Following the recent announcement of YHA’s significant reduction in numbers, Sam Dalley, Director of Independent Hostels, wants to assure everyone that hostelling is far from dead. Independent Hostels, a network of over 320 independently run hostels in the UK, proudly declares that it offers twice as many hostels as the current YHA and matches the YHA’s heyday in the 1950s.
While people’s expectations of hostels may be changing, independent hostels have not been left behind. There is a diverse range of options available, from dormitories for those who enjoy sharing to private and en-suite rooms for those seeking privacy. Some hostels boast high-tech amenities with super-fast Wi-Fi and eco-technology, while others provide an off-grid experience for those wanting to disconnect and relax. Prices vary, with some hostels offering excellent facilities at higher rates, while many others provide beds for £15 or less per night.
Although the days of walking from YHA hostel to YHA hostel may be limited, the Independent Hostel website showcases 50 long-distance routes dotted with independent hostels for travellers to choose from.
Hostels offer a unique and special way to travel, often located in stunning and remote locations where they are the only available accommodation. The essence of hostelling lies in sharing, whether it’s the communal kitchen, stories around the firepit, or tips on great walks, cycling routes, and hikes right from the doorstep.
A recent hosteller expressed, “As a single traveller, there’s nothing so lonely as a hotel room and a breakfast table for one. I love the sharing of space and friendships that I get in hostels.”
The plight of the YHA was discussed on Radio 4’s You and Yours programme, but unfortunately, independent hostels were not mentioned despite a researcher’s conversation with Sam Dalley prior to the show. Stephanie Fry, owner of Witherslack Cycle Barn in Cumbria, lamented, “Unfortunately, it came over very negatively, focusing on the YHA closures, with no mention of the blossoming independent hostels that are taking over in much larger numbers. There are so many fantastic independent hostels in the UK to visit, albeit fewer YHA ones, which serve a special type of traveller at a very economical price.”
Avid hosteller David Hilton added, “I feel that mention should have been made of the good work that the Independent Hostels Group is doing in keeping these buildings as hostels. A network exists which includes more than 52 hostels that were formerly with the YHA, plus many more that were never affiliated with them. It is to be hoped that as many continue in hostel use as possible.”
For more information and to explore independent hostels in the UK, please visit: https://independenthostels.co.uk
