Youth Hostels
Richards Mountain Pages

Pick Of The Youth Hostels
I've stayed at many youth hostels, and found that even returning to the same hostel, it has a different feel on different nights as the mix of guests change. Those I've picked out below have impressed me for something special to them, rather than the people staying on a particular night:

• Ambleside (Lake District) - no atmosphere, but go to bed and watch the sun set over Windermere
• Arnside (Lake District) - gets my award for the best hostel food, and the comfiest lounge
• Berneray (Outer Hebrides) - a traditional blackhouse by a stunning sandy beach with rich turquiose waters
• Black Sail (Lake District) - everyones favourite Lakeland hostel - always a good atmosphere
• Carbisdale Castle (North Highlands) - a grand castle with all the trimmings, including four ghosts
• Corris (Snowdonia) - thanks to the warden, this hostel has a superb friendly atmosphere
• Gearrannan/Garenin (Outer Hebrides) - a traditional blackhouse in a village of blackhouses
• Llangollen (North Wales) - a big old mansion where you expect to find Professor Plum with the lead piping
• Ratagan (Glen Shiel) - has a superb view from the lounge window, you need never go outside!
• Whitby (Yorkshire) - go to bed and watch for vampires winging their way from the abbey ruins outside

I have one general comment to make about hostels and that is 'can someone please turn the heating down (or preferably off) in the dormitories - they are often far too hot to sleep in'. Apart from that my comments are particular to each hostel. Here is the full list of hostels I've visited, and what I thought of them. The date after each, is the year of my last visit...

England

• Ambleside - (1998) Converted hotel, tends to be full of foreign visitors, and generally lacks atmosphere because of its size. However the view over the lake is worth the stay alone.
• Arnside - (2006) Good views of the bay, the comfiest lounge of any hostel, and superb homemade organic food make this hostel a good stay.
• Bellever - (2003) A small rustic hostel in a quiet corner of Dartmoor. If self catering, beware that there is no oven or grill.
• Black Sail - (1999) Remote and full of atmosphere, this one really must be visited.
• Bridges - (2002) I first stayed here on a quiet November night. It is a converted schoolhouse in a village that consists of little more than the pub (which has a nice roaring fire, and matching hairy hound in front of it). There are lots of beams and creaky floorboards around the dorms.
• Buttermere - (1998) They don't come much more friendly than this. I felt like I was in someones home (which it was). Note there are no shops for quite a few miles, so take all the food you need qith you.
• Buxton (closed) - (2000) Not in the best spot in town, as its a fair walk awya. It needs of a bit of attention.
• Cheddar - (1997) Basically a house in the village of Cheddar. It was packed to the eaves when I stayed.
• Clun Mill - (2000) An old mill, but little remains of the gubbings. This hostel is a charming building with wooden beams and sloping floors.
• Coalbrookedale - Coalport - (2001) The old china works made comfortable. The members kitchen is very small for the size of hostel.
• Cockermouth - (2004) An old mill on the river Cocker in a quiet corner of Cockermouth, this hostel has a more relaxed atmosphere than those nearer the Lake District's centre.
• Consiton - (1998) I don't remember much about this one, apart from waiting for it to open.
• Coverack - (2002) A typical hostel, but in a stunning location perched above the pretty harbour, and a beach famed for its unusual geology.
• Crowden - (2003) Its a remote spot with no pub or shop. It has a good selection of National Geographic, and a nice fire to read them by. This one gets my best pudding award.
• Dentdale - (2002) Nestling deep in the valley on the Dales Way. This hostel loses the sun early, but it is a nice spot.
• Dufton (closing 2003?) - (1997) An idyllic Pennine village, with the hostel right at the heart, overlooking the village green. I visited in winter, when the place was virtually empty. The gorge behind the hostel is well worth an evening stroll see it on the Northern Pennines page.
• Edale - (1999) This one is geared to kids, but being a large hostel you can avoid them.
• Ennerdale (Gillerthwaite) - (2002) A peaceful woodland setting, looking out onto Pillar. Expect a lot of coast to coast walkers at this hostel.
• Eskdale - (2006) A good hostel for food in a quiet location close to a country pub.
• Exford - (1997) Situated in a fairly nice village, this hostel is typical.
• Golant - (2002) Set in a woodland carpetted with wild garlic, primroses and bluebells. Don't miss the badgers feeding at night (providing the school groups don't disturb them).

• Gradbach - (2000) An old flax mill. The upstairs lounge has large windows looking across the surrounding hills, with the sun streaming in during the afternoon. However you may end up in the annex
• Grasmere Butterlip How - (1995?) A typical hostel.
• Grasmere Thorney How - (1997) A small friendly hostel.
• Honister Hause - (1999) High on a pass next to a slate works, this hostel is powered by generator. It should be a good spot to stay when there are other guests.
• Keswick - (1998) A town hostel, reached by a walk along the river. Nothing exceptional
• Keld - (1999) A small hostel at a long distance walking crossroads. Ths village is little more than a couple of farms, so apart from a few sheep wandering around, this place can be really peaceful.
• Kettlewell - (2002) A stone house in a pretty village, with a rather small self-catering kitchen. I got a bat in the dorm when I stayed.
• Kirkby stephen - (2002) Being a converted church, gives this hostel a strange atmosphere. This hostel is definitely worth a visit, but beware - there is nowhere to shelter before opening time.
• Langdale High Close - (1997) A big old lodge with plenty of grounds. It tends to be used by school groups, but there is enough space to get away from them.
• Leominster - (2002) A new interior to the old priory buildings. This hostel is in a quiet spot behind the large church, though bell ringing can get a bit noisy.
• Linton (closed) - (2002) A big old house in a small village. Across the stream and green, you'll find the pub.
• Longthwaite - (1997) A wooden hostel tucked away in the woods. The walk to the village pub on a starry night is one to remember. The only downside was the faint smell from a cesspit near the river.
• Malvern - (2002) Yet another big old house, this time across the common from a leafy genteel town at the foot of the hills.
• Manchester - (2005) Good setting for a city hostel, but geared to conferences and clubbers.
• Mankinholes - (2004) A stone building in a typical Pennine village close to Stoodley Pike. Facilities are generally good with a nice comfy lounge.
• Patterdale - (1999) I've stayed here twice and had quite different experiences. Just outside of the village, this hostel is plush brick, glass and houseplants everywhere. The dorms have stacks of space between the beds.
• Slaidburn - (2000) A stone hostel a mere ten seconds stagger from the village pub. It rests at the centre of a quiet and pretty stone village, which attracts many tourists on summer Saturdays.
• Shrewsbury (closed) - (2002) A town hostel, a fair distance from the town centre. The lack of guests and the over-warm welcome gave this old house in the trees a spooky atmosphere.
• Wastwater - (1995) An old mansion with a big stone fireplace. I was kept awake by a lost lamb and its mother trying to find each other outside in the dark (it went on for about four hours).
• Whitby - (1999) Set amongst the ruined abbey and next to the grave yard, you can quite beleive that Dracula will come and tap at the window. This place really is spooky on a wild night.
• Wilderhope Manor - (2000) A grand old manor house with a big spiral staircase of oak - and its just about in the middle of nowhere. School parties come here, so avoid schooldays!

Scotland

• Aviemore - (2004) A modern comfortable hostel set amongst birch woods, just outside the village. It attracts the partying type at weekends.
• Berneray - (2005) A traditional blackhouse with thatched roof, right next to a sandy beach with rich turquiose waters - you don't get much more idyllic than this.
• Braemar - (2004) This hostel is set amongst pine trees just outside the village. The showers are good, and there have been some other improvements since my previous stay
• Broadford - (1998) This ought to be a nice hostel right on the coast, but its spoilt by the hoardes that stay there. Best to give this one a miss.
• Cannich - (2003) A large wooden hut complex set in a village close to Glen Affric. This hostel is popular, but could do with some maintenance. There is no access during the day.
• Carbisdale Castle - (2003) Scotland's flagship hostel, a sprawling castle with oppulent halls and a ghostly air. Everyone should try a night here.
• Crianlarich - (2001) Right at the foot of Cruach Ardrain, and with the local shop and train station only yards away. This hostel is open during the day.
• Durness - (2006) Perched above Smoo cave, this hostel has few showers, but a nice atmosphere, and a flag for wherever you come from.
• Edinburgh (Eglinton) - (2005) Suprisingly good for a city hostel, but there is still the problem of people returning late from the bars and clubs to disturb your sleep.
• Gearrannan/Garenin - (2005) A traditional blackhouse in a village of blackhouses.



• Glen Affric - (2000) They don't come much more remote than this. Its at least a half days walk to get here from the nearest road. Mobile phones, TVs and just about anything else invented in the last hundred years won't work here. The dorms are big wooden affairs similar to Loch Ossion.



• Glen Brittle - (2001) A quiet and remote hostel - take plenty to eat, as the hostel shop has little, and the nearby campsite shop has little more.
• Glen Nevis - (1997) Full of noisy kids and foriegn tourists, the beds are crammed in so close there is little room for rucksacks. I really didn't like this one.



• Howmore - (2005) A blackhouse and byre with resident starlings, this hostel is in a quiet spot on the machair a short walk from a sandy beach - well worth a visit.
• Inverey - () I've only been past this basic hostel - but what a superb setting.
• Inverness - (2006) Essentially a city hostel, but useful for winter trips.
• Killin - (1996) A large house on the edge of town.
• Kirkwall - (2003) A well run hostel, but suffers from showers that take ten minutes or more to heat up; the only lounge being the smoking room; and the derelict buildings surrounding it.
• Loch Ossion - (1998) Very basic, there is no electricity (except the lights powered by windmill), and water is pumped from the loch. The hostel is a wooden hut with a central common area and two dark dorms connected. The toilets are outside. A deer sometimes comes inside for breakfast!
• Loch Lochy - (2005) A fairly typical hostel, close to the Loch Lochy Munros, and the Great glen Way.
• Lochranza - (2000) A big old house overlooking a sea loch with a ruined castle. The village is quiet and in a lovely setting. Once booked in, this hostel can be accessed during the day. Try the Cock of Arran walk for wildlife, and wonderful views.
• Ratagan - (2000) A row of cottages on the lochside converted into a really nice hostel. The view from the dining area to Sgurr An Airgid and Beinn Attow is good, but the view of the Five Sisters from the lounge is breathtaking. The surrounding village is full of B&B signs, but unfortunately you need to walk over a mile to the next village to reach a shop.
• Rhenigadale - (2003) The quietest hostel I have visited, this sits in a remote hamlet on the rocky East shore of Harris.
• Torridon - (2001) A fairly new looking building at the foot of one spur of the huge scree run that descends Liathach. This hostel is sandwiched between mountain and sea loch in a pleasant drawn out village.
• Uig - (2001) A modern hostel with sweeping views of the bay - well worth a visit, but beware of the kitten!
• Ullapool - (2006) On the quayside of a pleasant town, this place is great for a relaxing weekend
• Wanlockhead - (2002) A typical hostel in a tranquil village high in grassy hills. there are a lot of sheep wandering around outside, and a lot of geology to explore nearby. Expect to find hillfog outside on some mornings.

Wales

• Bangor - (2006) A large old house on the edge of town. Beware: there is no oven in the members kitchen.
• Bryn Gwynant - (2006) Another large old house overlooking the nearby lake. There are leather sofas in the lounge.
• Capel Curig - (1999) I must have been tired when I stayed here, I don't remember a thing.
• Capel Y Ffin - (1998?) Expect to do chores here. the hostel is a typical welsh stone cottage with a barn like annex. Between them there is a pleasant grassy square with seating.
• Cardiff - (2004) Not the best, but a perfectly OK hostel by a busy road on the edge of the city,
• Conwy - (2006) Not a pretty building, and a mobile mast doesn't help, but its comfortable inside, and there is an excellent view of the hills and castle from the roof lounge
• Corris - (2005) An old school house with lots of character and a friendly atmosphere. Likely to change during 2005.
• Cynwyd - (2003) A friendly small hostel, which was formerly a mill. Very good warden.
• Idwal Cottage - (1999) A superb hostel with a modern kitchen right in the heart of the Snowdonian mountains. Best of all there are some really comfy chairs by the reception.
• Llanbedr - (2001) A typical hostel in the centre of a pleasant stone housed village. Unfortunately the road gets clogged with tourist traffic in Summer.
• LLandeusant - (1998) What chores (as they say in the pub)! This is one of the few hostels that still gives out chores. The hostel was once a pub. The pub is now a pleasant mile's walk away. What's more, the hostel has a combination lock, so you don't have to worry too much about when you get back.
• Llangollen - (2000) 'Professor Plum with the candlestick' - that just about sums this place up. If the Cluedo game wasn't based on this big old hostel, it really ought to have been.
• Llwyn Y Catyn - (1997) Right at the foot of the highest peak of the Brecon Beacons, this white washed stone cottage is in a lovely quiet spot.
• Manorbier - (2004) I'll have the bier please! This hostel looks quite futuristic, but inside could do with some work. My dorm had a musty smell, the pillows broke new records in lumpiness and my dessert appeared to have come from the previous years frozen supplies.
• Pen Y Pass - (1998) Another hostel geared to large school parties. I was very concerned about the security of my possessions in the annex dorm (open access from a car park and a busy road) whilst I had dinner in the main building. I would not recommend this one.
• Poppit Sands - (2004) An environmentally friendly house with superb sea views and a good beach nearby.
• Rowen - (1998) An old farmhouse near the top of a long steep hill. The pub is at the bottom, so think about the walk back before being tempted.
• Snowdon Ranger - (2006) A quiet hostel on the side of Snowdon. The sticky toffee pudding is the highlight. However some of the rooms are lit only by a skylight, making the rather claustrophobic. A bit of pruning across the road would give it a nice view of the lake and mountain (as it appears in the old photos on show)

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