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Archive photos released to celebrate 95 years of Scotland's youth hostels

Hostelling Scotland A colour picture of a large group of people standing in sunshine outside a large white-walled building with a blue-painted porch. The group is made of men, women and children. Some of them are wearing shorts and short sleeves.Hostelling Scotland
A group outside Lochranza hostel in Arran in August 1959

Hostelling Scotland has released a set of archive photographs to mark its 95th anniversary.

The not-for-profit organisation started providing holiday accommodation in February 1931 in a converted cottage in Broadmeadows in the Scottish Borders.

It now operates 27 youth hostels and 24 partner hostels across Scotland.

For decades the charity was known as Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) and was rebranded Hostelling Scotland in 2018 as part of an effort to increase its appeal to younger people.

Hostelling Scotland A black and white photo showing part of the hostel and Loch Ossian and mountains beyond it. A man wearing a kilt is leaning against a wall and an open door where three people stand talking to him.Hostelling Scotland
A picture postcard view at Loch Ossian on Corrour Estate in the Highlands
Hostelling Scotland A cover for a Youth Hostels Association guidebook from 1938. The black and white illustration shows two people resting under a tree and waving to a man and woman riding by on a tandem bicycle. There are mountains in the background. The lettering on the cover is in red and black.Hostelling Scotland
The cover of a Youth Hostels Association guidebook from 88 years ago

Hostelling Scotland said it had hosted 50 million overnight stays since 1931.

Chief executive Margo Paterson said: "How amazing to see the rich history captured in these images, and to reflect on just how much hostelling in Scotland has evolved over the past 95 years.

"What began with a single converted cottage in 1931 has now become a nationwide network welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests each year and supporting communities across the country."

She added: "These photographs show not only how our hostels have changed, but at the same time how the purpose behind them has remained constant: offering an affordable, welcoming way for people to explore and enjoy Scotland."

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Hostelling Scotland A black and white photo of a small, white-walled building among sand dunes by the seaside.Hostelling Scotland
An archive image of the hostel at Achmelvich beach in the north-west Highlands
Hostelling Scotland A black and white picture showing three women are making up single beds.Hostelling Scotland
A photo taken at Rowardennan on the banks of Loch Lomond
Hostelling Scotland A large sandstone brick building with a tall chimneys on its steeply peaked roof. The hotel overlooks a large loch.Hostelling Scotland
Gairloch Sands youth hostel in the Highlands
Hostelling Scotland A black and white image of a group of young people sitting at wooden tables inside the hostel. One of the group is playing a stringed musical instrument, while others drink tea.Hostelling Scotland
A group of people enjoying an evening at Skye's Glenbrittle hostel
Hostelling Scotland A cover of the Scottish Youth Hostels Association's 1945 handbook. The cover has an illustration of an night-time scene. The sky is dark blue and dotted with stars, including the Ursa Major constellation, also known as the Plough or Big Dipper. There is also the silhouette of a single storey building with light shining from three windows and open door.Hostelling Scotland
The cover of SYHA's 1945 handbook
Hostelling Scotland A black and white image showing a farm steading and two wooden buildings in a rugged, hilly landscape.Hostelling Scotland
Glen Affric youth hostel near Cannich in the Highlands
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