For this month’s Throwback Thursday, we’re looking at the history of another iconic YHA.
YHA Snowdon Bryn Gwynant is a Victorian mansion, perfectly placed in the Snowdonia National Park. Bryn Gwynant is known for its wooded grounds and stunning views over Llyn Gwynant and Snowdon itself.
Bryn Gwynant was an extensive house, built in 1834. It had been looked at by YHA in the early days and rejected because it had fallen into bad repair, but two succeeding owners had improved the place substantially.
In 1958, YHA looked again at Bryn Gwynant, and liked it much more than in 1930. It was perfectly situated, alongside Llyn Gwynant, for climbing Snowdon. The location is just breath-taking and YHA didn’t want to miss out on this fantastic opportunity.
The doors opened on 23 March 1959. The property consisted of the house, outbuildings and grounds, and was purchased freehold for £5,250, benefiting from Ministry of Education grant-aid. The YHA Trust then took ownership of the extraordinary building.
In the sixties and seventies, alterations and improvements continued, such as washbasins in every room, central heating and flooring improvements, in order to make the hostel the best that it could be.
Since 1959, this grand old lakeside lodge has welcomed more than half a million YHA guests. The number of beds increased from 58 to 72 in the mid-eighties and the number remains the same today. YHA Snowdon Bryn Gwynant is a lovely period property, with a Coach House annex – complete with a kitchen, showers and decor. There is no mobile reception at this idyllic YHA, but you can expect comfy leather sofas, fab views and plenty of peaceful nooks and crannies to curl up with a book.
But Our beloved building is tired. Too tired to continue as a hostel without major building work. And we cannot guarantee its future. We need your help. Help us save YHA Snowdon Bryn Gwynant.
We have ambitious plans to save Bryn, and with your help, we will restore the house, set up a dedicated fund to support breaks to Bryn for young people with challenging lives, and establish the first YHA Campus here: a pioneering work-skills programme to get young people into jobs. Please help us save Bryn. Find out more here.
