Castle Rock Hostel

Castle Rock Hostel is at 15 Johnston Terrace in Edinburgh's Old Town, on the road that runs directly beneath the walls of Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Mile and the Castle Esplanade are a short climb away, the Grassmarket lies just downhill, and Victoria Street, the National Museum of Scotland and Greyfriars Kirkyard are each within about ten minutes on foot. Waverley station is roughly fifteen minutes away, and the position makes the hostel one of the most atmospheric budget bases in the city. The building is a historic stone structure typical of the Old Town, and the hostel offers a social, backpacker-oriented atmosphere. Accommodation consists of dormitories of varying sizes, with lockers for valuables, and guests share bathrooms. A self-catering kitchen allows travellers to prepare their own meals, which helps manage costs in an expensive city, and a lounge provides a place to meet other guests, plan day trips and relax. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. There is no on-site restaurant or spa, and the focus is affordable beds, common spaces and an excellent location. The staff are generally informal and helpful, providing local tips, maps and information on walking tours, pub crawls and day trips to the Highlands, St Andrews or Loch Ness. The hostel attracts solo travellers, backpackers and groups of friends, and the atmosphere is typically sociable. Prices range from about £20 to £70 per night depending on dorm size, season and day of the week, with the highest rates in August and at Hogmanay. Visitors should bring a padlock for lockers if one is not provided, and earplugs are useful in shared dorms. Because of the steep streets around the castle, travelling light is advisable.