Alston Independent Hostel offers exclusive use or private room bookings across 6 bedrooms for up to 29 people. Beautiful rural location, with easy access to the North Pennine moors for walking and cycling, and rivers for wild swimming. 2 minutes walk to all of the facilities of Alston town with lots of historic sites to explore and shops and cafes to recharge in. Comfortable spaces to relax, both indoors and out, with Fire Pit available for those marshmallow evenings. Full self catering kitchen, or catering options available if preferred. The perfect base for your next Scout adventure.
Looking for a comfortable, flexible and affordable base for your next Scout trip?
Alston Independent Hostel offers an ideal home-from-home for Scout groups wanting to get outdoors, explore the countryside and enjoy an adventure together.
With exclusive use available, or private room bookings across six bedrooms for groups of up to 29 people, the hostel gives Scout leaders the flexibility to arrange accommodation that works for their group. Having the whole hostel to yourselves is particularly ideal for Scout groups, providing a safe, relaxed environment where everyone can eat, socialise and unwind together at the end of an active day.
A fantastic location for outdoor adventure
Set in the beautiful North Pennines, Alston is surrounded by open moorland, hills, rivers and quiet country lanes, making it a fantastic destination for Scouts who love being outdoors. The hostel is situated directly on the Pennine Way, with easy access to a wide range of walking routes and outdoor activities. It is also close to cycling routes, including the C2C, making it an excellent base for hiking, cycling and exploring on two wheels.
There are opportunities for Scouts to learn new skills, challenge themselves and enjoy the great outdoors, whether that’s a short local walk, a longer hike across the North Pennine moors, a cycling adventure or exploring the rivers and countryside around Alston.
For groups looking for a real outdoor adventure, the surrounding area also provides opportunities for wild swimming and river activities, subject of course to appropriate supervision, conditions and Scout safety requirements.
Everything you need after a day outdoors
We know that Scout adventures don’t always involve perfect weather! After a day walking, cycling or exploring, the hostel provides all the facilities you need to get everyone warm, dry and comfortable.
Our drying room is particularly useful for groups returning with wet clothing and outdoor equipment, while hot showers provide a welcome chance to freshen up. There is also secure indoor cycle storage, including charging points for electric bikes.
Inside the hostel you’ll find comfortable communal areas where Scouts can relax, play games, chat and spend time together. Our cosy snug provides a great space for quieter activities, while the dining and lounge areas give the whole group somewhere to come together.
And when the evening comes, there’s nothing quite like gathering outside around the fire pit for a traditional Scout campfire-style evening – with marshmallows, stories and plenty of laughter!
Flexible food options
Food is an important part of any Scout trip, and we make feeding a group as easy and flexible as possible.
Our fully equipped self-catering kitchen gives leaders and groups the freedom to prepare their own breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, making it easy to cater for different dietary requirements and keep costs under control.
If you’d rather spend less time cooking, we can also provide catering options, including hearty home-cooked meals and breakfasts, with packed lunches available for days out exploring.
There are also supermarkets, shops, cafés and places to eat just two minutes’ walk away, so you’re never far from anything you might need during your stay.
Explore historic Alston
Although Alston feels wonderfully remote, the hostel is just a two-minute walk from the centre of the historic town. This makes it easy for groups to combine outdoor adventure with opportunities to explore the local area.
Scouts can discover Alston’s historic buildings and market town heritage, visit local attractions, explore the surrounding countryside or simply enjoy some downtime in the town’s shops and cafés.
The location also makes it possible to organise a trip without needing to use vehicles for every activity – a real benefit for groups travelling together.
A great place for Scouts – and leaders too!
We understand that organising a Scout trip involves a lot of planning, so we aim to make your stay as straightforward as possible.
Alston Independent Hostel offers the combination of affordable accommodation, communal facilities, outdoor adventure and flexibility that makes it particularly well suited to Scout groups. The friendly atmosphere means Scouts have space to enjoy themselves and spend time together, while leaders have comfortable areas in which to relax and plan the next day’s activities.
Whether you’re planning a weekend adventure, a hiking expedition, a cycling trip, an activity weekend or simply an opportunity for your Scouts to experience the great outdoors, Alston Independent Hostel provides a comfortable and welcoming base for your group.
Adventure starts at the door – come and discover the North Pennines with your Scouts!
Find out more about Alston Youth Hostel