YHA Eskdale (opens in new tab)
about 1.5 km from the start, in a straight line
The only bed in this radius that answers the whole 6pm-to-8am sequence from its own page: a shared drying room, parking at the hostel, breakfast from 07:30 (the same minute reception reopens), a snack menu 18:00-20:00 and a licensed bar so nobody drives, a self-catering kitchen, a cot and a highchair. It is also the only property here that publishes any child age policy at all, and that policy has a price attached: a family with under-12s cannot use the dorm beds and must buy private rooms or a Landpod. Reception is shut 10:00-17:00, so an early finisher on the Hardknott round cannot check in mid-afternoon.
Worth knowing: “Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Eskdale, except in our Camping & Cabins accommodation or when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.”
Purpose-built in the 1930s out of local pink granite by John Downer, it stayed open right through the war; YHA commissioned solar panels and a biomass wood-fuelled boiler here in 2008 and opened a solar garden in 2010.
- Drying room “Shared drying room”
- Family rooms “Four rooms that sleep up to 5 people each. They include 1 set of bunk beds and a high sleeper bunk with a double bed underneath.”
- Evening meal “Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests daily from 07:30 – 09:00. Our snack menu is also available from 18:00 - 20:00.”
- Packed lunch “With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something tasty to eat at YHA Eskdale (see sample menu )”
- Parking “Parking: There is parking at the hostel.”
- Children “People of all ages are welcome at YHA. Guests aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or older. Guests aged 16 and 17 years old who are unaccompanied by an adult can only stay in private rooms in 24/7 staffed hostels, with parental consent. See our under 18s admissions policy for more information and the list of hostels. Under 12s are not permitted in dorm rooms. Children under 3 can stay with us for free.”