Following the success of the recently introduced £2 Highland Bus Fare Cap, the Scottish Government have announced that buses across much of the West Coast of Scotland will now also be capped at just £2 for a single fare. It's a move that's great for both locals, tourists and backpackers alike - as the cap applies both on local routes and some long distance bus services connecting backpacking hubs like Oban, Fort William and Glasgow.

Make your New Year's unforgettable with six days of Scottish adventure, city exploring and Highland magic! Start your trip in the heart of Edinburgh with welcome drinks, a Scottish whisky tasting and tasty nibbles, before joining a traditional Scottish ceilidh party. Join a traditional Scottish Folk Dance party at Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh. ​ Explore Scotland's capital on a guided Edinburgh walking tour, discovering the city's winding Old Town streets, fascinating histo

In honour of the late and great Dolly Parton, our backpackers donned their rhinestone cowboy hats and took to the cobbles of Edinburgh last night for an evening of live music, karaoke, drinks and new friends. Guests who stay at Castle Rock Hostel, High Street Hostel or Royal Mile Backpackers get to join our FREE weekly bar crawl all around the city's best watering holes when they stay on a Thursday night.

Taking advantage of the weather late this Summer and heading off to climb Scotland's tallest mountain? Staying in hostels before and after your hike makes things easy and affordable, without any of the fuss of booking an Airbnb out in the sticks. Staying in the nearby large town of Fort William or a little further out in the well-connected Loch Ness area offers you flexibility, affordability, and the chance to make the most of your time in the Highlands.

As great as August in Edinburgh can be, a few days of the jam-packed Royal Mile can leave anyone ready for a breather. If you want to step away from the festival crowds without throwing your travel budget out the window, heading north into the Highlands is easier - and far cheaper - than most people realise. A trip to a backpackers hostel on Loch Ness might be just what the doctor has ordered.

If you didn't know it was happening, Edinburgh hosts the world's largest arts festival every August - the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It's an incredible opportunity for backpackers to explore some incredible comedy, theatre, music and more - and with shows on offer with free tickets - can even be really affordable if you play your cards right.

Want to get the most out of your backpacking trip to Edinburgh without the fuss? For backpackers on a budget and on a mission to do as much as possible with their time, there's nothing better than our new STH Experiences page. It puts everything directly onto a single, live-updated dashboard. You can instantly filter through daily events, compare prices, and check exact departure times for local walking tours, live music gigs, whisky tastings, and group pub crawls...

If you're a backpacker or budget traveller looking to tick off some of the most classically Scottish sights and experiences in one day, the Highland Cows & Scotland Castles 1 Day Tour from Macbackpackers is exactly what you're looking for. Leaving with from the doorstep of Castle Rock Hostel, this 10-hour itinerary packs in all the magic of the Highlands without the fuss.

This exclusive deal won't be found on third party booking platforms or apps, just here on the Scotland's Top Hostels website. There's no promo code, no fuss, just put your dates in, see what's available at our affordable, social hostels, and you'll unlock 10% off your stay.

There are a few things that immediately come to mind when you hear 'Scotland' - Loch Ness, big fluffy cows, castles, and bagpipes. Well, I can't promise the latter, but if you book a stay at Lochside Hostel in Loch Ness, I can guarantee you a big Loch, a hairy coo, and (what's left) of a big castle. The best part? The trip to and from the hostel will cost you just £2 each way. Find my trip report from my journey with my friends Alice and Anne below.

Don't think this is a day sat on a bus staring out the window - this tour will get you out and about on hikes, having sips of whisky with new pals, and maybe even a dip in some mythical waters with healing powers.

Were you with us on our last FREE weekly Edinburgh backpackers' pub crawl? Got FOMO? Want to see if you can find that picture of yourself from last night before things got a wee bit blurry? Or that stunning group pic?

If you're short on time but want to pack in some of Scotland's most iconic sights during your trip to our wee country, Macbackpackers has the answer for you. The new Highland Cows & Castles Day Trip is a jam-packed 10-hour adventures designed for budget travellers and backpackers aged 18-35 who want a taste of the Highlands without the overnight stay.

Travelling to the Isle of Skye used to be an expensive business from anywhere in the country - going back just to the start of the year a one-way bus ticket from the Highland Capital of Inverness would set you back something around ~£30. But backpackers heading to the Scottish Highlands & Islands this summer have had a massive game-changing stroke of luck - you can now make this journey by bus for just £2.

Pitlochry, located in Highland Perthshire around just two hours on the bus or train from the Scottish Capital Edinburgh, has been named Britain's 'most exciting place to see theatre' by national newspaper The Herald this week. We're diving into why this hidden gem is a must-do on any backpacking itinerary in the Highlands this summer.

Good news! We're bringing down prices for selected dates the rest of this June at our central, vibrant, social Castle Rock Hostel. With 3 large lounges catering to all vibes from social to laid-back, daily social events including a free Solo Traveller Meet-Up, a well-equipped kitchen, and free tea & coffee 24/7, it's the perfect backpacker stay in the city centre.

Looking at a last minute city break this June? Backpacking around Europe and not sure what your next stop should be? Edinburgh, the Scottish Capital, can sometimes be a pricey place to stay, but with cheap Ryanair & Easyjet flights from most of Europe landing in the city, it's certainly an affordable place to get to.

While many brave souls bring along packed down camping gear with them, you might want to consider taking the hostel route along this picturesque trail. Scottish weather is famously unpredictable, and the hostels along the route all offer a fantastic balance of affordability, comfort, and an opportunity to spend your evenings meeting other hikers, bikers, and backpackers from all across the world.

We're not usually the ones to blow our own bagpipes, but when the global travel community speaks, it's rude not to. Our Edinburgh hostels have consistently won Hostelworld's HOSCARs, among the most well-recognised awards in the backpacking industry, for their inclusive atmospheres, incredible buildings, commitment to sustainability, central location, and welcoming staff.

Sceptic? Believer? Either way, nobody travels to Loch Ness without at least secretly hoping to spot a mysterious ripple in the water. The myth, the legend, ultimate hide and seek champion, Nessie could be jut a glance away. But you don't need to be on the shores of Loch Ness to join the hunt anymore. We've launched Nessiecam, our official Live Loch Ness Webcam, to give monster hunters the upper hand.