Skyewalker Hostel
9.6
Exceptional(521 reviews)
The Old School, Portnalong, Isle of Skye IV47 8SL, United Kingdom
+44 1478 640250
Hotel Description
Skyewalker Hostel, located at The Old School, Portnalong, Isle of Skye IV47 8SL, United Kingdom, is a unique and charming family-run hostel nestled in the scenic and tranquil surroundings of the Isle of Skye. This former 1920s school has been transformed into a welcoming space that offers guests the opportunity to experience the island's beauty in a comfortable and laid-back setting. With its rustic charm and relaxed atmosphere, the hostel is just 3 miles from the famous Talisker Distillery, known for its whisky production, and 20 miles from Portree, the island's largest town. Its location offers a perfect balance between seclusion and accessibility, making it an ideal base for those looking to explore the picturesque island. The surrounding area is filled with natural beauty, including Loch Harport, which is just a short drive away, and iconic landmarks such as the Fairy Pools and Dunvegan Castle, which are within a short driving distance. The hostel offers a range of budget-friendly accommodations, from cozy bunk rooms that sleep 2 to 10 people, making it a great option for both solo travelers and groups. The rooms are simple yet comfortable, with clean and modern furnishings, creating a peaceful environment to relax after a day of exploring. In addition to the basic amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi, the hostel features a well-equipped communal kitchen for guests to prepare their own meals, as well as a cozy lounge area with seating. Guests can enjoy regular live folk music performances, creating a vibrant and authentic atmosphere that captures the spirit of the island. One of the highlights of the hostel is its expansive 5-acre garden, which features a giant chess set, perfect for a leisurely game, and a stunning glass geodesic dome where guests can relax and enjoy the surroundings. The hostel also offers parking for guests, and the friendly and attentive staff are always available to ensure a comfortable stay. With its emphasis on community, affordability, and a laid-back vibe, Skyewalker Hostel is the perfect destination for anyone looking to experience the charm and natural beauty of the Isle of Skye while enjoying a simple, comfortable, and memorable stay. Whether you're here for hiking, whisky tasting, or simply soaking in the island's stunning scenery, Skyewalker Hostel provides a welcoming retreat in the heart of one of Scotland's most picturesque locations.
The Most Outstanding Trait
1. Featured in the top 7 hostels in Isle of Skye (2022 Backpacker Advice)
2. Guests praised the cleanliness and comfort of the bathrooms
3. A 4-minute drive to the scenic Loch Harport
4. Offering live folk music performances regularly for an authentic experience
5. 5-acre garden featuring a giant chess set and a geodesic dome for relaxation
6. Communal kitchen available for guests to prepare their meals
7. Simple and comfortable rooms with bunk beds that accommodate 2 to 10 people
8. Parking available with no additional charges
9. No pets policy ensuring a peaceful environment for all guests
10. Located just 3 miles from the Talisker Distillery and 20 miles from Portree
7.6 Very Good
Location rating
Top sights
Talisker Distillery
8 min
Fairy Pools24 min
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens45 min
Talisker Bay31 min
Loch Coruisk1 hr 25 min
See more Interesting locations
Good to know
| Check-in | 15:00 |
| Check-out | 11:00 |
| Location rating | 7.6 |
| Nearest airport | Benbecula Airport |
| Travel time to airport | 3 hr 32 min |
Recommended properties nearby
Location
The Old School, Portnalong, Isle of Skye IV47 8SL, United Kingdom
Airports:
Tiree Airport
Taxi: 8 hr 51 min
Transit: 30 hr 58 min
Stornoway Airport
Taxi: 4 hr 9 min
Transit: 21 hr 8 min
Benbecula Airport
Taxi: 3 hr 32 min
Barra Airport
Taxi: 5 hr 29 min
Transit:
Fiskavaig Road End
Walking: 5 min
Hostel Road End
Walking: 1 min
Crossroads
Walking: 9 min
Nearby locations
7.6
Very Good Location
Set in a former school built in the 1920s, this simple, family-run hostel is 3 miles from the Talisker Distillery and 20 miles from Portree.
Top Attractions
Amenities and Facilities
Pets
No pets
Parking & transportation
Parking
Policies & payments
Smoke-free property
Credit cards
Debit cards
Cash
Food & drink
No breakfast
Wellness
No fitness center
No spa
Internet
Wi-Fi
Pools
No pools
No hot tub
Rooms
No air conditioning
Kitchen in some rooms
Reviews
100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo
8.2
10 reviews
Wonderful
7
Excellent
1
Good
0
Below Average
0
Not Good
2
Priyanshi Mehta
5/5
Beautiful hostel, neat, and clean and tidy. Their kitchen is well equipped, so you can bring your groceries and can cook there. Washrooms were super clean. They have a drawing room, dining room, kitchen & garden, etc. Everything was well maintained. There was a dome in the garden where one can sit relax and enjoy the view. Highly highly recommend for the budget and super cool place to stay while in Skye.
Peter Kambo
4/5
Great hostel. Staff is very friendly and helpful. You can tell they really enjoy their job with the way they interact with guests. Got a chance to spend time with the owner, as we talked star gazing and worked on our photography skills. The kitchen is well equipped, showers are wonderful, and the outdoor space is very peaceful. Would highly recommend this hostel!
Tatjana Rasch
5/5
It took us 5 minutes to fall in love with the place.We felt so welcome. The hostel is absolutely clean and very well equipped. We had great nights in the solar dome (Dancing Queens 😉). The staff and the owners are fantastic, so nice and so helpful! We enjoyed it so much! And the brownie cake was delicious! We were in Scotland for two weeks and had 6 different accomodations but the Skyewalker was by far the best. Thank you guys for a fantastic time!
AB
Anne B
5/5
Really enjoyed our 2 night stay. Home from home, absolutely loved the quirky decor including in the bathrooms 😂. Spotless and smelt so fresh and clean. Facilities are ace, plenty of pristine showers and kitchen well equipped. …
Amal Friesen
5/5
Great accommodation run by a friendly and professional staff. There was an abundance of space for groceries and the kitchen, bathroom, and shower facilities remained spotless throughout our stay. They do a great job of protecting the peace and quiet for all guests after hours. Recommendations for what to visit and when were extremely useful and provided us a helpful insight into making the most of our time there. Wish we had stayed a week! The only potential drawback for some (not for us) would by the distance from Portree. With a car this wasn’t a problem for us but some might find it too far by bus. Would absolutely recommend for the no-nonsense travelers focused on hikes and outdoor activities.
Anamika Yadav
1/5
Thank you for responding to our review in a professional and respectful manner, at least on this public platform. We appreciate your effort to explain the situation from your perspective.However, we feel compelled to address a serious issue that we experienced during our stay. While you have chosen to highlight the noise issue, you have not mentioned how we were treated in relation to another matter. During our stay, we were unjustly accused of stealing a brownie from the kitchen. To clarify, we took what was initially mentioned as a complimentary brownie, only to find out later that it was not. When we realized there was a charge, we immediately went to inform the staff that we didn’t have cash (as there was no card machine available), but we were more than willing to pay by card.At no point did we refuse to settle the payment, yet we were spoken to rudely and outright accused of theft. For reference, the definition of "stealing" involves taking something without intending to return or pay for it. We openly communicated with the staff and offered to pay via card, which does not qualify as stealing by any means.We were particularly hurt by the way we were treated, as we felt that the comments made towards us went beyond the situation at hand and touched on biases related to us being a minority group. This, combined with the overall hostility, made our experience at your hostel one of the worst we’ve encountered in our travels.While we respect your right to maintain policies and procedures, we believe your staff could have handled the situation with more understanding and less aggression. We hope that in the future, all guests are treated with the dignity and fairness they deserve, regardless of their background.
Jessica Lopez
5/5
Wow. By far the best Hostel. Super clean, quiet guests, comfy beds (hard as rock pillows, bring own). Friendly staff, all amenities, clean showers. Excellent value. We will most definitely be back. 🏴❤️
Room 5
Service 5
Location5
PM
Pa M
5/5
This hostel is A REAL GEM : From the loveliest, most helpful staff you could find ( also : they will always respond to any queries you have on the most lovely walks, how to get there, they really know the isle ! .. …
Krista Prins
5/5
This is an excellent hostel. It is extremely well-kept and clean, and the staff (we interacted with Georgia the most) were top-notch in friendliness and helpfulness. They really know how to make you feel welcome. We stayed for 4 nights in a private bunk room for two. The mattresses were not our favourite; those probably need to be replaced soon. But the bathrooms are huge and clean, the kitchen is well-equipped and organized for any meal prep you want to do, and the dining area, lounge, and outside areas were cozy and welcoming. You’ll never run out of things to read or look at on the walls either! The location is a little off the beaten path but it’s beautiful and only minutes from Talisker Distillery. We used it as our main location to visit Skye in all directions. Get used to driving on those single lane roads with pullouts if you have a car! Would stay here again in a heartbeat.
vikas kashyap
1/5
I am writing a review again just to clarify the reason for 1 star. I didn’t want to do it but I guess I have no choice since the reply to my previous rating and review was not appropriate and at the same time I guess the one replying to the reviews should know about it. I totally appreciate the 11pm rule you have at the hostel and after being told we quietly went to our bed. No hard feelings in that.We had a brownie for breakfast and went to pay for it during check out at the reception. We didn’t know we needed cash to pay for it and we were bad mouthed for it. We requested the guy at the reception to allow us to use our card to pay for it. To this we were told that we are thief and we are stealing from them. Just so that you know, thief’s don’t go and pay for the things they use. It was not an appropriate response by any means and we felt being targeted for no reason at all.I have read many reviews highlighting you the reception service. It’s high time, instead of defending yourself on every review you need to look into it and try to improve. Maybe it’s time to review your services and your employees.I am waiting for a reply to this. I know I will get it because some people never want to improve.