If you’re island hopping in the Southern Hebrides, or just visiting one island, and you would like to stay in a youth hostel there are various options available. In general, youth hostels are not for the younger folks only by the way, and they are a relatively cheap way to spend some time on one of Argyll’s islands. You usually pay around £20 for one night with breakfast. I myself had the pleasure once to stay in a hostel in Prague and it was a very nice experience. There are two hostels in the Southern Hebridean islands and one in Oban. Below is a wee summary and links to their individual pages:
Tobermory on the Isle of Mull
This basic but charming youth hostel is ideally located, it being one of the many brightly painted buildings in Tobermory’s harbour. The youth hostel has central heating, hot showers, laundry facilities, a spacious self-catering kitchen and rooms with either 5 or 6 beds, most with sea views. The harbour, the setting of the popular TV show Balamory, is popular with families. There are day trips available to Iona or Staffa from Tobermory. This hostel has a 4 star customer rating. For more info visit this link
Port Charlotte Islay
The Islay hostel is housed in an old whisky warehouse of the former Lochindaal Distillery and is situated on the beach in the picturesque village of Port Charlotte on the island of Islay. With excellent accommodation and facilities, the youth hostel (and the attached Wildlife Centre) is an ideal location from which to explore all that Islay has to offer. Port Charlotte hostel has a 5 star customer rating. For more info visit this link
Oban, on the Esplanade
Oban Youth Hostel and lodge is now open following a £1.2 million refurbishment. Both our seafront youth hostel and purpose built 4-star lodge offer panoramic views across the bay and great facilities. The youth hostel is a firm favourite with independent travellers and families from all over the world and many guests come back year after year. Oban hostel has a 4.5 star rating. For more info visit this link
I’ve visited 
The Scotsman published an article by Gareth Moore titled Inner Hebrides Cruise. In fact it’s more a travel report about a cruise in November, a time when the first winter storms hit the west of Scotland which, as the author confirms, results in alterations in the schedule. Gareth choose not just a cruise ship but embarked on the Hebridean Princess, a familiar sight in the Inner Hebridean waters and according to the writer a floating palace of pampering. I myself never had the pleasure of making such a cruise but if I would I know that the Inner Hebrides would be my nr1 choice for 
Some of the secrets and mysteries surrounding Scotland’s rich marine heritage could soon be revealed according to the Scottish government. The Scottish Marine Bill aims to improve the protection of Scotland’s treasured marine heritage and our understanding and enjoyment of it. It is hoped that technological advances and opportunities for closer co-operation on survey and data collection, will help locate undiscovered marine heritage sites such as historic shipwrecks. And under the Bill, a new Historic Marine Protected Area provision will allow a broader range of historic assets to be protected in a proportionate manner. 