To want a female only dorm in a bunkhouse?

[Firefightress1]

Im doing a long walk next month in the highlands of scotland. Accomodation is limited to hostels and bunkhouses in some locations. Apparently they are no longer able to ask your gender so all rooms in the bunkhouse I am staying are unisex.

I've asked to be put in with another female and been told the other bunk is booked but because of gdpr they can't tell me if I am sharing with a male or female.

Is this not completely bonkers? Am I being unreasonable to want to know who is going to be in the same room as me while im sleeping or is this just normal and the risk you take?

I'm perplexed and a bit stressed about it.

In which case I’d get to Kingshouse for the bus (you’ll need to book) and travel elsewhere on the Way for that night, being dropped back off at Kingshouse the next morning to continue your walk. I don’t think there’s anything else you can do. We walked in May last year and had to base our whole start date around Kingshouse because like you say there’s not another option really x

Can you not book into one of the 4 or 6 bed rooms so it’s not just you and one other?

You do have a choice, you don’t have to go on this trip. Yes, it will be a missed opportunity, but staying in a room with a stranger is inherently risky, even if that stranger turns out to be female. If it turns out to be a male, then sleeping in that room is…. well, I’m not going to start victim blaming so I’m not going to say what I really think about taking that risk.

Could you book out a whole 4 bed room, which would still be cheaper than the hotel? If there are any available.

Tbh, they are quite clear up front about being mixed sex. I would have to have checked this and would decide on whether the whole trip was possible or not based on whether I could get a single sex room, by booking both beds in a two bed.

I would rather camp in a one person tent, or under a rock, than sleep in a room with one man that I did not know. Sorry you are facing such rotten options OP.

Bunkhouses have always varied, many didn't have single sex dorms even 25 years ago. Proper youth hostels do tend to have a single sex option. Remember many bunkhouses only have one room.

YHA do not have single sex rooms. They have single gender rooms.

Mixed reviews and thank you to everyone for your opinion. I have tried to pay extra for a 2 or 4 bedroom but they are too busy. Its 1 night of 4 so I guess I'll just have to suck it up and hope my bunkmate, whomever they are, are lovely. I still think in 2024 you should be able to choose a female only room esp for 2. I've made my bed as they say......

I actually booked that 2 bed bunk room with a friend on the WHW last year and was not that impressed (on the claustrophobic side..) so went mad and upgraded to the hotel, which was lovely after a hard days walk. The Glencoe mountain resort has pods? Maybe option?

Thanks but I've already said I tried there first and I can't afford 288 quid for a hotel room unfortunately

Then a bus up to Glencoe town could possibly work? The stop is just outside the Kingshouse. Best of luck whatever you decide and enjoy the walk - it is fabulous!

Take a rape alarm with you just in case but what a complete safeguarding fail! Scotland has gone mad.

That's not quite correct.
Any male could declare themselves female and tick the box. Their law states that no one can oppose this 🤷‍♀️

You can choose a female only room, you just can’t choose one at that specific bunkhouse which clearly advertises itself as unisex. You could choose to book yourself a hotel room, you just don’t want to pay for it. That’s your choice. I would understand your point if staying in a mixed sex room was something you had no choice over because the trip was compulsory, for example if it was a work trip or you were in prison/ hospital etc. But the reality is this is a holiday and you are choosing to book at the unisex place because you don’t want to pay for a hotel and the other local places are fully booked, if you don’t like the look of the available accommodation then you could just choose not to go on a trip. You can’t expect a business to change its policy and business model just to suit you in the same way you can’t turn up at an Italian restaurant and demand a curry because the Indian next door is fully booked and the Italian was the only place in your budget you could book a table! If you don’t like Italian food don’t book a meal at an Italian restaurant and if you don’t like mixed dorms don’t book a room in a unisex hostel!

I feel exactly the same.

What a total failure to consider safeguarding for women.

Thanks for the input, if you know the west highland way you would understand the situation. I'm already paying over 1k for the trip and as I said I've made my bed....

How is GDPR applicable here? You are only asking if the other person is male or female, this information will not identify the person!

I'm considering packing a tent as I have baggage transfer, thid is my 4th time on the whw but 1st time on my own x

That's what I thought but that was the answer I got plus they said they can't ask gender x

I guess lesson learnt that next time before shelling out £1k on a trip check that suitable accommodation is available!

Thanks for that! This is my 4th time on this trip and I've never had any issues previously

I read a very similar post this evening on the west highland way facebook page from a woman with exactly the same problem booked in at the Kingshouse. If you are the same poster then there are other options a bit closer than 20 miles. The Glencoe mountain resort has little cabins that are reasonably priced (maybe 2 miles before you get to Kingshouse). I've also read that it's an option to get the bus into Glencoe village where there are other accommodation options. My apologies if you've already looked into these.

Sorry, just read your post saying you had tried there.

Yeah I tried there first as I've stayed before x

Got any friends with a little hiking tent? Joys of Scotland you can wild camp most places!