YHA Black Sail

Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AX
97%

Superb

(181 reviews)

YHA Black Sail exterior

Book:

What our private room offer

  • Bed linen
  • Cot available
  • Lock on doors
  • Smoke alarm

What you need to know about our private room

Check-in
From 17:00 - 20:30
Check-out
Before 10:00
Towels and toiletries
Hand soap is provided next to all sinks. Towels are not supplied as standard but can be rented or purchased from reception.
Bedding
Bedding is supplied in all our private rooms.

Hire:

YHA Black Sail view
  • Sleeps up to 16 guests
  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 bathrooms

YHA Black Sail is a former shepherds bothy offering compact but comfortable accommodation with a real mountain hut atmosphere, making it the perfect escape to get away from the stresses of modern-day life.

Where you'll sleep

Across the entire building there is a total of three bedrooms.

Ground floor

Two rooms that sleep up to 4 people each. They include 2 sets of bunk beds.

One room that sleeps up to 8 people. It includes 4 sets of bunk beds.

A cot is available.

Shared spaces

Kitchen and dining

The small kitchen is located on the ground floor and includes a range of conveniences listed below.

Kitchen appliances: grill, kettle, oven, refrigerator, wood stove.

Kitchenware: dishes and cutlery, kitchen utensils, pots, pans.

Cleaning basics: anti-bacterial spray, bin bags, cloths, paper towels, soap, tea towels, washing up liquid.

Located on the ground floor, the cosy dining area seats up to 16 people. It has tables and bench seating. You can relax with stunning views of the surrounding fells.

Please note the hostel is only accessible by foot or bike. We recommend picking up supplies for meals en route to the hostel so you can enjoy your stay in the knowledge that you can cater for yourselves after a busy day exploring.

Bathrooms

Outside the building, there is a total of two bathrooms. You will need torches for night-time toilet trips!

Toilets: 2

Showers: 1

Toilet paper is provided and hand soap is available next to all sinks. 

Outdoors

The hostel doors open directly onto countryside and amazing mountain views.

Outdoor amenities: benches, grass/lawn.

What our whole hostel offer

  • Bed linen
  • Carbon monoxide alarm
  • Central heating
  • Cleaning basics
  • Cot available
  • Dishes and cutlery
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Fridge
  • Grill
  • Heating
  • Hot water
  • Kettle
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchen utensils
  • Lock on doors
  • Mountain view
  • Outdoor seating
  • Oven
  • Shower(s)
  • Smoke alarm

What you need to know about our whole hostel

Check-in
From 16:00
Check-out
Before 10:00
Heating
There is central heating throughout the property.
Bedding
Bedding is supplied in all our rooms.
Dogs
Hire YHA Black Sail and bring up to four dogs! Add a dog to your booking at the checkout and bring your four-legged friend along with you. Dogs are not permitted in the bedrooms, on the furniture or in the kitchen, and must be kept on a lead in the grounds.
Checking in
You will receive an email prior to your arrival with the property address and check-in instructions.
Guest access
Guests have use of the whole property. The hostel is only accessible by foot or bike. Guests can leave their cars in the Bowness Knott car park (6 miles away), but vehicles are not authorised beyond and belongings will need to be carried from here.

Overview

Location, location, location. Quite simply, that is what YHA Black Sail is all about. Remote and accessible only on foot, it’s a unique rural retreat that lovers of the great outdoors can normally only dream about.

Located in a traffic-free valley, it’s as tranquil as a stay in the Lakes gets. Those on walking, hiking and climbing holidays will value the superb access to nearby peaks including Great Gable, Pillar, Red Pike and Steeple.

Why guests love YHA Black Sail

  • Café
  • Mountain view
  • Self-catering kitchen
  • Unique location at the head of the Ennerdale Valley
  • YHA's most remote youth hostel
  • Unrivalled access to great walking
YHA Black Sail exterior
YHA Black Sail exterior
YHA Black Sail exterior
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Accommodation at YHA Black Sail

Private rooms

Like your own space? Private rooms offer the hostelling experience with more privacy.

View info Book now

Hire the whole place

With YHA Exclusive Hire, you can take the entire building for you and your group.

View info Book now

Group bookings for 16+ guests

Let YHA take care of your stay with our group booking service.

View info Book now

Reviews

Food and drink at YHA Black Sail

  • Unlimited breakfast at YHA Black Sail

    Enjoy all you can eat from our cooked breakfast options including sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes and beans. Continental options include fresh fruit, cereals, yogurts and pastries. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to get stuck into. Drinks are included too! Under 10s eat for £1 with our special offer (see menu for details).

    View menu
    Cooked full English breakfast

  • Evening menu at YHA Black Sail

    Take your pick from today’s selection of hearty classics and delicious desserts. Vegan and vegetarian options available.

    YHA evening menu

Things to do around YHA Black Sail

  • cycling

    Cycling in Ennerdale

    Get out and about on your bike and enjoy the landscape. Whether it’s hill or valley you want to explore, you can ride as far as your legs will allow you.

  • Walking and Rambling in Black Sail Pass

    Walking and Rambling around Black Sail Pass

     Walking & Rambling    Try the high level traverse under Pillar Rock up to the summit of Pillar and along the ridge to Black Sail pass with spectacular views of Scafell and Grea

  • Ennerdale Lake and Valley

    Ennerdale Lake and Valley

    Ennerdale Lake and Valley     The Ennerdale Valley is a remote, wild valley with magnificent scenery with a wide range of walking and cycling routes. Visit the website   &nb

  • Wild Ennerdale Valley project

    Wild Ennerdale Valley project

    Visit this secluded valley to experience a sense of wildness, increasingly rare in this busy urban world we live in. Visit the website  

  • Cycling in Black Sail

    Cycling in Black Sail

    Get out and about on your bike and enjoy the landscape. Whether it’s hill or valley you want to explore, you can ride as far as your legs will allow you.  

  • Mountain biking in Black Sail

    Mountain biking in Black Sail

    Travel light and bike up to YHA Black Sail before conquering two of the toughest lakeland passes - Scarth Gap and Black Sail Pass.

Hostel facilities

  • 24-hour access after check-in
  • Café
  • Dining room
  • Evening meals
  • Games
  • Group meals
  • Intermittent mobile coverage
  • Licensed bar
  • Mountain view
  • No WiFi
  • Outdoor seating
  • Restaurant
  • Self-catering kitchen
  • Unlimited breakfast

Hostel need to know

Reception opening hours: From 08:00 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 20:30.

Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests daily from 07:30 – 09:00. Meals are also available from 17:00 – 20:00.

Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire.

Self-catering: Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.

Parking: The hostel is only accessible by foot or bike. The nearest road is 2.5 miles away by mountain path. Guests can leave their cars in the Bowness Knott car park, but their vehicles are not authorised beyond.

Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Black Sail, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.

YHA Black Sail - Access Statement

(PDF download - 98.64 KB)

YHA Black Sail

Black Sail Hut, Ennerdale, Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AX

Map references

OS Map:
89
OS Grid Ref:
NY194124
Lat/Lng:
54.500346, -3.244845

Contact information

Get directions

Volunteering

Volunteering with YHA is a fantastic way to have fun, learn new skills, boost your CV and travel to different places. We have a variety of different opportunities to choose from and volunteering roles to suit everyone.  

The tasks are varied and in return you will meet some great people, who both work and stay in our hostels, as well as enjoying your time off discovering the local area and attractions. Find out more and apply to volunteer at this hostel through YHA Volunteering.

History

The hostel is one of the oldest in Britain and it started life as a shepherd's bothy - a small hut used for sheltering in the mountains. Back when we opened in 1933, the bunk beds were constructed from a kit of parts and the mattress was simply a canvas between wooden stretchers! Domestic chores and cooking all took place in the common room (or outside) and the water used to be supplied from a nearby stream.

Have a look around the hostel for some vintage snapshots and you'll see how we've preserved its unique character. With a tasteful makeover, a variety of awards, plus support from Defra, we hope this iconic Youth Hostel will be treasured for generations to come.

Meet the team

Manager recommends: Take the opportunity to stay in a remote mountain retreat in the heart of Cumbria's Lakeland High peaks without the hassle of traffic, mobile phones and the internet. Make sure you watch the sun rise over Great Gable, and set over Pillar, simply stunning.

Visit Britain Walkers and Cyclists Welcome logos Cool Places logo The great outdoors logo 2012 Rough guides award logo 2012 DEFRA logo European Fund for Rural Development logo European Fund for Rural Development Leader logo

This project was supported by the Rural Development Programme for England, for which Defra is the Managing Authority, part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.

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