7 hostels with great things to do nearby

Bunkhouses and Hostels offer today’s travellers modern shared kitchens, dining areas and comfy lounges, secure bike storage and drying rooms and even touches of luxury at the upmarket ones. Best of all, this flexible accommodation offers the perfect solution for active travellers. Perhaps you want to take on of one of our long-distance walking routes or you are tackling our Kirkpatrick C2C cycling route and need a bed for the night without breaking the bank. The hostels and bunkhouses below all offer great activities nearby for you to enjoy. So book some annual leave and start planning your next break to the South of Scotland….

Moffat Independent Hostel

Where: Moffat

Moffat sits at the conventional start of the 53-mile Annandale Way, with a stunning 14 mile route skirting the famed scenery of the Devil’s Beef Tub before heading south and following the River Annan to its mouth on the Solway Firth.
The town is officially the UK’s first Dark Skies Town with street lighting specially designed to allow for the most spectacular views of the starry night. The town has a community observatory for even closer views. And don’t miss a visit to the Moffat Distillery, home of Dark Sky Spirits. The town is also home of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle project, so keep your eyes peeled for a sighting of one of these magnificient birds.

The hostel owner has pulled together a fabulous collection of local cycling routes, dubbed it the Moffat Triskelion and offers a room discount for longer stays for those keen to give this a go.

Stay at Moffat Independent Hostel.

Explore more of Annandale.

Booktown Bunkhouse

Where: Wigtown

Wigtown sits directly on the Kirkpatrick C2C, the coast to coast cycling route through the South of Scotland. There are multiple itineraries for riding this route breaking it up into sections and if you are taking a more leisurely approach, Wigtown offers an ideal overnight. The town is Scotland’s National Booktown with over a dozen book emporiums and cafes to offer weary legs the chance to take the weight off! Take in the Martyr’s Stake to Scottish Covenanters or channel your inner time traveller and wonder at the Torhouse Stone Circle, who built it and why.

Stay at Booktown Bunkhouse.

Explore more of The Machars.

New Town Hall Bunkhouse

Where: Whithorn

The Whithorn Way offers homage to the route pilgrims of days gone by would have taken to see the shrine and relics of St Ninian in Whithorn. Today, it runs from central Glasgow to the Isle of Whithorn, with Whithorn itself offering the perfect final evening stay. See the reconstructed Iron Age roundhouse and explore the early Christian carved crosses at the Whithorn Priory and Museum.

Stay at New Town Hall Bunkhouse.

Explore more of the Machars

Barholm Accommodation

Where: Creetown

Stay here while on your cycling journey along the Kirkpatrick C2C which runs through Creetown itself. Or use this as a base to explore the nearby 7stanes Kirroughtree mountain bike trails. On the edge of the Galloway Forest Park there is fantastic night time star gazing in the UK’s first International Dark Sky Park. The local Gem Rock Museum is a firm favourite with visitors too. If you crave adrenalin, try out Galloway Canyoning.

Stay at Barholm Accommodation.

Explore more of the Heart of Galloway.

The Bunkhouse at the Galloway Activity Centre

Where: Loch Ken

Activities galore are on offer at the Galloway Activity Centre – from sailing to kayaking, windsurfing to paddle boarding, climbing, laser tag and archery. Located on the edge of Loch Ken, the night time starry skies are spectacular! On site accommodation includes the Bunkhouse which offers 20 bunks in five rooms with a kitchen and dining area. Prior booking is essential as it is often booked by residential courses on site.

Stay at the Bunkhouse at Galloway Activity Centre

Explore more of the Heart of Galloway

Cleikum Mill Lodge

Where: Innerleithen

Challenge your mountain biking skills at the nearby 7stanes Innerleithen or head up the road to 7stanes Glentress, which hosted 2024’s UCI World Mountain Bike Cross Country races. Cycling in the Tweed Valley is super easy as Cleikum’s owner has created a website of bike rides specially for guests so they don’t miss out on the best routes. If you’ve not brought your own wheels, you can hire E-bikes from Punk Bikes in town, or up the road in Peebles there is BSpoke Cycles for traditional bikes. If you are happier on two legs and want to take a guided tour with a difference, engage the services of TVB Tours – the Tweed Valley Blogger, Stewart is a mine of local information! And don’t miss Robert Smail’s Printing Works just down the street for a fun insight into the world of old-style printing.

Stay at Cleikum Mill Lodge.

Explore more of The Tweed Valley

Newcastleton Bunkhouse

Where: Newcastleton

Newcastleton 7Stanes is the best-kept secrets of the 7stanes mountain biking trail centres, with both family friendly routes and a hair-raising adventurous red! Take advantage of the empty paths and enjoy the space. The town is on the Kirkpatrick C2C route so this a perfect stopping point after a long day in the saddle. Head over to Hermitage Castle with its tales of murder and torture. Or perhaps go further afield and visit Gilnockie Tower ,the seat of the Armstrong Clan with its fascinating connection to astronaut Neil Armstrong. Or engage the services of Armstrong Tours for a deep-dive into the area’s history from clans and reivers to Vikings and Romans.

Stay at Newcastleton Bunkhouse.

Explore more of Teviot, Eskdale and Liddesdale.

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