With the YHA’s recent policy of closing down their less used Youth Hostels, many communities have seen their local youth hostel closed after many years of use. These homely establishments have quietly provided shelter for walkers, cyclists and tourists and brought income and new faces into isolated rural communities.
For a few lucky places this is not the end of the story. These hostels have been bought or re-leased and opened their doors once more as Independent Hostels, sometimes affiliating to the YHA marketing services as well as the Independent Hostel Guide.
You will find below a selection of these newly created Independent Hostels with a brief history of how they got their New Lease of Life.
Old School Hostel - Previously Trefin Youth Hostel
    
This hostel belongs to a local church and had been leased by the YHA since 1968. The YHA performed a major refit in 1992 when the two large high ceiling school rooms were graced with an internal upstairs floor and the large dormitories were replaced with six bedrooms each with between 2 to 6 beds. This design is perfect for families and couples and also performs well for groups. The hostel is in the centre of a sleepy village just minutes walk from the cliff tops and the Pembrokshire Coast Path. The YHA bought their way out of the lease in 2006 and the hostel was saved by Sue Whitmore and Chris Clements who have taken on the lease with the aim to provide comfortable, eco friendly accommodation. Sue and Chris made a lifestyle choice when they took on the hostel and they plant a tree for every booking they receive.
So if you're looking for a costal holiday with a conscience see :- Click here for details
The Glade - Blackboys Youth Hostel
 
Blackboys Youth Hostel was sold by the YHA in 2007. It was bought by a private owner and is now managed by Alan to provide accommodation for groups and individuals in East Sussex. Only an hours drive from Central London, this hostel provides a real rural retreat in beautiful woodland. Refurbished since its purchase from the YHA it is ideal for family re-unions, parties and corporate team building.
So if you're looking for a easy quiet escape see:- Click here for details
The Court Hill Centre - Previously the YHA Ridgeway Centre
  
This hostel has always been owned by the local community and was built and developed with advice from the Youth Hostel Association. It has a fantastic location close to the Ridgeway national trail in rural Oxfordshire. The hostel was once a flag-ship hostel for the YHA and was run under their franchise scheme for over 10 years. The centre made the break with the YHA in July 2007 because they felt the YHA was restricting their enterprise and also moving away from their core customers. Since becoming independent the centre has been able move in exciting new directions by adding tearooms, a function room, venue for local film society and Tipis for overnight camping.
So if you are looking for somewhere to stay where they is plenty to do and close links to the local community have a look at the Court Hill Centre :- Click here for details
Ty'n Cornel Hostel and Dolgoch Hostel - Ty'n Cornel Youth Hostel and Dolgoch Youth Hostel
   
These two YHA simple hostels in the Elenydd Valleys had a loyal supporter base of Youth Hostellers when the YHA put them up for sale in 2007. Upset at the loss of these lovely little hostels the supporters set up their own trust "ELENYDD WILDERNESS HOSTELS TRUST" with the aim of buying the hostels. In January 2007 they began operating Ty'n Cornel under a lease, and in autumn 2007 they bought Dolgoch. Both hostels are currently acheiving increased overnights, and renovations which preserve both the buildings and their character are in progress. A third hostel in Blaencaron was sold before the trust was able to get their funds together and is now a private house. Interestingly a new independent hostel has just opened 4 miles of Ty'n Corel this time created by a family who are renovating a disused farmstead. It is called Bwthyn Y Bugail and is on this website.
So if you are looking for peace in the remote mountains of South Wales, tread in the footsteps of the drovers and stay at Tyn Cornel and Dolgoch Hostels:- Click here for details about Dolgoch Hostel - Click here for details about Ty'n Cornel Hostel - Click here for details about Bwthyn Y Bugail
Kirkby Stephen Hostel - previously Kirkby Stephen Youth Hostel
This old Methodist church has been a youth hostel for over 20 years. It is on the route of four Long Distance Walkers paths including the Coast to Coast. It is ideal for walkers, cyclists and those who want to tour the Dales and the Lakes. Sold in 2006 it immediately started its new life as an independent hostel. The current owner Anne is committed to providing comfortable low cost accommodation for outdoor enthusiasts.
To find your perfect stop off see:- Click here for details
Millennium Hostel - previously Lawrenny Youth Hostel
 
This old school was converted to a youth hostel by a local community trust with the aid of a grant from the Millennium fund. It is situated on a quite river valley in Pembrokshire and is a great location for visiting romantic castles. It ran as a youth hostel for a few years, but left the YHA in 2005 to become an Independent Hostel. It is still run by the local community trust who also maintain a small village shop.
To find out how you can visit this community see:- Click here for details
Skiddaw House - Skiddaw Youth Hostel
Skiddaw House is the highest hostel in England. Situated high on a Lakeland moor the hostel has no electricity or mobile phone coverage and is accessible only by footpath. Owned by a farming family in Cumbria it was leased by the YHA for many years. When the YHA gave up the lease it was taken on by Martin and Marie with the backing of the "Skiddaw House Foundation" and its trustees. It is now marketed by the YHA an "enterprise hostel” and is also part of the Independent Hostel network.
To find out how you could sleep at 1550ft:- Click here for details
Forrest View Walkers Hostel - previously Byrness Youth Hostel
This hostel has undergone a major Green refurbishment since Colin and Joyce bought it from the YHA . It is now an Eco-Hostel and Jocye will bend the ears of fellow eco-warriors if you ask to see the boiler & solar panels. It is situated right on the Pennine Way and is used by walkers and cyclists.
To find out more see :- Click here for details
Helmsdale Hostel - Helmsdale Youth Hostel
This hostel was sold by the SYHA (Scottish Youth Hostel Association) and is now run by Irene Drummond as an independent hostel affiliated to the SYHA. Set in a small village between Inverness and John O’Groats it provides ideal accommodation for families and outdoor enthusiast.
To find out more see :- Click here for details
« Back to previous page |
