There are an increasing number of village halls offering accommodation, which is great as they are usually run for the community by the community. Offering bunkhouse/hostel style accommodation or sometimes just a floor to lay down sleeping matts, village halls are popular with all manner of hostellers. From big weekend groups in need of budget accommodation to walkers on a long distance route. Found in some of the most stunning locations the UK has to offer, what’s not to love?
Village halls and community run accommodation
Situated in the village of Claxby in the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this low cost hostel has a well equipped kitchen and good sized communal area. Within easy reach of Lincoln, Gainsborough, Scunthorpe and Grimsby. The perfect location for: walking, cycling, field studies, outdoor pursuits, educational activities and conservation projects. Popular with family groups, schools, scouts, guides, walkers, cycling groups and other organisations.
The Glenorchy Centre, run by a local church, includes a hall within the accommodation. The Hall is ideal for conferences or activities, it has a large stage, plenty of chairs, TV with DVD and table tennis and snooker tables. The fully heated accommodation has two dormitories and two smaller bedrooms, all with showers and toilets. There is a fitted kitchen and a dinning room. Available to self-catering groups.
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Caban Cysgu, run by Gerlan community, offers purpose-built accommodation at the foot of the Carneddau. Perfect for walking in Eryri (Snowdonia), Tryfan 10 mins away and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) 25 mins drive. A great base for the ‘Welsh 3,000’. Convenient for Snowdonia & Cambrian Ways & Slate Trail. Just 5 mins from Zip World; the longest & fastest zip line in Europe. Plenty of mountain bike trails on the doorstep & road cyclists have Sustrans ‘Lôn Las Ogwen’ route a mile away. For climbers, Idwal is nearby, for canoeists Afon Ogwen is popular.
No joking! Laggan Village Hall, in the Cairngorms National Park, offers basic camping style accommodation in it's main hall to individuals, families and groups of up to 25, (BYO sleeping mat and bedding). Stay for just £15 per person per night. That's cheaper than lots of campsites. In Laggan Village Hall there's a fully equipped kitchen, showers & WC's, and a locked place for bikes. So no more wet feet, soggy sleeping bags and miserable damp mornings trying to cook breakfast.
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Historic Reagill Village Hall, (formerly the oldest school in Westmorland, founded 400 years ago) is making history again. This time it is opening its ancient doors to overnight guests. It is perfect for people travelling the Coast to Coast cycle route The facilities are basic (this is reflected in the price) and the accommodation has much to offer. It's located close to the C2C walking, cycling & mountain biking routes, it's got great heating and the tiny hamlet of Reagill with it's 20 houses, quiet roads and no street lights will take you back to a bygone era.
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Once a Victorian village school, Lawrenny Old School is superbly placed for exploring South Pembrokeshire. Warm, clean and comfortable, with modern facilities, the accommodation is ideal for family groups, training courses or events. The adjoining village hall is also available to rent and there is a community shop, pub and an award-winning tearoom nearby.
A friendly welcome awaits at Airton Barn. Next to the 17th century Friends Meeting House, Airton Barn offers simple bunkhouse accommodation for individuals and groups of up to 12 people & storage for 5 bikes. Near popular walking & cycling routes & some of Yorkshire’s finest tourist destinations,
Perfect for walkers, cyclists, small groups and family holidays.
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. There’s a well equipped kitchen, hot water, toilet blocks with one male and one female shower. What’s more its centrally heated. There are no bunk beds, so you must bring your own sleeping mat and bedding. With footpaths on the doorstep its worth the low cost of an overnight stay. Because whatever the weather if you stay at Bradwell War Memorial Hall you will have a warm and dry evening and all your group will be ready to face more challenges the next day.
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Rhosiili Bunkhouse provides self contained accommodation on the same site at the Village hall. It is run for the benefit of the local community. The Village Hall hosts Quiz nights, Theatre groups, Murder Mystery, Twm Path, Poems and Pints and other events. Guests at the bunkhouse a always welcome to attend. Quite a few guests hire the hall for wedding parties and celebrations or just as extra room and workspace for training events.
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The seventeenth century Old School at Yealand includes a Quaker Meeting house from the early days of Quaker history and a large hall with dance floor. There is plenty of room to socialise including a kitchen and dining area and 3 bedrooms. Group sizes can be expanded to up to 25 people with ease, using stacking beds and sleeping matts.
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This village hall bunkhouse on the Isle of Mull is situated in a splendid rugged Moorland setting on the Isle of Mull, just 1 mile outside the village of Fionnphort & the ferry to Iona, Staffa & Treshnish Isles. The bunkhouse sleep groups of up to 15 in two en suite rooms (6 & 8 single beds) plus an accessible ground floor single room. There's a self-catering kitchen and two halls which are available for use, but can be hired for exclusive use for an extra fee.
Perfect for the Pennine Way or C2C cycle route. In the lovely village of Garrigill, the bunkroom above the village hall sleeps 8 with bedding hire available. Larger groups can BYO bedding and use the hall itself where 12 camp beds are available. There is free WiFi, a well equipped kitchen, showers and drying room. It makes the ideal long distance walk/C2C stop over.
The centre provides room hire for organisations and conferences and runs local activities. It also provides accommodation in the attached Findhorn Village Hostel, which can be combined with the conference facilities if required.
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Escape to the heart of the Lake District, leaving the crowds behind. Rookhow is a secluded haven within 12 acres of ancient woodland nestled between Coniston and Lake Windermere. The newly renovated self-catering barn has underfloor heating, log fires and a snug sitting room. Enjoy the campfire, outdoor seating area and yurt in the woods. Hire the Meeting House for extra space.
Grinneabhat is a new community owned and run hostel on the Isle of Lewis.Sleeping 12 across 4 ensuite rooms you can book a bed, a room or the whole hostel.Grinneabhat hostel makes the perfect base for exploring this enchanting island, it’s history and culture, deserted beaches and abundant wildlife.All bed linen and towels are provided.Dogs are welcome by arrangement.
CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT. RE-OPENING IN 2025.Ashbourne Gateway Centre, in the pretty market town of Ashbourne, is a perfect base for exploring the landscape & attractions of the Peak District.The Tissington trail off-road cycle/walking route starts opposite. Carsington Water,The Roaches & Alton Towers make great days out and are all close by.
Opened in 2022, community-run bunkhouse in Scottish Borders, sleeps up to 14 in 3 en-suite rooms with 50 inch TV & flexible sleeping arrangements.
Fully equipped kitchen/dining room & seating area. Sole use available. Newcastleton 7stanes Mountain Bike Trails, Reivers cycle route & the Cross Border Trail on doorstep, very popular with cyclists, walkers and family groups.
Village Halls becoming accommodation is a relatively new phenomenon. However it makes perfect sense, they have large spaces to sleep in, toilets, a well-equipped kitchen, and heating. When you think about it they are much easier to convert than most barns. A lot of the village halls remain as halls used by the locals and welcome travellers who are passing through for the night. They resemble camping barns, but with the bonus of a kitchen and a more central location. Most villages will have shops to resupply you for the next leg of your journey.
The kitchen in Garrigill Village Hall, a step up from most camping barns The village halls are usually run by the community and using them as accommodation is a way to raise money to keep the building useable as the heart of these small often rural communities. The halls aren’t just for those on long-distance walks, they are perfect for weekends or nights away with friends and family. By their very nature, they have a large communal space. Perfect for catching up with people you haven’t seen for a long time and enjoying the company of friends.
Stay in a Village Hall Be ahead of the trend and stay in one of the ever-increasing number of community spaces opening their doors to visitors and stay the night in a comfortable, warm well-equipped hall. Sometimes the best surprises come from where you least expect them.
