FAQs

COVID-19 information

  • Your stay will be subject to the latest Scottish Government and NHS Scotland COVID-19 guidance.
  • Our self-catering kitchen, dining room, lounge and drying room are open for guest use in accordance with the latest Scottish Government and tourism sector guidelines in force at the time of your stay. Please note that this may mean we have to restrict capacity or allocate specific areas for each bedroom in our shared facilities.
  • We will refund any money paid if your stay has to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed on us by either the Scottish or UK Governments (such as enforced closure, travel restrictions or limits on the maximum number of households/people allowed to gather). This does NOT cover cancellations because members of your group have COVID-19 or are self-isolating. Such a cancellation would be subject to our standard cancellation policy.
  • You are advised to have appropriate insurance in case you have to cancel your booking.
Yes. In 2022 our bathrooms will continue to be allocated to individual rooms rather than being available for everyone to use.
  • If the private room you have booked does not have en-suite facilities you will be allocated exclusive use of a toilet and shower.
  • If you are staying in a shared dormitory room, there will be a toilet and shower allocated exclusively for use of all the people sharing the room.
We pride ourselves on the cleanliness of our hostel. We are committed to providing and maintaining a safe environment for our guests.
  • Your room will be fully cleaned and disinfected in line with tourism sector guidelines prior to your arrival.
  • We are disinfecting high-frequency touch points in public areas regularly.
  • Private rooms - Your room and allocated bathroom are exclusively yours during your stay. We will not enter them to clean unless you ask us to.
  • Shared dormitory rooms – We will clean your dormitory room and its allocated bathroom daily.
  • Cleaning and disinfecting products are available for guests to use, if requested. Do not use products that we have not supplied.
There is hand sanitiser outside the front door of the hostel and inside the hostel’s shared facilities.
We are following Scottish Government guidance on this and will advise you in advance of your stay what is required.
If you feel unwell before your stay with us, please consider carefully whether you ought to travel to Saddle Mountain Hostel.

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms after you arrive, please inform us as soon as possible. You will be liable for additional costs if you have to stay in the hostel beyond your planned dates.

General information

Saddle Mountain Hostel is in the village of Invergarry, in the heart of the Highlands of Scotland. We are 7 miles from Loch Ness, 25 miles from Fort William, 41 miles from Inverness and 50 miles from the Isle of Skye. Once you’re in Invergarry, you’ll find us on the Mandally road, just off the A82. We are the third house along, about 200 metres from the junction with the A82. From the Great Glen Way – follow the Invergarry Link on the west side of Loch Oich. It goes between Laggan Locks and Bridge of Oich and takes you past our front door! Public transport – Invergarry is served by regular Scottish Citylink bus services travelling up and down the Great Glen and to the Isle of Skye. Our nearest train station is Spean Bridge. Arrive here by train and then catch a bus. Car hire is available in Fort William and Inverness. You can hire bikes there too as well as in Fort Augustus.
The hostel is open for individual and group bookings from the start of March until the autumn (please check for availability and exact dates). In December, January and February the hostel is available for group bookings only (minimum price applies, must be made in advance).
The easiest way is to make a booking online on our website. You can also send us an email to info@saddlemountainhostel.scot or give us a call on +44 1809 501412.
Yes, the price of your first night’s stay is payable at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. The balance is payable on arrival.
If you have to cancel your booking the following cancellation charges apply:
  • More than 3 days before the start of check-in on your arrival date - 20% of the total price or the cost of the first night’s stay (whichever is the lower amount). If this is less than the cost of your first night’s stay (the deposit already paid) we will refund you the difference.
  • Between 3 days and 1 day before the start of check-in on your arrival date - the cost of your first night’s stay. There will be no refund of the deposit already paid.
  • Less than 1 day before the start of check-in on your arrival date or you don’t show up - the cost of your first two night’s stay (if your stay was for more than one night). The debit or credit card that you used to make the booking will be used to collect any additional amount due.
Check-in starts at 4.30pm each day. Amendments to bookings are subject to the same cancellation policy. If we are unable to host you for any reason affecting our business we will refund any money you have paid to us (including the deposit).
You can check in between 4.30pm and 10pm.
The latest check out time from the hostel (not just your bedroom) is 10am.
Yes, the hostel (including bedrooms) is closed to all guests during the day. If you are staying with us for more than one night the hostel is closed between 10am and 4pm. This does not apply to whole hostel bookings.
Yes, you can book the whole hostel for the exclusive use of your group. Please email or phone us to discuss your requirements. A non-refundable deposit equal to 20% of the total price is payable at the time of booking to confirm your reservation. The balance is payable 8 weeks before your arrival date. Failure to make payment on time will be treated as a cancellation. If your arrival date is less than 8 weeks from the time of booking full payment is required. If you have to cancel your booking the following cancellation charges apply:
  • More than 8 weeks before your arrival date – 20% of the total price
  • Between 8 and 4 weeks before your arrival date – 50% of the total price
  • Less than 4 weeks before your arrival date – 100% of the total price
No, our dormitory rooms are mixed gender.
Yes, young people are welcome to stay at Saddle Mountain Hostel. We wish to provide safe and appropriate accommodation for all our guests so please read the information below before you book.
  • Any guest under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.
  • Young people under the age of 16 are not allowed to stay in our shared dormitory rooms unless all the beds in the room are booked by the family or group.
  • 16 and 17 year olds may stay in shared dormitory rooms (mixed gender) if accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.
If you do not comply with these restrictions we reserve the right not to honour your booking. Your booking will be treated as a cancellation and you will be charged in accordance with our cancellation policy.
No, we do not allow camping in our garden. There is a campsite in the village if you prefer to camp.
No, our facilities are for the use of the guests staying in the hostel. You can pay the full rate to stay in the hostel and use its facilities but sleep in your campervan, if you prefer.
No, we do not accept stag and hen parties at the hostel. If you do not comply with this we reserve the right not to honour your booking. Your booking will be treated as a cancellation and you will be charged in accordance with our cancellation policy.
Glengarry petrol station in Invergarry has a small shop selling basic supplies. You’ll find small shops in the other villages along the Great Glen too. There are larger supermarkets in Fort William, Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh and on the Isle of Skye.
There are several options for eating out. Please ask us about opening hours.
  • The Invergarry Hotel, Emily’s Byre at Rokeby Manor and the Glengarry Castle Hotel are all in Invergarry.
  • The Well of the Seven Heads café does breakfasts and lunch. It’s on the A82 just south of us.
  • Slightly further afield, the Eagle Barge Inn is at Laggan Locks (a few miles south of the hostel) and there are pubs, hotels and takeaways in Fort Augustus (7 miles north of the hostel).
No, we do not allow dogs, other than assistance dogs, to stay inside the hostel. If you are visiting with an assistance dog we would be grateful if you could let us know before you arrive.
No, smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the hostel. You can smoke outside but away from the hostel doors and windows. We have provided an ashtray for your cigarette ends. We do not allow the use of E-cigarettes inside the hostel.
We love walking in the mountains. We also love cycling. Mountains have saddles. So do bikes. That’s why!