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Scotland's hostels serve the country's visitors well. Unlike many of its neighbors in Europe, some of the best sights to see in Scotland are in the country. The rolling green fields and epic skies, not to mention Stonehenge, are all a fair trip away from the closest Marriott. Hostels, however, are often located throughout the countryside, offering the budget traveler a convenient way to spend the night near their next destination.

Hostels in Scotland are most often family owned and operated, so rules and fees may vary from place to place. Check that there is not a curfew or closing time or other restriction before assuming that you can show up in the middle of the night.

Backpackers may also find hostels to be a welcome relief after camping day after day while trekking across the highlands. If you're feeling the need for some urban accommodations, the hostels in Scotland are located quite near the downtown area and sights such as Prince Street and Edinburgh castle.

Hostels can also be a good, way to stay the night in between one of Scotland's numerous concert festivals. Way better than a tent in a field. You'll have to commute to and from the festival, but with a warm bed and hot shower at the end of the day, when the opportunity to sneak backstage presents itself, you'll be ready. Hostels fill up fast during these events, so check with the hostel or make a reservation online before showing up cold and tired hoping for a bed for the night.

Scotland hostels tend toward dorm style rooms, although private rooms are becoming more common in hostels, as they are all across Europe. Hostels are finding that they can take a piece of the hotel market by offering the security and peace of mind of a bed room with a lock on the door and a safe place to leave gear, while equipping lodging with shared bathrooms and facilities that save on cleaning and maintenance costs.

Because of this need to compete with hotels, the general quality of Scotland's hostels is very high. Don't expect a four-poster bed, but there is a high chance of carpet and curtains in Scotland, which sometimes isn't standard fare in other hostels.

If you are worried about privacy but can't book a private room, even the dormitory style rooms are separated by gender. And some hostels offer lockers or cabinets in their rooms, so travelers can stow their laptops or valuable equipment while they embark for the day. It may be wise to carry your own padlock however, some hostels provide cabinets with latches, but no locks.

Most Scotland hostels and hostels in Europe began with a focus on younger patrons, but today youth hostels are becoming popular among middle aged travelers too. Although the average age of occupants might still be hovering somewhere around 30 it is not uncommon for boomers trying to save a buck to be sprinkled in among the youths on a month-long pub crawl across the continent.