Name: YHA Helvellyn - Hostel
Address: Greenside, Glenridding, Glenridding, Glenridding, Glenridding, CA11 0QR, United Kingdom
Rating: 9

Smoke-free property

Heating

Garden

Reception desk

General

Non-smoking rooms

Family room

Rooms

Breakfast

Common kitchen

Restaurant

Kitchen

Packed Lunches

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet access

Internet

Taxi booking

Transfer

English

Languages Spoken

Barbecue grill(s)

Hiking

Picnic area

Fishing

Barbeque

Recreation

Free parking

Parking nearby

Parking

Cycling

Sports

First Aid Kit

Beauty and wellness

Playroom

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Personal protection equipment for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the hostel

YHA Helvellyn - Hostel

Glenridding

Fantastic youth hostel with amazing staff well trained and kind happy to help you with any problems or requests , beautiful hostel right in the mountains 🏔️ beautiful building in keeping with the local scenery, easily accessible and fun to spend time in and around , lovely food 🥑 and facilities yha is great

Helvellyn adventure

The hostel was clean, remote,  very basic.  The kitchen was small,  very small bar/reception area, rooms small, no sink, mirror, sockets or lights on the bunks, no storage in the room, but they were clean. Staff really nice too. The road has to be the worst point of this hostel, we had to drive at snails pace down quite a long track/road  to get to the hostel, (hit our undercarriage a few times with the holes and bricks)  people also had punctures whist we were there. Sorry but won’t be returning due to this terrible road.

Basic YHA and very bad road

Hostel is in an idyllic situation: ideal for exploring the hills around Glenridding and Ullswater lake. Unfortunately, the track up to the hostel is in an extremely bad state of repair and desperately needs resurfacing. Risk damage to suspension or exhaust of car. Better go on foot.

Great base for walking and water activities.

It pains me to give a poor review for a YHA. We love the charity and hostel a lot (this was our third trip in 2024 already) but unfortunately it didn’t live up to expectations. 

We booked a Landpod. They’re brilliant, we’ve stayed in them many times before. We specifically chose one this time because of a disability in our party which meant we needed proximity to a loo, knowing from previous visits that the small outdoor block was just steps away from the pods. Unfortunately we were told at check in that this block had been out of use all season, something which wasn’t on the website when we booked and wasn’t confirmed to us ahead of time by email or by phone so we could make an informed choice (we would, through necessity, have booked elsewhere). This is very poor. 

The nearest loos which we were told to use were under the mine tunnel, in through the front door (which has an electronic lock at night) along the corridor and down the stairs. There were four, though one didn’t have a lock, a safeguarding risk in a mixed facility and also therefore out of bounds to us. The hostel was full and very busy, as was the bathroom. This made an already challenging situation worse. 

More generally, the self catering kitchen was absolutely filthy, the worst of any hostel we’ve stayed at ever. There were open packets of food and uncovered ingredients (including mouldy things), leftovers, leaking and spilling packages strewn on every surface, making it impossible for others to prepare food. When we mentioned this, large groups were blamed, but it could certainly have been managed more robustly by staff to make the kitchen more pleasant, or frankly just even usable, for other visitors.  

For balance there were some good things … from what we heard, staff seemed to be good at giving advice on walks. The pod beds were comfy, breakfast was good.

Overall though we’re gutted to have booked something in good faith which the YHA,  despite having a website and sending me numerous confirmation emails and text messages, knew was not available but failed to tell me in advance.

Podders beware (how the lack of a loo stole dignity and ruined our break)

Staff were great and location could be considered good for some as it is located at the base of some of the Helvellyn ascent routes, however, it is also a 25 minute walk from Glenridding, so consequently there are no shops in the immediate vicinity. Staff were great as said, and there is a communal kitchen and drying room, though the WiFi was virtually not working at all, and any little spark of life had to be taken from a very specific part of the ground floor building. Honestly, for the price paid, to not have working WiFi, I would consider it quite the rip-off. The room door was also not functioning properly, and though the bathrooms were clean, and the showers good, it is priced too high for a place without basic 2024 amenities - i.e. WiFi (there is no mobile signal).

WiFi Not Really Working

WiFi is basically not working (no mobile signal either).

Staying in Patterdale and fancied a walk up to the lead mine from Glenridding. I couldn't tell from googling whether YHA Helvellyn had a cafe or not, although I could see they offer breakfast and evening meals. I'm delighted to report that they have the Hole in the Wall cafe where you can call in and have wonderful cake and hot drinks - inside or outside, depending on the weather and your preference. The staff were extremely helpful and pleasant and we really appreciated the opportunity for a hot drink, a sit down and some great cake. So stride out with confidence and take the opportunity for some reasonably priced refreshment in amazing surroundings.

There is a lovely cafe!

I love YHA's I think value for money and quality they can't be beat. I stayed in a land pod this time and it was brilliant. Its not fancy but practical, enough space, very cosy, comfortable beds and very quirky. If I had the option at all hostels I think I would choose a pod just for value and the extra privacy. The hostel itself at Hellveyln is set in the most beautiful location and incredibly placed to crack on with some of the best mountains. The facilities are spot on, lovely new bathrooms, well equipped kitchen, the social areas and bar and really pleasant places to be and to top it off the staff here are fantastic, really lovely genuine people. I wish I posses the ability to do this place justice as it really is a gem of a place. 

Brilliant, a hidden affordable gem. 

Warm welcome, modern facilities, in an awesome location. All the usual great catering options and self catering too. Staff really helpful and friendly. Private room was clean and showers and toilets exceptionally clean. Would definitely return! Just be aware you need to travel off road for last section of approach - most cars will be ok but not if low suspension

YHA Helvellyn - Hostel

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