Shining Cliff Hostel
Shining Cliff Hostel, Jackass Lane, Alderwasley, Derbyshire. DE56 2RE
Call Kate Tuck on 07794 268059
Group accommodation in a peaceful, woodland setting
The entrance porch, with space for hanging coats and boots, leads into the open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. The well-equipped kitchen has an induction hob, electric oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, and water boiler. The dining area comfortably seats 20 people whilst the lounge provides seating and space to relax. 5 bedrooms sleep up to 20 people in bunk beds. All bedding is provided. Three bathrooms each have a shower cubicle and composting toilet.
There is a stunning hostel Meeting Circle area with circular gritstone seating and a barbecue, that nestles against Shining Cliff crags where you can gather together.
It is a ten minute walk, down a woodland footpath, from the hostel parking area. Footpaths lead through the woods to the A6 at Ambergate (20 mins' walk) which has a food shop, pubs, buses and trains to Derby.
There is a separate original 1940s wooden hut, called the Beech Hut, available for day hire. This is a great base for exploring the woodland for the day, with access to drinking water, a composting toilet, and a stunning outdoor Meeting Circle area with larch bench seating, a table created by our wonderful volunteers, a mud kitchen for kids to play with and a barbecue.
Sole use bookings only at the weekend. Individual room bookings are welcome mid-week with shared use of the communal facilities. .
Shining Cliff Hostel is an accredited 'Learning Outside the Classroom' quality badge holder, demonstrating that we have robust policies, procedures and risk assessments in place and provide quality outdoor learning experiences, making us ideal for residential groups looking for a base away from everyday distractions, in a phenomenal woodland setting.
Access is half a mile from the nearest parking area along a woodland footpath. Paths lead through the woods to the A6 at Ambergate (20 mins’ walk) which has a food shop, pub, buses and trains to Derby. The hostel is ideal for a wide range of groups wishing to enjoy time away in a peaceful woodland setting.
The entrance porch, with space for hanging coats and boots, leads into the open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area. The well-equipped kitchen has an induction hob, electric oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, and water boiler. The dining area comfortably seats 20 people whilst the lounge provides seating and space to relax. 5 bedrooms sleep up to 20 people in bunk beds. All bedding is provided. Three bathrooms each have a shower cubicle and composting toilet.
There is a stunning hostel Meeting Circle area with circular gritstone seating and a barbecue, that nestles against Shining Cliff crags where you can gather together.
It is a ten minute walk, down a woodland footpath, from the hostel parking area. Footpaths lead through the woods to the A6 at Ambergate (20 mins' walk) which has a food shop, pubs, buses and trains to Derby.
There is a separate original 1940s wooden hut, called the Beech Hut, available for day hire. This is a great base for exploring the woodland for the day, with access to drinking water, a composting toilet, and a stunning outdoor Meeting Circle area with larch bench seating, a table created by our wonderful volunteers, a mud kitchen for kids to play with and a barbecue.
Sole use bookings only at the weekend. Individual room bookings are welcome mid-week with shared use of the communal facilities. .
Shining Cliff Hostel is an accredited 'Learning Outside the Classroom' quality badge holder, demonstrating that we have robust policies, procedures and risk assessments in place and provide quality outdoor learning experiences, making us ideal for residential groups looking for a base away from everyday distractions, in a phenomenal woodland setting.
This accommodation is featured on our map of the Peak District and here is its own website.
Availability
Details
Beds & Rooms:
20: 1x4, 2x6, 2x2Open:
All year.Price per night:
Sole use: £320 Fri/Sat (min 2 nights). £200-280 Sun-Thur. Room bookings: £25 per adult, £15 per child (Sun-Thurs only).Booking:
Book online, by phone or email. Advance bookings only.Directions:
Directions are provided when you book. Sat Navs NOT recommended as they take you to the wrong part of the woodland.Public Transport :
Ambergate rail station (1 mile). Transpeak bus on A6 (1 mile)Walks :
Long Distance Walks The Pennine Bridleway
White Peak Loop
Long Distance WalksUniversity Groups Eco Hostels Dog Friendly Individuals welcome Youth Hostels Hostels with firepits and campfires School Groups Retreats Hammocking IHUK Community Discount for Sustainable Travel
This accommodation is available at the following peak times
Available Easter 2025 Available for Christmas 2025 Available February Half Term 2026Facilities
Map
News & Offers from Shining Cliff Hostel
Stay in the woodland hostel & add a tree sketching workshop too!
April 16th 2025
Join local artist, Diana Green, for a tree sketching workshop on Tuesday 20th May, and you can also book your own private bedroom to stay the night before, or the night of the workshop, for a fully immersive woodland experience.
Diana Green is a very talented local artist, with a strong environmental ethos to all her work. She has run workshops at the hostel showing people how to create paints out of natural, local, sustainable resources, and how to create mark making tools from natural objects you find on the woodland floor. Now she is going to support participants to have a go at sketching trees and creating a loose watercolour woodland scene.
You can book just the morning or afternoon elements of the workshop if time is limited, or the full day. More details can be found on our Eventbrite listing at https://tree-sketching-and-drawing-workshop.eventbrite.co.uk
If you would like to add in a hostel stay, then email Kate (who will be the overnight warden) at [email protected]
Looking for that ‘get-away-from-it-all’ Easter break…..
February 28th 2025
Come and join us at our hostel nestled away in the beautiful ancient Shining Cliff woodland in Derbyshire!
Shining Cliff hostel is located off-road in the heart of a stunning woodland in the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site.
If you arrive by train or bus to Ambergate we provide a great set of walking directions to find your way to this magical location. For those arriving by car, you start your adventure straight away by loading your belongings into the hostel wheelbarrows waiting for you and wander along a stunning woodland footpath to the hostel half a mile away.
There are so many magical woodland areas to explore on foot, with streams and a lake to discover, you can spend the entire time exploring and playing in the woods. If you fancy going further afield there are walks to the local pub and cafes, Crich Tramway Museum, Cromford Mills, Matlock Bath (famous for bikers and fish & chips!) and the stunning Peak District National Park.
We have book-a-room availability on the 16th and 17th April, at just £20 per adult per night and £15 per child per night. At the moment we have 2-person, 4-person and 6-person rooms available.
Book your own bedroom and share the communal lounge, dining area, bathrooms and self-catering kitchen.
Sorry, we can’t have any dogs staying with us for individual room bookings, just in case other guests are not so keen on your beloved pet!
Latest Blog about Shining Cliff Hostel
A Weekend in the Woods at Shining Cliff Hostel
March 9th 2013
Rather unseasonable for this year the first Saturday in March was a glorious warm cloud free day. The ancient woodlands where we spent the weekend gloried in the signs of spring already showing a hint of the Bluebells that will cover the understory in six weeks or so.
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