Hostel History

Did you know that the village of Banavie may have connections with St Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland (and teacher to Saint Columba).  It is said by some that he was born in the area around AD 389 and lived in a small cottage in Banavie.  The area may have been visited by Queen Victoria on her travels through Scotland whilst looking for a Scottish residence? We say, 'may have' because although we have researched this to the best of our abilities, we cannot find definitive answers.

  Make up your own minds as you check out the links:

• St Patrick's link to Banavie Scotland
•  A Potted History

There is one thing that we do know, and that is that our hostel, which we call Chase The Wild Goose Hostel, is the one of the only remaining buildings of the area, built around the 1830s as the Lochiel Arms Hotel, and possibly providing accommodation and 'inn facilities' for those working on the building of the Caledonian Canal.  Later it was extended/incorporated into what was the only building in the area, the Banavie Hotel, an imposing mansion of a building which served tourists visiting Scotland by steamer from Oban, and by train from London, Edinburgh and onwards to the Isle of Skye. 

Around 1850 the Locheil Arms Hotel/Banavie Hotel was a major draw to the Scottish Highlands, commanding thebest views of rugged Ben Nevis, with commodious rooms, indoor bathroom facilities and personal service.

Records have it that in 1873 Queen Victoria, who had an affinity with all things Scottish, travelled by train through Fort William in her endeavours to obtain a royal residence in Scotland.  Queen Victoria may have stayed at the Banavie Hotel, but it is more likely she simply passed by perhaps offering the staff and guests a cursory wave.

In 1924 the Great Building of the Banavie Hotel was destroyed by fire, being of remote situation beyond reach of any effective fire fighting machines.  Only the pre-existing section which had formerly been the Lochiel Arms Hotel was left standing.

Rubble removed, the site around the Lochiel Arms became the location of the Banavie School and the Lochiel Arms Hotel became the school hostel, providing dormitory accommodation for school children travelling from many miles around, it is thought in the 1950s.

It is said that once the school closed, with the building of a new school along the road, the hostel was used temporarily as a shop, as a police station and as a post office, but after a period of dereliction it was renovated in the 1990s to become the Banavie Guest House, providing guest accommodation for groups and individuals, drawn to the area for the superb climbing and walking offered by Ben Nevis and the nevis Range.

The present owners of Chase The Wild Goose Hostel acquired the building in 2006, deriving the hostel name from Celtic roots, and related to the Wild Goose well known to visitors to Iona, the 'place of resurrection' of St Columba, once a student of St Patrick of Ireland, unaware of the Celtic birth-connection claimed by the local Banavie residents.

The hostel itself offers budget quality accommodation now to backpackers and travellers from all around the Globe.  The gentle hospitality and values once taught by St Patrick, then by St Columba now oozes from the pores of this little hamlet; friendly, unassuming warmth contained now within the walls of this little hostel, yet sent forth to all the corners of the world.     

Stay at Chase the Wild Goose Hostel at Banavie near Fort William Scotland for comfortable, friendly backpackers accommodation