Property description
Miller Stewart are delighted to bring to market Loch Ness Backpackers Hostel. This is a 45 bed hostel which has traded in the busy tourist centre of Drumnadrochit for 18 years.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to acquire a year round lifestyle business in the centre of the Loch Ness and Great Glen visitor experience. It is positioned both for the Great Glen Way and the main arterial A82 trunk road.
Loch Ness needs no introduction as the home of the Monster, but the Hostel attracts a much wider clientele than monster hunters. It is also used by walkers, both on the Great Glen and visiting the area to enjoy many nearby Munros and lower level walks. Since being featured in the Biker Guide the hostel has built a following in the motorbike community as being an affordable option on rideouts. Many visitors passing through to Skye and the West also make stopovers in the village.
The present owners have owned the Hostel since 2004 and built on its already strong brand by adding more accommodation and a licensed bar and function room. The hostel is split into two parts with the main house consisting of a mix of dormitory and family rooms, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and bar and function area and toilets and showers. The outside part has three dormitory rooms, double, kitchen, toilets and showers and staff accommodation.
This allows the outside part to be closed down in the Winter months and the main house can continue to operate.
Public Areas
The large bar area can seat 50 people and hosts the Friday night showing of the Loch Ness Film Festival each year. It is linked from the main house by a door off the dining room and leads through to the outside accommodation. The bar is equipped with IT so it can be easily used for hosting presentations for school groups or films. The bar has a disabled toilet and is fitted with white meter underfloor heating.
In the main house there is an additional dining area which seats 14, this allows the function room to be closed off at quiet times to reduce the heating costs.
There is also a small sitting room in the main house which has a stove and TV outlet points so it could be converted into a TV room if required.
In the house the toilets and showers are by the stairs to the upstairs accommodation. The showers have recently been converted to run from a 500ltr hot water tank.
There is also an additional toilet and shower block to service the outdoor accommodation. These showers are electric.
Accommodation
3 x 6 bed dormitory
2 x 7 bed dormitory
5 bed family room
4 bed family room
Twin room
Double room
4 bed staff room
2 bed staff room
In addition, there is an office with guest reception and a laundry room. There is a large wood shed to the rear.
Surrounding Area
The village of Drumnadrochit is the main centre for Monster spotting. A number of boat tours run from the harbour at Temple Pier and these also include trips around Urquhart Castle. The Castle alone has visitor numbers of 320,000 each year. In the centre of the village there is the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition Centre with a number of different shops and restaurants. Drumnadrochit is also now home to the Loch Ness Brewery which serves up its great product both in the village and as far away as the House of Parliament.
There are both Primary and Secondary Schooling in the village, the High School being in the Scottish top ten for its Higher results. Class sizes are small, some as low as 14, and the pupils benefit from an active outdoor sports, drama and musical focus.
Website
www.lochness-backpackers.com
Affiliations
The Hostel is a member of Scottish Independent Hostels, the Independent Hostel Guide and the Scottish Youth Hostel Association.
It is also marketed with the Great Glen Way Guide, VisitScotland, Hostelworld.com, hostelbookers.com, hostelz.com, The Biker Guide, Undiscovered Scotland and Cyclists welcome.
Viewing is strictly by appointment only.
Property Features :
- Licenced Bar and Function Room with projector and 120" screen
- 45 Beds including Private Family rooms
- Sitting room with Multi-fuel stove
- Two guest Kitchens
- Catering Kitchen