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YHA Ennerdale (Cumbria)
by apuskiduski Ennerdale Youth Hostel has changed. Not only has it been completely and very tastefully refurbished, it has actually changed location. The YHA Ennerdale I visited in 1989 is now a field and study centre, and the new Ennerdale is just up the road. So, when I visited last summer, you could say I didn't get what I was ... expecting. The Youth Hostel Association have ingeniously converted two former Forestry Commission houses to create a welcoming and comfortable stopover in one of England's most remote valleys, which is surrounded by the most breathtaking scenery. ------The building ----- Entrance hall/boot and cloakroom As you enter the hostel, there is a small, boot rack and cloakroom, which you must use in order to keep the hostel in its currently pristine condition. Reception Here you can check in, order meals or packed lunches for the following day, grab a snack, select a bottle of beer or wine to accompany your meal and also book a bed ahead with the ever helpful wardens (four of them share the running of this hostel with Black Sail Hut hostel 4 miles down the road). This is the place where you also have to pay your bill and sadly say goodbye when you eventually tear yourself away. Members' kitchen Here you can prepare your own food, should you not want to relish the tasty, organic locally-sourced meals that are on offer at the hostel. We were invited to use what we needed from the kitchen to make ourselves a drink if we wanted one. Everything for tea and coffee was provided but anything other than that we had to buy. Plenty of recycling and composting facilities are available as the warden's are extremely green - but not literally, you understand. Living Room This is the main, but very bijou, room of the hostel. It acts as the sitting and dining room which also doubles up as a games and reading room outside mealtimes - with plenty of resources at your disposal. From here you have an amazing view of the Ennerdale valley and can watch a variety of wildlife and birds of prey while you enjoy your meal. From the dining room you can gain access to the bedrooms (2 six-bedded and 3 four bedded rooms), shower facilities and drying room. There is also a small verandah and BBQ area at the back of the hostel where you can sit and enjoy the sunset over a beer and a burger, but in summer remember your midge repellent! Food Quality When we stayed we relished a two course meal of shepherd's pie and local veg followed by apple crumble and gallons of custard. There was a vegetarian alternative and a fruit salad option. You can't be fussy with your food here. There's one warden doing the cooking usually and she did a fantastic job in my opinion. Breakfast was deliciously filling, and consisted of cereals, full English, toast and croissants served with juice, tea and coffee. I can't comment on the picnic lunches as we didn't order one. They comprised of a sandwich, crisps, fruit, flapjack or similar homebake, a carton of juice and a biscuit. The bumper lunches had an extra sandwich. Sandwich choices were tuna, cheese, or ham with a variety of extras such as mayo, pickle, tomato or cucumber. The rooms Five of us stayed in a six bedded room (3 bunk beds) and I'm pleased to say everything was brand new, fresh and clean. There was sufficient under bunk storage for our clothes and rucksacks and there was a sink, light and shaver socket in an alcove. Each bed has its own reading light and the new mattresses were very comfortable. A roller blind at the window meant there were no curtains to harbour dust mites which, as an asthmatic, I appreciated. The best part of this room was the amazing views of the valley and mountains. For safety, you are given a key for family rooms. Shower and toilet facilities There were two showers and a separate toilet on our landing although there are other facilities on the other side of the house. All of them were exceptionally clean. In fact I would go as far as to say that these would take the cleanest facilities award for the thirty or so hostels I've stayed in. There was plenty of space to get changed in the shower cubicle, lashings of hot water and the ever popular light/fan sensor so there was no forgetting to switch the light off. While I'm talking about electricity, let me tell you that Ennerdale produce their own electricity from a hydro-electric turbine. Brilliant! Drying Room We didn't actually need this on our stay because it was our final night and we headed home the next morning. But I popped my head round the door and it was a good size for the 24 people who might all want to use it, with plenty of racks and rails for all your wet clothes and boots. There were no laundry facilities however. There are a couple of things to bear in mind before you book this hostel. If you're travelling as an individual you will be in a dorm with up to 5 complete strangers, so you have to be willing to share snoring space! Also, as there is only one main 'common room' if you take an instant dislike to Tatiana and Eustace who are loudly bragging about their conquest of Everest, then there's not many other places to go, apart from the verandah - no good if it's raining- or your bunk, where you might have to listen to someone already snoring. We booked a family room which suited us down to the ground and there was no one staying there that particular evening who you'd want to escape from. We were all so tired from our walk from Great Gable that day that we were in bed by 9.30 anyway. Most people are tucked up in bed by 10.30 if they've got a challenging day ahead. Customer Service The warden let us park our car in the grounds on Saturday, do our four day YHA tour and come back to it on Tuesday. Amazingly, it was still there! I thought this was very generous in these mean-spirited days we seem to be living in. On the Tuesday of our planned return we got lost on Great Gable in low cloud and effectively lost 3 hours trying to find the path down to Black Sail Hut and Ennerdale beyond. We eventually found our way down to Black Sail and arrived there as tea was fast approaching, in fact you could see everyone in the Hut having a beer and relaxing. We still had four miles to walk and tea was going to be on the table at 7 - just over an hour to go! The warden of Black Sail topped up our water bottles and radioed ahead to let his colleague at Ennerdale know we hadn't been stranded on a mountain and were, indeed, wanting our shepherd's pie. Yet another stunning act of kindness. Do these wardens know no bounds in their generosity? The visitors' book in the entrance of Ennerdale says it all. As you read through the comments, it's clear that everyone who signed the book will have happy, lasting memories of the place and I can truly vouch for that. "But where is it, how much does it cost and how do I book it?"I hear you screaming at me. The address: YHA Ennerdale, Cat Crag, Ennerdale, Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AX GPS OS 89 (142141) Phone 0870 770 5820 (sorry it's one of those numbers -it's the only one I have) Travel arrangements It's a long way from the nearest railway station at Whitehaven- 16 miles to be exact. If you're walking, there are three other hostels nearby: Buttermere is 3 miles away, Black Sail 4 miles and Honister Hause (spelt that way, honestly) is 7 miles. By car the information from the website says: On A66 from Keswick, turn off at Cockermouth onto A5086. Turn off left at Lamplugh, passing Lamplugh church, then left passing Inglenook Caravan Park. Continue to reach a T junction at the hamlet of Croasdale. Turn left here into Croasdale, and follow the road right. We followed these instructions and had a few close shaves with oncoming vehicles on the tiny lanes, but hey, you've got to have a few thrills once in a while. And it's a bit easier than arriving by bus. If you want to arrive by bus, the nearest bus service is a 2.5 hour, yes hour, walk away in Buttermere village over Red Pike (that's a mini mountain by the way) or through Scarth Gap. Either way you'll need a good pair of walking boots. Cost We booked a family room for £70.00 for the night. This was room only. Current prices for individuals are 13.95 for an adult and 10.50 for under 18s. YHA members get £3 a night discount for adults and £1.50 for under 18s. You can become a member by logging onto www.yha.org.uk and this costs about £22 a year which almost paid for itself for us in two nights. Our second year membership only cost £15.95 as they gave us a loyalty discount on that. You can also rent the whole building for 24 people for 2 nights for £525 between November and March. YHA membership offers discounts in a lot of local attractions in the Lake District at least. Steamers and ferries, Pencil museum and the Climbing wall in Keswick all take the YHA card. I've also had 10% discount in Blacks Outdoor shops too. But, hey I digress! I would say that it's best to book by phone. I've tried the website, but have always felt a human will give me a better deal that a machine somehow. Is it just me? When you speak to the warden you can also give him or her any food requirements or if you have any individual dietary needs you can sort them out too. Overall, I think Ennerdale Youth Hostel is the best hostel I've stayed in for tranquillity, location and customer service. I would recommend it for individuals and families alike and urge you to get yer boots on, get out there and breathe it all in. It works for me! More info on this hostel www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/the-lake-district/hostels/Ennerdale/index.aspx Wild Ennerdale http://www.wildennerdale.co.uk/ Information about the lake http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/ennerdal.htm Read the complete review |
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Treyarnon Bay Youth Hostel (Cornwall)
by Surfbabe13 We have stayed as a family for the last five years at Treyarnon Bay Youth Hostel. It has been extended and now has a cafe that is open all year round to the general public between 10 and 3pm. It is fully licensed for residents. The food has always been good and as we have always been on an inclusive Surf Package we have eaten here all ... the time. The packed lunches are enough for the hungriest of teenagers. The staff have always been very friendly and knowledgeable about the area, although we know that most of them will have moved on when we return this year. There is a TV room and self catering kitchen as well as a small lounging area for when the weather is not good enough to be outside. The rooms are comfortable and roomy - some with ensuite bathrooms but we have always gone for the shared bathroom facilities which has never caused a problem in waiting for one to be free. The view from the Hostel is stunning - the sunsets in particular are breathtaking. It is not far to walk northwards to Constantine Bay, and the Coastal Path takes you right round to Padstow or down towards Newquay if you are feeling energetic. We have been for the Surf Packages that they have promoted in the past with Harlyn Bay Surf School. these have always been worth the money but surprisingly few people have taken advantage of them. Most families we have meet staying their have sent the children off surfing then disappeared to the other end of the county for the day !!! There is surfing available on the beach at Treyarnon although it is more suited to body boarding as it is quite narrow and there is no surf school situated in the bay. A lovely setting, with good food and a comfortable bed for the night. However it can be noisy when children are left to their own devices and parents don't stop them rushing around late at night yelling at the tops of their voices - I have to say that these tend to be Yuppy families who think they are slumming it from the home counties and London who abdicate all responsibility for their off spring. Essential to book well in advance as it is very popular - we have booked every May for the following May and the last twice have got the last room available. Cost vary from £8 per person in communal rooms to £50 per family room, although prices should be checked on the web site. You don;t have to be member of the YHA but if you aren;t then a supplement of £1.50 per person per night applies. Read the complete review |
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Clink Hostel (London)
by FlickeringEmber I found this newly opened hostel while conducting a Google search for "cheap London hostels." Not only was it cheap, but it was novel, and upon inspecting its website, I realised this place looks really cool. Booking online via the site directly is not so easy; if you have a Maestro card, you have to ring up ... because they only accept Visa or Mastercard on the website. You can also book through travelstay.com but they add a fee. It was easy enough on the phone, and my bed was secured. One thing I should warn people is that it is mixed sex dorms on offer. However, if you're a family, travelling with children under 16, it is compulsory for you to book an entire dorm (which ranges from 4 beds to 16). I had never been in a mixed dorm before so I went for a 6 bed, at a cost of £25 a night. It turned out to be only me and a man in there but I felt safe enough. I bought a padlock at reception to secure my possessions in the lockers under the bunks. The rooms are simple enough but also clean and safe, and comfortable. Although it is centrally located; near Kings Cross, even though I had only moved out of London 5 months ago after living there 22 years, I found it very hard to find, to be honest. So definitely remember to print out a map (I didn't!) There are 2 old court rooms still intact which as a history buff (and rock and roll fan; the Clash were tried here), I loved. One is a TV room and the other is an internet cafe (I think it's £1 for 30 mins but I took my laptop). There is no Wifi either, but I had my internet dongle so was fine. I loved sitting in the Judges chair and reading the old signs on the wall; eg banning photography, so of course I took a photo of it... Breakfast was a let down. I am allergic to wheat and dairy and they only offer cereal and bread. No fruit, no fruit juice, no soya milk. So I went without. YHA are cheaper to stay at and have full cooked breakfasts as well as juice, so I was disappointed here. There is a communal area you can prepare your own so next time I will bring some supplies. Yes, there will be a next time....I plan to stay again in a private room which used to be a cell...how cool is that!! Read the complete review |
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1 review Address: Odboru 4 / Youth Hostel National / 120 00 / Praha 2 / Czech Republic |
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Youth Hostel National / |
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County: West Glamorgan / Youth Hostel National / Adresse: Old Lifeboat House / Port Eynon / Swansea SA3 1NN / Tel: 01792 390706 / Fax: 01792 391540. |
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County: Cumbria / Youth Hostel National / Hawkshead / Ambleside / Cumbria LA22 0QD / Tel: 015394 36293 / Fax: 015394 36720 / Email: hawkshead@yha.org.uk. |
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Youth Hostel National / |
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79-81 Euston Road / Youth Hostel National / London NW1 2QS / Tel: 020 7388 9998 / Fax: 020 7388 6766 / Email: stpancras@yha.org.uk. |
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2 reviews 20 Salter Road / Youth Hostel National / London SE16 1PP / Tel: 020 7232 2114 / Fax: 020 7237 2919 / Email: rotherhithe@yha.org.uk . |
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14 Noel Street / Youth Hostel National / London W1V 3PD / Tel: 020 7734 1618 / Fax: 020 7734 1657 / Email: oxfordst@yha.org.uk. |
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1 review 178 High Holborn / Youth Hostel National / London WC1V 7AA / Tel: 020 7379 5589. |
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