Bridge of Orchy Bunhkouse (Hotel one - not station)

Spent a weeekend at the BofO Hotel bunkhouse recently. The hotel has recently been very good value so thought I'd give their bunkhouse a try for a cheapie weekend....

See the pics. The bunkhouse had mould on the walls and on the blinds, broken showers and shower water pressure was uselessly low; broken shower lights and locks; front door needs repair (water swollen) and needs an antisocially hard bang to close it. Breakfast options also less interesting than the hotel menu.

All round a big disappointment - put me off staying at the hotel as well since the staff had a very "Oh, you're in the bunkhouse..." snooty attitude. Otherwise very friendly staff (apart from surly bar/house manageress).

A real shame all round as the bunkhouse is a nice building and the staff generally pretty good. I had high expectations but have stayed in better hostels.

Avoid - until they improve their manners and their maintenance. Review posted in appropriate section of site.

TS

It sounds like you had some bad luck being given a crappy room. I've stayed there a 3 or 4 times in the last 2 years and generally the experience was not that bad. I've stayed in several rooms there and not seen any dampness. Did you complain ? If so, how did they react?

There are 4 showers there - 2 upstairs & 2 downstairs. Did you try them all? The light was out in one of the downstairs showers a few weeks ago so it's probably the same room? Perhaps we should have reported it? I thought the pressure was fine but it was the temperature that peed me off. It was either chuffin' scalding or really cold. Its the same for the room heaters - they either roast ya nuts off or its just chilly.

Unfortunately, they have the upper hand on the punters due to the location. Also, to encourage you to eat in the hotel they do not provide a cooking area in the bunkhouse. That is a bit cheeky of them. I just bring my campstove and boil water in the car park for brews. Mind you, if you breakfast in the hotel, they'll happily give you a flask of hot water for nowt. A small thing but other places don't do it.
The Green Welly down the road is probably much better for breakfast as its cheaper and quick.

But on the plus side, the food in the hotel is blummin' fabulous so having your evening meal there is no hardship at all. The staff are usually friendly there but they are always very, very busy so you have to relax a bit and cut them some slack. I've never really found them that aloof. However the corkage fee of £5 per bottle does take the piss.
Having said all that if you get shitty service you should let others know.

Overall I'd give the bunkhouse 3/5. Its warm, dry and not that bad. (I've stayed in several houses-of-horror masquerading as bunkhouses in the past). If they sorted out the minor problems and provided a communal kitchen/lounge then it would be a great place. You could then go into the hotel on your terms and not feel like you're being forced into there to eat.

If you want to stay in a really nice bunkhouse - try the adventurers escape in Weem - its like a palace in comparison. Its great but always busy or fully booked.

Just down the road in Tyndrum there is also the "By the Way" hostel, which although they provide no meals (2 mins walk from the green welly) it has a fantastic kitchen. Bit pricey perhaps, but is more of a luxurious mountain lodge than a 'bunkhouse'.

Had to use the upstairs showers as both were out of action downstairs. The shower light was indeed one of the faults - so sounds like it was out of action for several weeks - for a £3 part...

I was prob. a bit harsh on the staff. But there's no excuse for poor maintenance - they were polite it was the "special rules for bunkhouse guests" that were a bit snubby and economically daft as by the time we've bought breakfast and diner etc we're only paying £20 less than hotel guests and incurring much smaller overheads. We certainly can't use up much hot water.

Look at the photos of the mould on the album thread - right next to the bed. Currently off work with strange cough...

I've seen this type of thing done so much better and usually cheaper abroad that it gets my rag as the whole tourist economy is afflicted by bad quality accom.

As for shower pressure - I'm not sure what is classed as a "good" shower, however I'm aware that the British hotel shower is something of an international joke. I mean a quality pump is only £150.

Perhaps we should be more vocal and complain more? It doesn't matter if you're in the hotel or the car park, if you pay for digs they should be of a certain standard.
The thing which really narks me is that a lot of areas in the UK are highly dependent on tourists and then you get a bum deal when you get there. It doesn't make sense. I can't see it changing quickly i'm afraid.

Ben's got a good point - By the Way is another nice place. It has little 4-man wooden huts which are great fun.

15 years ago it was an accommodation wasteland. Youth hostels or B&Bs (that didn't like walkers), or overpriced hotels. Then suddenly private bunkhouses appeared and people started to come to the hills.

I'm worried that all the good feeling generated will be lost if the buildings and services are not maintained.

Other cuplrit on my list would be Sligachan campsite. Went to Portree soon afterwards... cheaper and 100 times better/cleaner etc.

Its a real shame these place just take all the profits from fees yet never put anything back into the facilities! Looks orrible! A piddly shower ain't what you want after a hard days walking!

I stayed there a few years ago and would agree it's(the hotel bunkhouse) not the best of places, I recall trying to put people off a arranging a OM meet there. As I recall it didn't have any cooking kitchen\facilities either

The bar & restaurant at the hotel are fine though. Likewise the hostel up the road by the Railway Station is nice n clean with good facilities.

Christ that damn NZ pop up on the right is very annoying.