Sail Mhor Croft Hostel

The wind off the Minch carries salt and the cry of gulls, and at night the darkness here is absolute — the kind that reveals stars you'd forgotten existed.

This far-flung croft on the northwest Highlands coast offers both hostel beds and camping pods for those who want a roof but not quite four walls. It's a place for walkers tackling the peaks around Dundonnell and Ullapool, for anyone chasing proper remoteness without going full wild camp, and for travellers who don't mind that facilities are basic and the nearest shop isn't next door. Dogs may be welcome — worth asking when you book — and the location puts you squarely in some of Scotland's most dramatic, least-trodden country.

Year-round opening means you could have this place under snow or midnight sun. Campfires depend on conditions, so check when you arrive. Expect simplicity, solitude, and the sort of raw coastal beauty that makes you understand why people drive this far north in the first place.