The Pennine Bridleway is a 205 mile (330 Km) long National Trail running through the Pennines. It starts near Wirkswoth in Derbyshire and finishes in the village of Ravenstonedale in Cumbria. This relatively new route was officially opened in 2012 by Martin Clunes. Specifically designed for mountain bikers and horse riders. It is of course also perfect for walkers. Independent hostels are a fantastic source of great value accommodation along the route.
Pennine Bridleway
Great for groups of mountain bikers exploring the Pennine Bridleway, Ashbourne Gateway Centre, in the pretty market town of Ashbourne, provides accommodation for groups of up to 27.
Find out more
With its own crags, streams, lakes & 600-acres of mature woodland, Shining Cliff Hostel has nature on its doorstep.
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 Glenorchy Centre is on the edge of the Peak District National Park in the historic market town of Wirksworth.
Close by are the High Peak Trail for walking & cycling, and Black Rocks for bouldering & climbing. Nearby Cromford has Arkwright’s mills, a World Heritage Site, & Cromford Canal. Suitable for self-catering groups, the accommodation includes a spacious multi-purpose hall.
Mount Cook, a fantastic purpose built centre, offers groups of 8 - 180 the perfect base for an exciting weekend or holiday in the Peak District. A whole range of outside activities can be organised on- or off-site for a min of 8 people. Popular with schools, clubs, corporate team building, weddings and gatherings of friends and families. B&B, full or half board. Self-catering with sole use bookings.
Sheen Bunkhouse is in a quiet corner of the Peak District, close to the beautiful Dove and Manifold valleys. It has a well equipped self-catering kitchen, lounge, two bunkrooms and separate toilets & showers.The Manifold Track, Tissington Trail and High Peak Trail give easy access to beautiful countryside, ideal for families and cyclists. Dovedale and the moors offer stunning walking. Buxton, Leek and Bakewell are within 12 miles and Alton Towers is 20 minutes away by car.
At the centre of the pretty village of Youlgreave in the heart of the White Peak, this youth hostel has been given a contemporary upgrade under private management. The hostel has an on-site cafe, artisan bakery and a pre-loved bookshop. There is a self-catering kitchen, a patio with picnic tables, cycle storage and nine private bedrooms (some en suite). Individual travellers are always welcome.
Renovated to a high standard including double glazing and insulation, the Reckoning House is situated 3 miles from Bakewell. It is on the edge of the Lathkill Dale National Nature Reserve, full of interesting flora and fauna as well as outstanding geological features.Horse riding, fishing, golf and cycle hire are available locally. Local walks include the Limestone Way. Facilities include: cooking area, 4 calor gas rings (gas supplied), hot water for washing up & showers, storage heaters in all rooms.
Thornbridge Outdoors offers excellent flexible group accommodation. With its superb location in the heart of the Peak District you have access to wonderful countryside, quaint villages, stately homes, and the traffic free Monsal Trail, popular with walkers and cyclists.
With all of the Peak District National Park within easy access, the centre is an ideal location for activities and tourism and it welcomes a wide range of groups. 31 or 52 bed configurations can be booked.The spacious centre includes; a large lounge with library, TV and wood burning stove, well equipped kitchens & dining areas. An extensive network of paths give access to the countryside. Adventure activities available, great for team building & courses.
Bradwell War Memorial Hall is in the pretty village of Bradwell in the heart of the Peak District. This community run hall offers low cost self-catering accommodation to groups of 6-42.An ideal base for walkers, bikers, DofE, students or climbers who wish to explore this popular area. There are no beds so BYO sleeping mat and bedding. The rooms are centrally heated, there’s a well equipped kitchen & hot showers.
A mile from Castleton in the Peak District, Pindale Farm offers a range of accommodation: B&B in the farmhouse. Six self-catering/self-contained rooms sleeping 8 or 10 people in the Barn. A self-catering unit sleeping 8 people in The Engine House. Plus an AA 3 Pennant campsite. Perfect for D of E expeditions and many outdoor activities. Instruction is available.
Close to the start of the Pennine Way with easy access to Kinder Scout and the village of Edale via a network of footpaths from the doorstep. Castleton, Buxton, Bakewell and Chatsworth House are all within 40 minutes’ drive.
There are 2 bunkhouses each with a fully equipped kitchen and available for sole use by groups. Bring your own sleeping bags and personal towels.
The Boarshurst Centre is situated on the north western edge of the Peak District yet with easy road and rail links to Manchester (12 miles away).With 32 beds across 2 dorms and 2 leaders’ rooms the centre provides well appointed self-catering accommodation for child, youth, adult and family/friend groups who seek to practice outdoor pursuits. BYO sleeping bags
Height Gate, a groups only hostel, is perfectly placed for groups of up to 32 wanting to walk, mountain bike, cycle or just explore the picturesque Calder Valley area of West Yorkshire. Located well away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's found up a single-track road. Despite its remoteness, it's within one hours drive of Manchester, Preston, Bradford and Leeds. Perfect for a weekend away with your club or a gathering of friends.
Find out more
The recently refurbished Hebden Bridge Hostel, run by national arts organisation IOU, offers contemporary, comfortable & affordable accommodation at the heart of this vibrant independent town.Exclusive use, dorms and private rooms are available, all with en suite facilities. Perfect for solo travellers, families or groups. Everyone is welcome.
There is a racked secure bicycle store for 20 bikes. Dorms for 2, 2x6 and 1x7. Matt, who runs the hostel is a keen cyclist and has all the kit should a running repair be required. He is happy to cook evening meals to coincide with arrival, or breakfast. As well as packed lunches. Lovely pub just 300 yards from the Hostel. What more could you want?
Find out more
Simple, comfortable accommodation in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Hornby Laith Bunkhouse Barn occupies a secluded position within easy walking distance of the pretty village of Stainforth and the market town of Settle. Sleeping up to 5O, there is an indoor recreational area, extra camping, ample parking and space for a marquee. There’s a self-catering kitchen and full catering can be organised by arrangement.
Situated in Horton in Ribblesdale, the 3 Peaks Bunkbarns are perfect for walking on the Pennine Way and the 3 Peaks.The main barn has 4 rooms each sleeping up to 8. The second barn has 4 rooms each sleeping up to 6, with en-suite shower rooms. Both have a kitchen/dining room.
Hawks Barn offers luxury accommodation for up to 6 people on the edge of Horton-in-Ribblesdale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With easy access to an astounding number of walking, cycling and mountain biking routes, be sure to book well in advance. The Dales Way, The Dales Highway, The Pennine Way, The Pennine Journey and The Pennine Bridleway all pass close by. Base yourself at the barn to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks or plan to stop-over while you follow The Great North Trail or the Land's End to John o'Groats walking and cycling routes. With fully made-up beds, a drying room, a secure bike shed and the option of being catered for...it really is the perfect place for adventurers to stay.
Find out more
Broadrake Bunkbarn offers direct access to the Three Peaks Challenge Walk which can be started from the door. It is an ideal stopover on the Pennine Journey or Dales High Way. This popular accommodation for 20 has an upstairs open-plan living space with excellent self-catering & communal facilities. Perfect for extended family reunions, cyclists, cavers and dark sky enthusiasts. Individuals, couples and small groups welcome mid-week.
Stay Howgills, a converted stone barn in Ravonstonedale in the rugged Cumbrian Hills. The Barn sleeps 14 in 4 rooms, and the Bothy sleeps 2. Superbly equipped and well heated, guests are sure of a cosy, comfortable stay. Situated down a long farm track with stunning views, perfect for walkers and cyclists. Wainwright’s Pennine Journey passes by and the Pennine Bridleway is close.
Kirkby Stephen Hostel is a great stop off if you are doing the Pennine Bridleway. As the hostel is in the centre of this small market town there are places for you to eat and shop. There's a lockable bike shed for you to use. Together with hot showers, good company, a comfortable bed and a remarkably low price you have the recipe for a perfect stop over.
Find out more
With unrivalled views of Pendle Hill, Downham Camping Barn is a short walk from Downham village pubs & cafes.
Popular with walkers, cyclists & DofE groups the recently refurbished barn sleeps 12 (BYO camp beds or roll mats). There’s a cooking & sitting area & WC. Photovoltaic cells provide power for limited LED lighting (but not for phone charging) and there is a wood-burning stove with fuel available to purchase. Outside there is a gas BBQ & fire pit and space for tents.
The Pennine Bridleway is a 205 mile (330 Km) long National Trail running through the Pennines. It stretches from Derbyshire to Cumbria. This relatively new route was officially opened in 2012 by Martin Clunes. Specifically designed for mountain bikers and horse riders. It is of course also perfect for walkers.
Happy cyclists after a night at Earby Hostel The Pennine Bridleway follows a variety of surfaces including minor roads, aggregate tracks, grassed stone tracks, stone setts, and worn flags. While some of these have been newly created specifically for the Pennine Bridleway others are drovers’ roads or packhorse trails that have been in use for centuries.
The route takes you through a wonderful variety of landscapes from open moorland to steep-sided wooded river valleys. It passes through both the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. You will pass a number of reservoirs which bring another dimension to the route. These were originally constructed to service the canals and the needs of the developing industrial cities of the north. More interest is provided by the evidence of the industrial heritage of the South Pennines. You will see derelict mills, dismantled railways, soot-blackened gritstone walls, and tall ivy-covered chimneys. It’s a route of contrast. It’s an adventure and a challenge and brings a great sense of achievement to those who complete it. For more details see the Pennine Bridleway’s own website .
All along the route, you will find a selection of independent hostels, bunkhouses and camping barns offering low-cost overnight accommodation. Many have secure bike storage and drying rooms and provide or hire out bed linen. Some provide breakfast and evening meals, others will point you in the direction of local shops and pubs. Read each hostel’s feature to be sure they are suitable for you.
Photos kindly supplied by the Pennine National Trails Partnership and Earby Hostel 
