Comrie Croft

Located in the heart of Perthsire, the amazingly beautiful "Big Tree Country" of Scotland, where the lowlands meet the Highlands, Comrie Croft is definitely THE place to visit.

2 miles away from the nearest village (Comrie) and 5 miles from a bigger town (Crieff), Comrie Croft is close enough to Edinburgh and Glasgow (roughly 1 h to both) and yet still holds that "middle of nowhere" appeal.

The place is run by a young team, all of them I've found really friendly and helpful. The fact that they don't even lock the reception area and lounge at night shows how much they trust their guests.

I was fortunate enough to spend 3 great weeks here in October, when the leaves were changing colours. The place itself is a converted croft (Scottish farmhouse) with an inclination to Eco-tourism. It has a big Lodge (which can hold up to 56 people) and a converted farmhouse (which sleeps around 20). Mostly oriented towards big groups that book the Lodge exclusively for their needs for a few days or a weekend, the Lodge has a big dining room and a huge fully equipped kitchen with half a dozen stoves, a huge fridge, microwaves, toasters and endless array of kitchen utensils. The farmhouse is a miniature version of this.
The rooms are very nice and vary in size and setting, most have wooden bunk beds with a huge window facing the mountains, a big selection of en suite family rooms also available. The linen and mattresses are in great condition. Showers and toilets are in perfect shape, washing facilities are also available.
There is also a camping ground (with showers and an outdoor kitchen available) and three Swedish katas (tents) for rent. Also a bike hire, though one can well hike in the amazing areas surrounding the croft. Maps on local hikes and walks are available at the reception.

There's also a small shop next to the reception, which is quite limited on food though and since they do not provide any meal options - this is definitely something to consider before coming here, as the nearest town is 40 min walk from the hostel. If you arrive late it might take you some time to chase up someone as the reception closes at 7pm, so that's also something to keep in mind.

A bus service can take you from here to Perth and Dundee or right down to Oban on the West coast. Like most hostels in the area - the high season is summer till mid October, though the hostel usually stays busy on weekends till winter. So a great time to enjoy some peace and scenery is late fall - the views are breathtaking!

PS. They have their own small hen house so if you're an eco-freak concerned about the origin of your free-range eggs - they can be bought on the spot :D