newtonmore vs Aviemore?

Newtonmore is quieter, smaller, and feels more local — fewer crowds, no ski-resort buzz. Aviemore is 20 minutes north and has the ski centre, funicular, and more nightlife. Lots of guests use Newtonmore as their base and day-trip to Aviemore.

Is Newtonmore near the Highland Wildlife Park?

Yes — the Highland Wildlife Park (wolves, polar bears, Scottish wildcats) is 10 minutes from us, in Kingussie. Easy half-day or full-day activity from the hostel.

How do I get from Edinburgh Airport to Newtonmore Hostel?

The easiest way is the Ember E9 electric coach, which stops on Main Street right outside the hostel. Direct services from Edinburgh Airport take about 2h 20min – 2h 45min. Around 6 services per day go direct from the airport (mainly afternoon and evening). Book at ember.to — and remember to pre-book the Newtonmore stop at least 20 minutes before departure.

How do I get to the Cairngorms from Edinburgh Airport without a car?

Take the Ember E9 electric coach direct from Edinburgh Airport (Stop E) to Newtonmore — it stops right outside our hostel on Main Street. About 2h 20min on the direct services. Book at ember.to. Alternatively, take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Newtonmore station (5 minute walk to the hostel).

Is there a direct bus from Inverness to the Cairngorms?

Yes — Ember’s E9 electric coach runs south from Inverness through the Cairngorms, stopping at Aviemore, Kingussie and Newtonmore (right outside our hostel). About 1h 10min from Inverness. 11 services a day. Book at ember.to.

Can I visit Newtonmore Hostel without a car?

Easily. The Ember electric coach stops outside the hostel up to 11 times a day, with services from Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport and Inverness. The train station is 5 minutes’ walk. Walks start from the front door. Aviemore is one train stop or 18 minutes by Ember.

What’s the most sustainable way to visit the Cairngorms?

Ember runs the UK’s first all-electric intercity coach network — zero exhaust emissions. From Edinburgh Airport or Inverness, the E9 stops directly outside Newtonmore Hostel. You can spend a week in the Cairngorms without burning a drop of fuel: Ember in, walks from the door, train one stop north to Aviemore.

Do I need to pre-book Ember for the Newtonmore stop?

Yes — the Newtonmore stops are request stops. Book your ticket at least 20 minutes before scheduled departure at ember.to, otherwise the coach may not call. The southbound stop (towards Inverness) is outside the Clan Macpherson Museum; the northbound stop (towards Edinburgh) is outside Monarch Country Apartments. Both on Main Street, both a few steps from the hostel.

Can I get the sleeper train from London to Newtonmore?

Yes — the Caledonian Sleeper Highlander runs nightly between London Euston and Inverness, and stops in Newtonmore. Board around 21:00 in London, sleep, and wake up at Newtonmore station — about a 5-minute walk to the hostel. Hands-down the most magical way to arrive in the Cairngorms from London.

What time does the Caledonian Sleeper arrive in Newtonmore?

The northbound Highlander reaches Newtonmore in the early morning (around 07:30–08:00, varies by day). Check the latest at sleeper.scot. We're happy to have an early check-in for sleeper guests — drop your bags and head out walking; rooms are usually ready by mid-afternoon.

The walking and the area

What walks start from the hostel?

Glen Banchor is five minutes from the front door. The Wildcat Trail is a 6.5-mile loop out of the village. The Speyside Way actually starts in Newtonmore. Creag Dubh is a short, steep two-hour up-and-down. Full notes on Walkhighlands.co.uk.

How close are you to Aviemore?

About 20 minutes by car, 30 minutes by train (hourly). Cairngorm Mountain, the funicular, Glenmore Forest and Loch Morlich are all within half an hour.

What walks start from Newtonmore Hostel without needing a car?

Glen Banchor is 5 minutes from the front door. The Wildcat Trail is a 6.5-mile loop out of the village. Creag Dubh is a short steep up-and-down (2 hours). The Speyside Way starts in Newtonmore. Routes and maps at walkhighlands.co.uk.

Is Newtonmore Hostel a good base for the Speyside Way?

Yes — the Speyside Way long-distance path starts in Newtonmore. We see a lot of Day 0 (arrive evening before) and Day 1 (walk in from Aviemore) guests.