Staying at the Dalwhinnie Old School Hostel Day 16 LEJOG

I stayed at the Dalwhinnie Old School Hostel on Day 16 of my Lands End to John O’Groats ride.  Dalwhinnie is situated just off the A9 on the downhill from the highest point on my LEJOG ride, the Drumochter Pass.  After the gentle climb of over 20 miles from Blair Athol, you reach the summit of the Dromochter Pass and after riding downhill for a few more miles you arrive in the village of Dalwhinnie.

The Old School Hostel is situated in the middle of the village close to the train station.  As the name suggests it is the old school building that has now been converted into a hostel.  Owned and hosted by Lee, I found this place to be excellent, spotlessly clean, with fantastic facilities, and very welcoming.

The room I stayed in had a comfy double bed, Sky TV, and a very clean shared bathroom.  The lounge area again had Sky TV and a lovely warm log burner.  The kitchen area is all you need to make meals if necessary and it is set in some wonderful gardens.  There was covered bike parking which is a great added bonus for those using it for LEJOG.

If like me you are cycle touring there is an option to carry out some necessary washing, for a fee of only £5 I was able to get my gear washed and dried before I set off the next day.

There are not a lot of services in Dalwhinnie however if you are lucky enough to stay on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, The Lodge Bar will be open which is only a very short walk from the Old School.

The Lodge has an excellent selection of beer and Scotch whisky as well as some very tasty home-cooked food. The hosts are really friendly and it is a welcoming place to spend the evening.

It was here I met some fellow LEJOGers as well as some walkers making the most of the Scottish Highlands.