The hostel at Aultbea had a very slow start. In 1945 it was suggested that the NAAFI canteen be used, but it was found to be not suitable, no partitioning, bad state of repair, and attention switched to the Officers' Mess building. This was secured by 1947, but opening was delayed until 1950 by a series of problems, including court proceedings connected with crofting rights, at which the Association was an innocent bystander.

One problem at Aultbea was that the village of huts all around the Officers' Mess was gradually dismantled for disposal, leaving the hostel more and more exposed to the ravages of the weather.

Marion Grant grew up at the hostel, and writes:
My Mother was known as Han Hostel. She did the day to day running of the youth hostel and Dad, Kenny, also known to this day as Kenny Hostel, was the repair man!   Mam took over as warden I understand in 1963 or 1964 until it closed in 1979. Our living quarters were a bit basic. They consisted of two bedrooms, a sitting room, bathroom and kitchen and small cupboard known as the toy cupboard!

Aultbea Hostel was popular, and often crowded during the season, but by the end of the 1970s it had serious structural flaws and had to close. A continuing oddity concerning this hostel is that, although it functioned for 30 years, not a single photograph of it has ever emerged, and the only known illustration is the drawing from contemporary handbooks. We'd very much treasure any photograph of Aultbea for the Historical Archive and would like to put out yet another plea for one.


Taken from here