Where you’ll stay
on your trip...
Accommodation
On our tours, you’ll stay in carefully selected hostels and local guesthouses that are safe, comfortable, and well-located. Every place we use is clean, welcoming, and chosen to make sure you can properly relax after a full day exploring Scotland.
Accommodation can either be pre-paid online when booking your tour, or you can simply pay on arrival at check-in during the tour. Unless you’ve specifically asked us not to, we’ll always reserve a bed for you so everything is arranged in advance and your trip stays stress-free.
Rooms are simple but comfortable, with everything you need for a good night’s sleep. Many of the places we stay are small, friendly accommodations where it’s easy to feel at home and meet other travellers in a relaxed setting. Just make sure you bring comfortable earplugs, as we stay in shared bunk-style dorm rooms.
We focus on accommodation that’s reliable, well-run, and in great locations — whether that’s a lively Highland town or somewhere surrounded by mountains, lochs, or coastline. It’s comfortable, social when you want it to be, and always designed to give you a safe and enjoyable stay throughout your tour.
Booking Your Own Accommodation
Our tours are designed to stay together as a group, so we always recommend staying in the accommodation included in the tour. It’s the easiest option, it keeps everything simple, and it means you won’t miss out on the social side of the trip.
However, if you would prefer a private room away from the group, you are welcome to arrange your own accommodation. If you choose to do this, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
You’ll still need to meet the group at our booked accommodation each morning, as our guides are not able to make additional pick-up stops. Your accommodation must be within easy walking distance of where the group is staying. Depending on the tour, these locations are:
-
Skye – Lochbuie Guest House
-
Loch Ness – Lochside Hostel
-
Oban – Oban Backpackers
If you’re only staying on Skye (3 Day Isle of Skye Tour) and would like a nearby private room, we can suggest Saucy Mary’s Lodge as a good option close to our usual stop. We don’t currently have recommendations for private rooms near the other locations.
Before booking anything, please email us with the place you’re planning to stay so we can confirm it’s close enough to the group. This is really important, as some accommodation in these areas can be quite spread out, and we wouldn’t want you to accidentally book somewhere too far away and miss the morning departure.
Once we’ve confirmed the location is suitable, you’re all set to book your own room.
Staying in Edinburgh before or after your tour with us?
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay before or after your tour, we’ve partnered with three fantastic hostels right in the heart of Edinburgh — all within easy walking distance of our departure point at Castle Rock Hostel.
When you book a tour with MacBackpackers, you’ll receive a 10% discount at any of our partner hostels, making it even easier to explore Edinburgh before you hit the road with us.
We especially recommend staying at Castle Rock Hostel, as it’s the depature point for our tours and one of the highest-rated hostels in the city.
Prefer something smaller? High Street Hostel and Royal Mile Backpackers are both only around a 10-minute walk away and offer their own unique atmosphere right in Edinburgh’s Old Town.
Our Partner Hostels
-
Castle Rock Hostel - Our official tour departure point, located beside Edinburgh Castle. A lively, social hostel and a favourite with backpackers visiting the city.
-
High Street Hostel - A long-running independent hostel just off the Royal Mile, known for its social atmosphere and authentic Scottish character.
-
Royal Mile Backpackers - A smaller, cosy hostel right on the Royal Mile — perfect if you’re after a more relaxed hostel stay in the city centre.
Still unsure about your stay?
Don't worry... we're here to help! Feel free to Contact us if you have any further queries before your trip.