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FAQ
No question too small.
Frequently Asked Questions
We've collected some of our top questions here, but if you can't find the information you need, feel free to get in touch with us below.
Booking
How can I book?
Head over to our Bookings page where you can use the simple system to book your stay with us.
Are there any age restrictions for staying on site?
Children ages 5 and over are welcome, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. A child in the room counts towards the occupancy of the room.
What time can I check in?
Check in starts from 4pm. If you arrive after 9pm please be considerate of other guests who may already be sleeping in their rooms.
How do I check in?
In these current times of covid we're operating a self check in & out procedure:
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Few days before your stay, we'll send you a message with your room number & lockbox code. This lockbox contains your key and is outside your room.
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Pop in the code & grab your sanitised key.
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Open the door to your room & enjoy your stay!
When can I check out?
Check out is anytime before 10am.
What do I need to do to check out?​
Checkout is super simple:
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Please remove your bed linen, place it in the bag provided & leave in your room.
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Open the door & window.
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Leave your key in the door.
Can I check out later than 10am?
We ask that all rooms are vacated by 10am on departure day to give us time to fully clean them, so they're ready for our next guests. There might be the possibility you can check out later. If you think you may need a later checkout, let us know ahead of time and we'll see what we can do.
Is it possible to cancel or amend a booking.
We understand that due to covid and other situations things can change, please get in touch with us and we'll help you out.
If a booking is cancelled less than 7 days before arrival then a charge equal to the full booking amount will be made.
If the booking is cancelled 7 or more days before arrival then a charge equal to 30% of the stay will be made.
In the event of a no show or booking reduction (after arrival date) the full cost of the booking is charged.
I've not received my booking confirmation, what can I do?
Please check your spam filter first as sometimes emails can get wrongly put in there. If you've no luck with that, please email us and we'll help you out.
I cancelled my booking, but haven't received my refund yet, what's going on?
Our payment provider, Stripe, refund as a credit in approximately 5-10 business days, depending upon the bank. If nothing has shown up by then, please get in touch.
Can I turn up without a booking?
Sure, we accept bookings up until 9pm on the day of arrival at our hostel. Head over to our booking page, it's live and totally up to date, you can easily book from there, or give us a call if you get stuck.
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Booking
Bunkhouse
What accommodation do you have?
Highland Basecamp hostel has 12 private en-suite rooms. Our self catering accommodation in Lochaline has a spacious kitchen and lounge area to relax in at the end of the day.
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Where are you based?
We're in Lochaline in the Highlands of Scotland on the West Highlands Peninsula. It's a lovely little village with direct ferry access to the Isle of Mull. You can find us on What Three Words and Google Maps.
How can I get to you?​
If you're driving, Highland Basecamp is between 60 to 90 minutes drive from Fort William depending on which way you go.
Option 1 - The quick ferry hop
Drive south from Fort William & hop on the Corran Ferry. This is super simple, you just turn up and go, they shuttle back and forth in peak times. Times can be found on their website along with the first and last crossings. Keep an eye on their Twitter, because as of April 7th 2023 there is no ferry service due to mechanical issues with both vessels. This means the only route from Fort William is Option 2 below.
Option 2 - The scenic backup route
Take the A830 & A861 around Loch Eil, then follow the road south to Lochaline. This takes just over an hour and half, depending on traffic.
Option 3 - To take your time and MULL it over!
You could take the CalMac ferry from Oban to Craignure on Mull (pre-booking required), then after a short 10 minute drive on Mull, take a second ferry across to Lochaline from Fishnish (this one is turn up and go or pre-bookable). The CalMac website has all the details.
Cycling to Lochaline is also a great option and the roads are glorious for a bike tour, Komoot and Strava are the best mapping tools to use for this.
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There is a bus service from Fort William, all the info can be found on the Shiel Bus website.
Can pickup be arranged from the airport, train station or bus depo?
Through Highland Basecamp this isn't possible. The Highlands of Scotland has an excellent public transport network, and information on all of it can be found below.
Train in and around Scotland - ScotRail
Sleeper train from England - Caledonian Sleeper
Ferry - CalMac
Bus - Visit Scotland has loads of info here
Can you meet me at the Mull Ferry?
When you arrive into Lochaline from Mull you'll see us if you look west as you come into Loch Aline. Very soon we'll have a huge logo on the side of our Bunkhouse, so you won't miss us. Here's walking directions from the ferry terminal. (It's actually shorter than that as there's a cut through right next to the Lochaline Social Club which isn't showing on Google Maps.)
What happens when I arrive?
Drive up into our carpark (free of charge). In these current times of covid we're operating a self check in & out procedure:
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Few days before your stay, we'll send you a message with your room number & lockbox code. This lockbox contains your key and is outside your room.
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Pop in the code & grab your sanitised key.
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Open the door to your room & enjoy your stay!
How do I check out?
We're taking covid very seriously & we ask you to follow these 3 super simple steps when you leave in an effort to keep our staff and other guests safe.
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Please remove your bed linen and place it in the bag provided.
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Open the door and window.
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Leave the key in the door.
How many rooms do you have?
We have 12 en-suite bunk rooms along with a spacious self catering kitchen & lounge.
What's in my room?
Each of our 12 rooms at Highland Basecamp is en-suite. How cool is that! Each en-suite is a wet room with shower, sink, toilet and a convenient 3-in-1 hand wash, shower gel & shampoo.
The room itself has two ready made single bunk beds with...​
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​Anti-allergy hollow fibre duvet & 2 pillows
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100% cotton bed sheets
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Super soft towels
Underfloor heating keeps you nice & cozy after a day exploring. There's also plug sockets, bed side reading light and a chair to relax on along with a storage unit to unpack your things onto. Oh and there's a bin to keep things tidy.
Do you have laundry and drying facilities on site?
Our efficient drying room is fully open with plenty of space for drysuits, jackets, gloves and boots.
We don't have facilities for guest laundry, however there's a really good laundrette just next to the shop, 1 minute walk away from Highland Basecamp. Tokens can be purchased from the Lochaline Stores next to the laundrette, opening times can be found on their Facebook page.
Is bedding provided?
Absolutely. No need to bring your own. We supply lovely 100% cotton sheets and super comfy pillows.
Do I need to bring a towel?
Nope, there's soft and fluffy towels in your room.
Is there a hairdryer or kettle in the room?
Kettles can be found in the kitchen, and if you require a hair dryer we do have one we can lend you.
Do you have wifi?
Yep, the password is on the chalkboard at the front of the building, on a sign by the corridor, on the sign in the kitchen and it's on the info sign in your room, you really can't miss it. It's free, but as we're in the Highlands, it might struggle if all 12 rooms are trying to stream all at the same time so bare that in mind.
Are there plug sockets in the room?
Yes, each room has sockets to charge phones, tablets and laptops.
What are your opening times?
We're open all year round (apart from Christmas week). Our full availability can be seen on our bookings page.
Is there a place to store my luggage?
If your luggage is too big to go in your room, get in touch with us and we'll do our best to help you out.
Can I pay contactless?
All room bookings are taken online.
Our wee shop on site has a few bits and bobs along with a small selection of outdoor items to get you back on the road or in the water again. And yes, we accept contactless.
Can I bring my dog?
Give us a call about bringing your dog to Basecamp, we'd love to chat. More info here.
What's the parking situation like?
We have free on site parking for about 8 cars, and if this is full, there are spaces just down by the shop - 50m away from Highland Basecamp.
What is there to do in the area?
Loads and loads. Diving, snorkelling, cycling, walking, kayaking — the list is endless. We're in the process of making a page all about this, so keep an eye out. Follow our Instagram for what we get up to around Lochaline.
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Bunkhouse
Private Hire
Private Hire
Do you take booking for exclusive use of the whole site.
Yes we do. Dive clubs especially love Highland Basecamp and book out the whole site for private use, get in contact with us and we'll get the ball rolling. Depending on current covid guidelines, if you're booking out the whole site, the storage spaces and common areas can be tailored to your needs. Please no stag or hen dos.
Am I able to bring an unlimited number of people together?
Nope sorry - only those booked and staying on site are to use the facilities.
Will anyone else be on site during my private hire?
Nope, it's all yours. We will of course come and make sure everything is okay and that you've got everything you need for your stay.
Will I have use of all the rooms.
Yep, for private hire, all 12 twin bunk rooms are yours: that's 24 guests maximum. Along with the decking, lounge and self catering kitchen.
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Covid
Covid
Our latest updates on covid can be found over on this page.
What covid measures do you have in place?
We're taking all the necessary precautions to make Highland Basecamp as clean & covid safe as possible. Our site is pretty unique in that all 12 rooms open to the outside meaning social distancing is easier to achieve.
We're putting extra measures in place to make sure the rooms are deep cleaned and sealed after each booking. We also have hand sanitising stations around our site and a self check in/out procedure.
Please head over to our Covid page for more detailed information.
How will queues at reception be managed?
The great thing about Highland Basecamp is we operate self check in & out — there's no need for a reception which reduces the risk of covid.
We have a small shop with a sheltered outdoor area if you've questions after you've arrived. If you can't find us, give us a call, we're never far away.
Can I share a room with anyone outside my household?
All our rooms are private and en-suite. We ask that all guests abide by current government guidelines, more info can be found on gov.scot.
What if I feel unwell when staying?
Please do not use the common areas and let a member of the team know immediately, contact details are in the room or on your confirmation email.
How do you manage social distancing?
All 12 of our private en-suite rooms at Highland Basecamp open directly to the outside and there is no shared sleeping dorm rooms at Highland Basecamp. We have a whole page all about Covid here.
Are guests required to wear face coverings?
We ask that all guests abide by current government guidelines, more info can be found on gov.scot.
Can I meet up with friends and family at Highland Basecamp?
Right now, only those who've booked a room are permitted to use the inside communal areas (self catering kitchen and lounge). This allows us to protect our guests & the local community by minimising social contact.
Will my room be cleaned mid stay?
To protect our staff, we will not be cleaning rooms mid stay.
How are my pillows protected from the virus?
All our soft pillows have a pillow protector on them as well as a pillow case, and both are appropriately washed in-between guests.
Do I need to share a room?
All our twin rooms are private, so when you book, you're booking out the whole room. Each room has a private en-suite shower and toilet for your exclusive use.
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