When Mick of Boulton Buses was looking for an investment opportunity, his interest was captured by YHA Bridges. Here was a property which would make a contribution to society. Now, after 95 years of service, including 40 years under Mick’s ownership, the hostel leaves the YHA network, but remains open and welcoming to all.
When Mick Boulton of Boulton Buses was looking for an investment, property seemed the safest option.
However, Mick had reservations about owning multiple houses. He believed homes should be for living in, not for profiting from as a landlord. That’s why his interest was sparked when YHA Bridges came up for sale. Here was a property where he could contribute something positive to society — helping people of all backgrounds discover, love, and care for the countryside.
Bridges was one of the first hostels to operate under a YHA Enterprise Agreement, where independent ownership and management were combined with the marketing and support of the Youth Hostels Association.
Mick and Gill bought the hostel in 1990, when the youngest of their four sons was just two years old. Gill’s family had long-standing ties to the area: her grandfather was born at the The Horseshoes Inn next door to the hostel, where her great-grandfather had once been landlord. The inn is still thriving today, known for its regular live music events. On sunny Sundays, its garden fills with walkers, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts returning from the Long Mynd for a pint and a meal.
By the time Mick and Gill took over, YHA Bridges had already been operating as a hostel for 56 years. It was one of the longest-established hostels in the YHA network and had welcomed thousands of young people long before piped water even reached the site.
Before the YHA acquired the building, it already had a remarkable history. The ornate Victorian structure was commissioned in 1866 by Lady Mahlah Addyes Scott, Lady of Ratlinghope. Born the humble daughter of a nail maker, her beauty caught the attention of a local lord, and their marriage caused quite a stir in the area. Despite her rise in status, Lady Mahlah never forgot her roots.
She built the school for the children of estate workers, hoping to encourage families to remain in the countryside rather than leave for the factories of industrial England. Over time, however, there were simply too few children living in the valley to keep the school open.
You can read more about the history of the YHA Bridges and its guests in a separate article.
Gill quickly mastered the paperwork involved in being part of a national hostel network, while Mick attended a hostel managers’ conference — causing some surprise as the first hostel owner ever to attend what had traditionally been an employees-only event.
Over the years, Mick and Gill employed several hostel managers, perhaps the most memorable being Angela, who welcomed guests with homemade meals, often prepared using produce grown in the hostel garden. She cared for guests at Bridges for more than 19 years and became, as Mick and Gill describe her, “part of the family.” Many returning visitors still fondly remember her food and hospitality.
Mick and Gill ran YHA Bridges for nearly 40 years as an independently owned, YHA-affiliated hostel — a remarkable achievement that may well be unmatched.
Now, in 2026, a new chapter has begun in the story of Bridges Hostel. Changes in the fortunes of the YHA have led to the sale of more hostels and, more significantly for Mick and Gill, a restructuring of the affiliated hostel agreement. Bridges Hostel is one of ten affiliated hostels to leave the YHA umbrella this year, alongside several others that closed during the renegotiation process.
Despite these changes, little else has altered at Bridges. This is an established independent businesses, and the hostel remains open, with a busy summer ahead. It continues to welcome guests with online booking through its own website and the Independent Hostels network.