{{Short description|Youth hostel organization}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox organization |name = Hostelling Scotland |image = Hostelling Scotland logo.svg |image_border = |image_size = |image_alt = Hostelling Scotland logo |caption = |map = |map_size = |map_alt = |map_caption = |abbreviation = Hostelling Scotland (HS) |formation = {{start date|1931}} |extinction = |type = Scottish Charity SC013138 |status = Company limited by guarantee SC310841 |purpose = ''Inspire all, especially young people to experience Scotland through the provision of great value and welcoming hostelling accommodation.''<ref name=about-us/> |headquarters = Stirling, Scotland |location = 53 hostels (29 HS, 24 affiliates)<ref name="hostel-search">{{cite web|url=https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/inspiration/view-all-hostels/ |title=View all Hostels|website=hostellingscotland.org.uk|access-date=9 September 2025}}</ref> |coordinates = |region_served = Scotland |membership = 13,223 (2024-25)<ref name=ar24-24>{{cite web|url=https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/media/r0ydstt2/hostelling-scotland-annual-report-202425.pdf|title=Hostelling Scotland Annual Report 2024-25|publisher=Hostelling Scotland|access-date=9 September 2025}}</ref> |language = English, Gaelic |leader_title = Chair |leader_name = Claire McCorquodale<ref name=about-us>{{cite web|url=https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/about-us/|title=About us|publisher=Hostelling Scotland|access-date=9 September 2025}}</ref> |leader_title2 = Chief Executive |leader_name2 = Margo Paterson<ref name=about-us/> |main_organ = |parent_organization = |affiliations = Hostelling International |num_staff = 129 Low Season<br /> 202 High Season (24/25)<ref name=financial-statement/> |num_volunteers = |revenue = £10,720,750<ref name=ar24-24/> |website = [https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk Hostelling Scotland] |remarks = }} '''Hostelling Scotland''' (SYHA; Gaelic: ''Comann Osdailean Òigridh na h-Alba'') is part of Hostelling International and provides youth hostel accommodation in Scotland.<ref name="SYHA about 2016">{{cite web | title=About SYHA | website=SYHA Hostelling Scotland | url=https://www.syha.org.uk/about-syha/about-syha.aspx | access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> {{As of|2025|September}} the organisation represents 53 hostels: 29 run by Hostelling Scotland and 24 affiliates.<ref name=hostel-search/>
Hostelling Scotland is a self-funding charitable organisation, and as a not-for-profit business invests all surplus back into the organisation, both to develop the network and to improve older hostels.<ref name=ar24-24/>
==History== The organisation was founded in 1931 as the '''Scottish Youth Hostels Association''' ('''SYHA'''). The first youth hostel in Scotland was a converted row of four cottages in Broadmeadows and opened on 2 May 1931.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Browse Resources: Records of the Scottish Youth Hostels Association {{!}} Archives and Manuscript Catalogue |url=https://manuscripts.nls.uk/repositories/2/resources/4279# |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=manuscripts.nls.uk}}</ref>
In 1938, there were more than 60 hostels and membership was approaching 20,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3UVAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xIQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4662%2C2603867 |title=Youth Hostels in Scotland |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |page=10 |date=16 June 1938 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> At its peak, the SYHA had 99 hostels; by 1995 this had reduced to 85.<ref name="Herald 22Jul1995">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12096160.Youth_hostels_pack_up_their_troubles/ |title=Youth hostels pack up their troubles |first=George |last=Hume |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=22 July 1995 |access-date=2 August 2016}}</ref> As of September 2025 there were 53 hostel in the network, 24 of which were independently-owned affiliate hostels such as those of the Gatliff Hebridean Hostel Trust and various local communities and authorities.<ref name=hostel-search/>
The organisation later became '''SYHA Hostelling Scotland''', then in 2018, the organisation rebranded as Hostelling Scotland, dropping the SYHA from their name.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.syha.org.uk/news-events/news/2018/february/welcome-to-our-new-brand-identity/|title=Our New Brand Identity | Hostelling Scotland|date=February 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319214533/https://www.syha.org.uk/news-events/news/2018/february/welcome-to-our-new-brand-identity/ |archive-date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
Today, Hostelling Scotland faces competition from the more numerous independent hostels, and from rural hotels which provide bunkhouse accommodation.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} It has been claimed that it has left its roots as a working class movement to "provide accommodation to people of limited means" behind, and become too expensive. The organisations's defenders, including Allan Wilson MSP, point out that hostellers today require higher levels of comfort than when the hostelling movement began.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=4304&i=29363 |title=motion S1M-1829 Official report 9 May 2001 |date=24 January 2014 |publisher= Scottish Parliament |access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref>
==Operations== [[File:Youth hostel road sign.svg|right|thumb|100px|Tourist sign used to indicated location of a Youth Hostel]] Hostels vary from modern purpose-built premises to historic buildings and country cottages, sited in major towns and cities and in rural locations, including remote islands.<ref>[https://www.syha.org.uk/media/3639/hostel-guide-2018-web_100.pdf Hostel Guide 2018], Retrieved 19 March 2018.</ref> Accommodation is generally dormitory-style but increasingly this is being subdivided into smaller units. For example, the most modern hostel, Edinburgh Central, has many single and twin-bedded rooms with ensuite facilities. All have a lounge, shared bathrooms and self-catering kitchens. Many hostels also make meals available for guests.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/what-to-expect/food-and-drink/|title=Food and Drink|publisher=Hostelling Scotland|access-date=9 September 2025}}</ref>
During 2024-25, Hostelling Scotland recorded 332,977 overnight stays in directly-operated hostels during the year, an increase of 5% on the previous year's figure of 317,447. 24% of guests came from Scotland; 28% came from England, Wales and Ireland; 36% came from elsewhere in Europe; and 12% were from the rest of the world.<ref name=ar24-24/> A further 49,930 overnight stays were recorded in the affiliated hostels.<ref name=financial-statement>{{cite web|url=https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/media/qxqf55fx/syha-group-financial-statements-at-31-january-2025v6_signed.pdf|title=Financial Statements Scottish Youth Hostels Association (also known as Hostelling Scotland and SYHA)|publisher=Hostelling Scotland|access-date=9 September 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
*{{citation |last=NLS |url=http://www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/cnmi/inventories/acc13372.pdf |title=Inventory. Acc.13372. Scottish Youth Hostels Association |publisher=National Library of Scotland |date=May 2014 |access-date=1 August 2016}}
==Source material== *{{cite book |last1=Martin |first1=John |title=An Illustrated Survey of SYHA's Youth Hostels 1931-2011 |year=2012 |publisher=SYHA |location=Stirling }}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk}}
{{Hostels}} {{Tourism in the United Kingdom}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Youth organizations established in 1931 Category:Organisations based in Stirling (council area) Category:Tourism in Scotland Category:Hostelling International member associations Category:Walking in Scotland Category:1931 establishments in Scotland Category:Charities based in Scotland Category:Youth charities based in the United Kingdom