Isle of Ulva Hostel and Campsite

29/03/2026

Ulva Hostel – Avaibility 30th – 6th April

Due to a last minute cancellation, we now have availability from Monday 30th - Monday 6th April in the hostel. Either book via our website at email on [email protected] or Whatsapp on 07538 969 697.

Due to a last minute cancellation, we now have availability from Monday 30th – Monday 6th April in the hostel. Either book via our website at email on [email protected] or Whatsapp on 0753…

29/03/2026

Ulva Hostel – Neolithic Rock Art

Last weekend, Ulva hosted five guests, three folk from St Andrew's University from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, who are Dendrochronologists - otherwise known in the archaeological world as tree-ring scientists - and Gordon Gray Stephens from Native Woodlands Cooperative Scotland. All were on the Isle of Ulva to 'age' and study the mature broad leaf woodland that stretches from north to south along the eastern side of Ulva, along with looking at the patches of 'historic' woodland - mostly hazel and oak - that are marked on the old 1812 estate map....

Last weekend, Ulva hosted five guests, three folk from St Andrew’s University from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, who are Dendrochronologists – otherwise known in the a…

05/03/2026

Ulva Hostel – Spring is here!!

And the final push to get everything ready for re-opening Ulva Hostel later this month. Back at the end of October, it always seems that there's plenty of time to get all the jobs done, but there never is - especially with the weather playing its part - but we think we've done well this winter and got most things done now....

And the final push to get everything ready for re-opening Ulva Hostel later this month. Back at the end of October, it always seems that there’s plenty of time to get all the jobs done, but t…

25/02/2026

Ulva Hostel and the Archaeology of Ulva

As some folk might know, when I'm not running the hostel on Ulva - or the many other jobs I do - I 'do archaeology'. Just at the moment, ACFA - the Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists - have returned to Ulva, to carry on surveying around the in-bye area on the eastern side of Ulva and will be back in April this year to survey some of the archaeology on the challenging and remote western side of Ulva and on Gometra....

As some folk might know, when I’m not running the hostel on Ulva – or the many other jobs I do – I ‘do archaeology’. Just at the moment, ACFA – the Association o…

16/02/2026

Winter at Ulva Hostel – Painting the South Face of the Hostel

Given that the weather has been so dry and not too cold, I took the chance - or rather I was made to - paint the south gable end of the hostel, as that takes the majority of the weather due to the direction it faces. For reasons that I can't explain, I always paint from the ground up, rather than from the top down....

Given that the weather has been so dry and not too cold, I took the chance – or rather I was made to – paint the south gable end of the hostel, as that takes the majority of the weather…

13/02/2026

Sunrise at Ulva Hostel exactly over the summit of Ben More....I think we are the driest part of the UK.

11/02/2026

Ulva Hostel in February and it's painting and decorating week in the dining room - along with keeping the plants company. However, the living room is done and a warm and cosy place to retreat to. Next week is 'repair the quad bike week'.

03/02/2026

Rock Art at Ulva Hostel

For a few weeks it has been mostly dry and sunny - if blowing from the SE almost consistently! Therefore there is no excuse to be working on all those jobs we need to do before the season starts at Ulva Hostel. This was my excuse to be out on Ardalum Tor, just to the NW of the hostel, so I could take some images of the hostel and general area....

For a few weeks it has been mostly dry and sunny – if blowing from the SE almost consistently! Therefore there is no excuse to be working on all those jobs we need to do before the season sta…

26/01/2026

Ulva Hostelling Time – in the Winter

It is late January and since the end of November, when I'm not mending, decorating or repairing something during the winter - which is pretty much most of the time - then I try and get out and do some surveying across Ulva, recording particularly the prehistoric and early historic features that are hiding amongst the bracken. The main image on this post is from high up on Isle of Ulva's western side, above the township of Eolosary, looking out across the whole of Gometra....

It is late January and since the end of November, when I’m not mending, decorating or repairing something during the winter – which is pretty much most of the time – then I try an…

19/01/2026

Bearnus Bothy and Banjo & Ro at Ulva House

Not only do we run Ulva Hostel and the Yurts, but we also run Bearnus Bothy - the 2nd best bothy in the world supposedly!! (damn you Colorado). Back in October of last year, two Guardian journalists stayed with us at Bearnus Bothy and also interviewed Banjo and Ro Beale down at Ulva House, which meant that they had to walk from Bearnus and then back down to Ulva House and then back to Bearnus - roughly 15 miles....

Not only do we run Ulva Hostel and the Yurts, but we also run Bearnus Bothy – the 2nd best bothy in the world supposedly!! (damn you Colorado). Back in October of last year, two Guardian jour…

19/10/2024

Ulva Hostel on the Guardian's list of 'Favourite Hostels in the UK.

From the Surrey Hills to the Hebrides, hostels offer affordable lodgings in some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes. Here are our readers’ top picks

15/10/2024

As the sun sets over Ulva and Gometra, we draw to a close our season at Ulva Hostel for 2024 which will be closing on the 25th October for the year. We will re-open in the spring of next year and look forward to welcoming returning and new guests, so get booking now for next year!