> Red Squirrel has new owners and won't be open over winter. To be honest the new owners are rude and obnoxious anyway so probably best to avoid
Disappointing if true. Having read bad reports of the hostel/bunkhouse (and experienced it once - not my idea but too late to change by the time it had been booked) it doesn't seem to be a very welcoming option either (although to be fair the more recent Tripadvisor reports seem more positive). Seems odd that such a popular location should be so poorly served in terms of hospitality venues - especially since, by the very nature of the place, there are only ever going to be a limited number of providers.
Is the temptation perhaps to place too much reliance on the location to draw people there, and let fundamental aspects of the actual accommodation service slip?