Whether it’s overlooking the sea, the fells of the Lake District, the rolling South Downs or an ancient monument, many of the hostels in our network are blessed with beautiful views. We’ve picked out nine hostels that will get you reaching for your camera-phone or simply sitting back and admiring the landscape around you.
YHA Ambleside
Feast your eyes on Lakeland’s best
Picture the Lake District. Chances are, your mind’s eye is showing you high mountains, green forests and deep blue lakes. That’s exactly what you’ll see through the windows of YHA Ambleside. The hostel, in Ambleside itself, is positioned on the shores of Windermere. Grab a drink from the café and soak in the views from a table in the gardens.
YHA Broad Haven
Pembrokeshire hostel with a vast vista
The sea is a constant presence at YHA Broad Haven. The café ceiling is adorned with a vast mural of a whale, and the nautical theme continues through the hostel. And no wonder: through the café windows and from the outdoor seating area, the vast expanse of Broad Haven beach and St Bride’s Bay beyond it dominates the scene.
YHA Whitby
A Grade I listed mansion high above Whitby
Almost whichever window you’re looking out from YHA Whitby, you’re going to see something pretty impressive. It’s located on the towering East Cliff , right next to the evocative ruins of Whitby Abbey, while to the west there are long views over the higgledy-piggledy town of Whitby itself. The Cleveland Way passes within metres of the hostel.
YHA South Downs
Take in the romance of the Sussex Downs
“The Downs…too much for one pair of eyes, enough to float a whole population in happiness.” So wrote Alfred Lord Tennyson of the South Downs. YHA South Downs, a refurbished farmhouse just outside Lewes, sits on the South Downs Way, which takes in the best of Hampshire and Sussex. Take in the views, especially from the hostel’s Landpods, and you’ll understand Tennyson.
YHA Grinton Lodge
Hillside lodge in the Yorkshire Dales
Swaledale is classic Yorkshire Dales countryside, with bright green fields in the valleys and expansive moorland on the higher hills. Hikers visit for long walks and long lunches in country pubs, while cyclists head here for challenging climbs and steep descents. YHA Grinton Lodge has incredible views over the valley and beyond, with a couple of benches perfectly poised for that winning perspective.
YHA Conwy
Hillside hostel overlooking the the ancient town
YHA Conwy offers commanding views over the mouth of the River Conwy and the town itself. The hostel sits on a hill just outside Conwy’s ancient walls and is perfectly placed for adventures from the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) to the beaches of Llandudno. The nearby medieval castle offers another formidable sight, as it has done for more than 700 years.
YHA Treyarnon Bay
A beach-side Cornish retreat
Location, location, location: that’s what visitors remember about YHA Treyarnon Bay. It sits just 50 metres from the beach, and whisper it, but it has perhaps the best sea views of any hostel in the network (there are plenty of contenders). This Cornish bolthole also has fabulous camping and glamping options alongside a café. Padstow is just four miles away.
YHA Edale Activity Centre
Country house in classic Peak District landscape
Look out of the lounge at YHA Edale Activity Centre and you’re treated to, well, peak Peak District. Ancient woodland, heather moorland, and the distinctive shape of Mam Tor lie directly south of the hostel. YHA Edale Activity Centre itself is on the slopes of Kinder Scout, the basis for a wealth of adventures. Edale is also the starting place of the Pennine Way National Trail.
YHA Ilam Hall
Historic property with breathtaking views
You’ll see both history and nature from the curved glass windows of the Victorian gothic mansion that is YHA Ilam Hall. The property sits among 84 acres of National Trust parkland on the steep-sided banks of the River Manifold. You’ll spot one of the most prominent peaks of the area, the isolated limestone knoll of Thorpe Cloud, while completing the view is the Church of the Holy Cross.
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