The Hostelz.com Review
The West Highland Way Sleeper is uniquely situated in the old station building on the platform of Bridge of Orchy train station. The train station is still in use, but don't be put off by thinking it'll be noisy as there are only about six trains passing through a day.
The hostel sleeps 15 people in two uni-sex dorms. One dorm has two triple bunks and the other room has three triple bunks. Each bunk has a reading light and curtains you can pull to surround the bed for privacy. Linen is provided.
The hostel is well looked after and clean. It has a quiet but nice atmosphere. There is a tidy and well equipped kitchen and a dining and TV room with videos and board games you can use. Bathrooms are ensuite to each dorm and are clean and modern.
The only down side to this hostel is that because of the structure of the building, you have to go outside to get from the dorm to the kitchen.
As far as the location goes, it is very remote. There are no shops in Bridge of Orchy so if you plan to use the kitchen you need to bring your own supplies with you. The hostel does sell as few basic groceries, breakfast, and packed lunches. There is a hotel in the town where you can buy dinner, but it is not cheap.
There are a few good short walks from here utilising parts of the West Highland Way. It is also 12 miles from Glencoe ski resort. You could spend a few days here or it makes a comfortable one night stop along the West Highland Way.
Getting there:
• By Car - Look for the road signs to Bridge of Orchy train station off the A82, 6 miles north of Tyndrum or 12 miles south of the Glencoe ski field.
• By Train – Just get off the train at Bridge of Orchy train station and you're there.
• By Bus – You want the Glasgow – Isle of Skye Citylink service. The bus will drop you off and pick you up outside the Bridge of Orchy hotel. Walk up the hill across the road from the hotel for about 100mtrs. The road goes to the right at the top of the hill and you walk about 50mtrs and you will come to the station underpass on your left.
• By Foot – The West Highland Way walk passes right past the Bridge of Orchy train station.
The hostel sleeps 15 people in two uni-sex dorms. One dorm has two triple bunks and the other room has three triple bunks. Each bunk has a reading light and curtains you can pull to surround the bed for privacy. Linen is provided.
The hostel is well looked after and clean. It has a quiet but nice atmosphere. There is a tidy and well equipped kitchen and a dining and TV room with videos and board games you can use. Bathrooms are ensuite to each dorm and are clean and modern.
The only down side to this hostel is that because of the structure of the building, you have to go outside to get from the dorm to the kitchen.
As far as the location goes, it is very remote. There are no shops in Bridge of Orchy so if you plan to use the kitchen you need to bring your own supplies with you. The hostel does sell as few basic groceries, breakfast, and packed lunches. There is a hotel in the town where you can buy dinner, but it is not cheap.
There are a few good short walks from here utilising parts of the West Highland Way. It is also 12 miles from Glencoe ski resort. You could spend a few days here or it makes a comfortable one night stop along the West Highland Way.
Getting there:
• By Car - Look for the road signs to Bridge of Orchy train station off the A82, 6 miles north of Tyndrum or 12 miles south of the Glencoe ski field.
• By Train – Just get off the train at Bridge of Orchy train station and you're there.
• By Bus – You want the Glasgow – Isle of Skye Citylink service. The bus will drop you off and pick you up outside the Bridge of Orchy hotel. Walk up the hill across the road from the hotel for about 100mtrs. The road goes to the right at the top of the hill and you walk about 50mtrs and you will come to the station underpass on your left.
• By Foot – The West Highland Way walk passes right past the Bridge of Orchy train station.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
May 2005
Their Description
Special Note from Hostelz.com: West Highland Way Sleeper is no longer listed in any of the hostel booking systems, and the website we had listed for it is no longer up. There is a good chance they may have closed down. If you have any information about it, please let us know with the Listing Update Form.
For alternative options in Bridge of Orchy, see the Bridge of Orchy Hostels list.
For alternative options in Bridge of Orchy, see the Bridge of Orchy Hostels list.
West Highland Way Sleeper DetailsDetails
Checkout: 10:00 (10 AM)
Curfew: No Curfew
Maximum Stay: Unlimited
Minimum Stay: 1 night
Size: Small (less than 30 beds)
Open Dates: Throughout but always ring in advance
Reception Hours: 17.00 to 22.30
Free Amenities
Luggage Storage Parking BedsheetsOther Features
Smoke-free Credit Card Payments Clothes Dryer Food/Restaurant Hot Showers Concierge / Info Desk Laundry Lounge Area Wheelchair AccessibleNot Offered
Wi-Fi in LobbyAllowed
Service Animals
Map Location/ContactHow is West Highland Way Sleeper rated on other websites?
Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Excellent bunkhouse, clean, comfortable, and fantastic value. We all had a great time staying at The West Highland Way Sleeper and the breakfast was second to none -- we were certainly glad of it during the downpour that accompanied us that day. Moreover we had the benefit of a clean comfortable night's sleep to set us all up for "the devil's staircase" in Glencoe. The owners' kindness was much appreciated and we have all made a point of telling anyone who'll listen of the merits of our stop-over in Bridge of Orchy. — Craig, UK (2009-08-01) Warm, inviting, pleasant, comfortable, great food Very obliging and helpful. Excellent food. Very "different" experience compared to most hostels. — Steve, UK (2009-07-26) Immaculate presentation! Very clean. The solidly built bunks and privacy curtains are really great. The video collection is a nice touch, though it seems a shame there are folks arriving in this fabulous location and wanting to sit in front of a small square screen. The welcome is a little Blackpool landlady — somewhat rule-bound and I found myself wondering whether this is really a hostel or a semi-suburban B&B with an identity crisis lost on the West Highland Way.
The bunks look very inviting but I discovered they are barely long enough for a 5'9" female — so they must be really restricting for anyone taller or broader. The mattresses are thick and sprung, but mine felt like I was sleeping on a bag of miscellaneous ironmongery, as the springs stuck out. Others in the dorm agreed. I had nightmares of a gremlin sitting on my chest poking long bony fingers into my ribs. We were in the smaller dorm and could find no opening windows. With five people asleep in a relatively small space, it was stifling.
Use of electric plug-in air fresheners is an inadequate substitute for pure fresh air — disappointing in this location. These air fresheners pump out poisonous substances, too. There was only one electric plug in the dorm, and a ban on doing any laundry at the hostel — a tad restrictive for folks who may be carrying everything they need on their backs. The phone at the hostel is for outward bound calls only (apparently because it is also used as business line). Thank goodness there was mobile phone signal, providing you can find a plug to charge the phone. Do the owners of this hostel really understand the needs of long distance and hill walkers? I am not convinced. The facilities here are far better than at the hotel bunkhouse (the only alternative budget accommodation) but I got a better night's sleep when I stayed at the bunkhouse. — Anonymous (2005-05-19)