Skiddaw House is the highest hostel in England! The hostel was built as a Games Keeper lodge and Shepherds Cottage around 1860. 90 years later the last residents moved out and Skiddaw House began to decline until 1986 when it was leased by John Bothamley. After much effort and expense John Bothamley handed the lease of a full operating simple hostel over to YHA. The YHA continued to operate Skidddaw House as a hostel until 2002. By 2006, the building was empty and worn out. But, under an initiative started by Marie and Martin Webster (the YHA wardens from 1992 to 2000) and with the backing of “Skiddaw House Foundation” and it’s trustees the hostel was reopened in April 2007 as an independent hostel! Skiddaw House Hostel is affiliated to the YHA and also part of the Independent Hostel network.
Skiddaw House is the highest hostel in England! Situated high on a Lakeland moor, the hostel is off grid and produces its own electricity from solar panels. The electricity is stored in batteries and used to run the lights and hot water boilers. There is no mobile phone coverage and is accessible only by footpath. Owned by a farming family in Cumbria it was leased by the YHA for many years.
The hostel was built as a Games Keeper lodge and Shepherds Cottage around 1860. Though 90 years later, in 1970 the last residents moved out. Skiddaw House unfortunately began to decline until 1986 when it was leased by John Bothamley who took on the role of caring for the building. After much effort and expense John Bothamley handed the lease of a full operating simple hostel over to YHA.
The YHA continued to operate Skidddaw House as a hostel until 2002. By 2006, the building was empty and worn out. But, under an initiative started by Marie and Martin Webster (the YHA wardens from 1992 to 2000) and with the backing of “Skiddaw House Foundation” and it’s trustees the hostel was reopened in April 2007 as an independent hostel! Skiddaw House Hostel is affiliated to the YHA and also part of the Independent Hostel network.
The hostel is off grid and produces its own electricity from solar panels. The electricity is stored in batteries and used to run the lights and hot water boilers.
Skiddaw House Hostel has had many ups and downs over the years. But we are so happy that the building is in good shape and is getting the use it deserves. We are proud to have Skiddaw as part of our network.
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