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The Heb Hostel is a family run backpackers hostel in the centre of Stornoway, heart of the Outer Hebrides. Ideally situated close to the Stornoway-Ullapool ferry and main bus-station makes it a convenient stop/stay for travellers visiting the tranquil Western Isles. We offer 4 star accommodation at reasonable prices, close to all local amenities and our facilities include: cosy common room with peat fire; fully equipped kitchen; free self-service breakfast; comfy hand crafted beds; laundry; secure cycle shed; internet access and free wifi; hot showers; free bed linen; garden and BBQ area. We look forward to welcoming you here.
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I stayed at the hostel on 2 occasions for a total of 3 nights whilst walking The Hebridean Way. Online booking was very easy and Christine was extremely responsive with email. The location is brilliant. A 2 minute walk to the bus and the ferry. 5 minutes to the Co-op. Lots of coffee places around as well as Lews Castle. You honestly couldn’t beat it. I stayed in a female dorm. Linen was fresh and the ensuite bathroom was light and huge. Towel hire 1 pound. Bathmats and hand towels all clean and fresh. Great hot shower. There were also 2 other toilets on the floor (1 with shower). Comfy bed, spare pillows if needed. The communal kitchen was super well stocked with fridges, stove, pots, dishes, etc. Complimentary cereal, bread, coffee, tea, milk. Communal lounge was fantastic, really comfortable and clean. Lots of seating options plus extra benches and table. Nice fire. Hostel staff as well as Christine and her Dad were super friendly. Thanks Nathan for minding my tent, etc for a night. The atmosphere was really friendly with a wide range of ages. Really good experience. Highly recommended! Thanks all.…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A gorgeous, welcoming and well-equipped hostel at a very reasonable price. This is one of the nicest hostels I’ve stayed at for the all-round experience. The hosts are very welcoming and everyone was very relaxed. The location is central but quiet - near lots of food places. There is bike storage, a good kitchen, nice shared lounge, great washing and drying facilities and the beds were comfortable.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Bike storage available
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would avoid this place like the plauge especially if your young and its a place to get your head down I'm 31 I went with my 68 yes 68 year old father ego take medication we got told we had to leave with no ware else to go because he was snoring and talking in his sleep thinkbits because we were from Glasgow very unhygienic place to no hand sanitiser no covid measures and I had to go back as left a pair of 70pound shorts there and the owners dad and partner turned up and were very aggressive just because I was left outside waiting to see if they had found my shorts they didn't even bother to look and it's very smelly to not a place for kids anyway that's for sure 2 outta 10 ad give it so nit a place for people that are goun to the island for a night out as if u snore or make noise in your sleep you'll be checked out the next day …
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Date of stay: July 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Stay well clear especially if you snore in your sleep or talk
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Christine Macintosh, Owner at Heb Hostel
Responded 18 Sept 2023
It is difficult to know how to respond to this review as it is completely untrue from beginning to end. Your biggest claim being that my Father and Partner were aggressive towards you which they certainly were not. They did however have to attend the hostel due to you intimidating our staff after I told you it would not be possible to EXTEND your stay because of the many complaints we received from the other guests. I do not need to go into detail of what that entailed. As I said at the time, shared accommodation was not the appropriate type of accommodation for you. I wish you well, regardless. Christine
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Had a 1 night stay here during a cycle trip. Really friendly owners and the location is perfect for the ferry terminal, it’s a 2 - 3 minute walk away. We had a 4 bed dorm for our group, it was comfortable, quiet and excellent value. There is a recently updated bathroom with a good shower on the top floor as well as a second bathroom on the first floor, a well stocked communal kitchen, nice common room and best of all for a cycle trip there is a secure bike storage shed and a laundry room with washing/drying machines and a drying room. Loads of places to eat around about it as well.
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Date of stay: May 2023
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Plan ahead if you’ll be in the Outer Hebrides on a Sunday. Most places will be closed including...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We set off in the middle of the night for Stornoway after a phone call telling us our son was ill and had been airlifted from Harris to the Western Isles Hospital. We headed straight for the hospital when we got off the ferry to find him in the HDU and quite poorly. After leaving him we set out to find somewhere to stay while he recovered. Fortunately, the Heb Hostel had a private room available and were happy to leave our dates open until we knew what was happening with our son. The room was clean and comfortable, bathroom was spotless and the kitchen was warm and welcoming. Staff and guests were friendly and the hostel is well positioned for touring or just a pub and something to eat. Thank you all for your kindness and flexibility.
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Date of stay: November 2022
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great place, great location, great people... perfect stay, what else could we ask for ? Christine is so welcoming and the hostel has everything you need. Our families enjoyed our stay thanks to Christine support, suggestions and welcome.
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Date of stay: August 2022
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine is the most welcoming host and keeps here hostel immaculately clean. The building is a wonderful collection of retained heritage features and delightful quirks. Cyclist are made very welcome. Definitely be back.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Heb Hostel has been created from a traditional townhouse in the centre of Stornoway. As such, it is extremely well located and has been very well laid out to provide excellent facilities and comfortable rooms. Covid restrictions reduced Christine’s ability to open the full facility but she has done a great job in working out how to host travellers and keep to the rules. There is a shed round the back to keep bikes and a beautiful garden complete with Shepherd’s hut, a barbecue cabin and tree house all of which have been beautifully made and fitted into the garden so nicely. Christine who runs the hostel and her Dad, Tosh, are both hard working and lovely people who are very keen to make sure their guests are well looked after.
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Date of stay: May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lovely stay at the hostel. Room was big enough for the 5 of us and beds were comfy with nice duvets. Christine wasn't around and we were looked after by her mum, who was very helpful sorting out the shed for our bikes. Breakfast was supplied which set us up for our early ferry.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Christine Macintosh, Owner at Heb Hostel
Responded 10 Jun 2021
Hello Sarah, Thank you for your kind review. Sorry I did not meet you in person, but hopefully we can welcome you back sometime in the future. Christine :)
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed for three nights in the shepherds hut in the garden at the rear of the main hostel. Great value for money; very private, very cosy and completely self-contained. An excellent choice during the Covid era. A different experience to staying in a standard hostel. You have everything you need including private shower and toilet. We would definitely stay here again on our next trip to Lewis and Harris. Christine was really helpful in placing the booking during the uncertain times due to the pandemic.
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Date of stay: May 2021
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Room Tip:Quite, private and self contained.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Christine Macintosh, Owner at Heb Hostel
Responded 10 Jun 2021
Thank you Bill for your kind review. Was a pleasure meeting you both. I think you took the good weather with you though, so you must come back :) Hopefully see you again, Christine
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.