Social walk from YHA Borrowdale
Saturday 13th September 2025 Distance: 9 miles (14.4 km) Duration: 5 hours Led by: Hiking Buddies UK Discovery and connection This guided walk, led by Hiking Buddies UK, takes participants from the...
YHA Borrowdale
Overview
YHA Borrowdale is perfect for outdoor activity breaks, school trips and family holidays. This large Lakeland hostel has a fabulous valley location amidst a landscape of epic proportions, coupled with a warm, informal and welcoming atmosphere.
The hostel is a long-standing Lake District favourite and recommended stop on Wainwright’s Coast to Coast. The ideal bolt-hole for anyone with their sights set on a stress-free high-level activity holiday, be it climbing, hiking or family-friendly walking.
Accommodation at this hostel
- Bed in a shared room is offered here
- Private room is offered here
- Camping & Cabins is offered here
- Entire place is not offered here
Why guests love this hostel
- Scafell Pike, Great Gable and Castle Crag on the doorstep
- Dog-friendly Camping & Cabins accommodation
- Perfect for activity holidays
Accommodation at YHA Borrowdale
Group booking
Serviced group stays for 16 to 86 people
YHA Borrowdale offers a variety of accommodation options including rooms of varying sizes, camping pods and camping pitches. Ideal for school groups, YHA Borrowdale provides adventurous activities through Carnegie Great Outdoors and opportunities for geography, geology and ecology fieldwork. Nearby attractions like Keswick and Borrowdale Volcanic Group add educational value.
For non-educational groups, this hostel is perfectly situated for accessing iconic walking and hiking routes such as Scarfell Pike and Catbells. Nearby attractions like Honister Slate Mine and Keswick Pencil Museum offer additional experiences. YHA Borrowdale is an excellent choice for group getaways with access to landscapes, towns and a renowned village pub for relaxation. Come and see for yourself!
Group-friendly facilities
Sleeping arrangements
Most of our bedrooms are dormitory style rooms with bunk beds. We always try to allocate bedrooms close together and will never ask your group to share bedrooms with anyone not in your group.
Upgrades are available for sole use of an area, floor or the entire place.
Shared spaces
With a classic Lakeland ambiance, cosy log fire and friendly staff, this hostel is great for groups. It offers free WiFi, meeting/study rooms and other on-site facilities.
Group catering
With tasty breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals, groups are sure to find something delicious to eat at YHA Borrowdale (see sample menu).
Meal plans range from bed and breakfast up to full-board catering. Vegetarian options are available and we aim to cater for any special dietary requests.
Parking
Parking is available at the hostel. There is no access for coaches - the nearest drop off is 400m away.
Packages and bolt-ons
Looking to fill some free time? Our bolt-on activities can easily be added to your stay.
Accredited site
YHA Borrowdale holds a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (105532).
This accreditation means that this hostel has externally audited risk assessments, verified insurance provision, quality checked safety logs and delivery observed by national reviewers.
Hostel facilities
- 24-hour access after check-in
- Café
- Classroom(s)
- Contactless payments
- Corridor zoning
- Cycle store
- Dining room
- Evening meals
- Free parking on premises
- Games
- Garden/grounds
- Group meals
- Highchair
- Large garden/grounds
- Licensed bar
- Luggage store
- Minibus parking on premises
- Mountain view
- Near bus stop
- No mobile coverage
- Outdoor seating
- Restaurant
- Self-catering kitchen
- Shared drying room
- Shared lounge
- Sole use available
- Unlimited breakfast
- Water refill station
- Wheelchair accessible
- WiFi
Hostel need to know
Reception opening hours: From 07:30 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 22:00.
Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests from 07:30 – 09:00 on weekdays and 07:30 – 10:00 at weekends. Meals are also available from 12:00 – 20:30.
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.
Self-catering: Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.
Parking: YHA Borrowdale offers parking. There is no access for coaches - the nearest drop off is 400m away.
WiFi: Free WiFi is available in shared social spaces.
Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Borrowdale, except in our Camping & Cabins accommodation. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.
YHA Borrowdale - Access Statement
(PDF download - 103.01 KB)
Food and drink at YHA Borrowdale
Things to do around YHA Borrowdale
Lodore Falls
Lodore Falls is a spectacular waterfall in the Lake District. The water starts in the beck from Watendlath Tarn, then cascades over huge rocks and boulders down into the valley. The drop is over 100...
Grange in Borrowdale
Grange in Borrowdale, or just Grange as it’s also known, is a gorgeous village in the Lake District National Park, near the market town of Keswick. It’s known for its striking bridge with two arches...
Castle Crag
Castle Crag is a hill in the Lake District National Park. It is situated in the north-western fells and is one of the smallest Wainwrights in the Lakes. From the summit of Castle Crag, you’ll get some...
Scafell Pike self-guided walking route
An exhilarating walk to England’s highest peak with amazing views and pretty gills and tarns.
Great Crag and Watendlath self-guided walking route
A great walk with amazing views, moorland and tarns.
Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite Beck self-guided walking route
A walk through Lake District villages providing great views of the surrounding hills and a peaceful riverside path.
Grasmere Gingerbread Shop
Visit the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop, with its closely guarded recipe still being kept a secret to this day. Enjoy the wonderful aroma of freshly baked gingerbread and sample the delights inside...
Go Ape Whinlatter
Whinlatter Forest offers dramatic views and unique landscapes, both of which can be soaked up at Go Ape Whinlatter. YHA members get 10% off outdoor adventures with Go Ape (all activities and locations...
The Lake District Wildlife Park
With over 100 species of animals, you can spend the whole day wandering around the beautiful 25 acre park. Visit the Lake District Wildlife Park's website for more information (Formally known as...
Boat trips on Derwentwater
Cruise the lake stopping at the lakeshore jetties where you can change boats, or enjoy the 50 minute trip around Derwentwater.
Keswick Golf Club
An 18 hole golf course offering a unique golfing experience - with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Lakeland Fells.
Osprey View Point
Spectacular view of the ospreys flying to and from their nest and, most amazing of all, catching fish from Bassenthwaite Lake.
Theatre by the Lake
One of the most beautifully located theatres in England, hosting film and literary festivals throughout the year.
The Puzzling Place
Stuffed with puzzles, gadgets and curiosities The Puzzling Place is guaranteed to have something to amuse, entertain or puzzle you.
Whinlatter Forest
The Altura Trail which puts altitude into mountain biking or there's a Go Ape! with it's high wire forest adventure course.
Honister Slate Mine
For underground tours and the popular Via Ferrata. Edge along ladders and bridges to reach a summit viewpoint over Buttermere. Visit the website
Plattyplus watersports
Based on the shores of Derwent Water, you can hire equipment or take a lesson in kayaking, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing. Visit the Platty+ website
Keswick Museum and Art Gallery
With its large collection of exhibits, the museum is a fascinating place to discover old Keswick and the Lake District. See the museum website.
Watersports around Borrowdale
Fast and furious dragon boat racing is a must for groups and for something totally different, don't miss the experience of sailing or rowing a Viking Longboat.
More about this hostel
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
In 1932, one of YHA’s earliest hostels, Grange-in-Borrowdale opened and was considered a great success. Due to the wardens not wishing to run their premises as a hostel any longer, the hostel eventually closed in September 1937.
During Easter 1939, YHA opened Longthwaite-in-Borrowdale youth hostel and today, YHA Borrowdale is still a longstanding Lake District favourite (just like all those years ago.)
Meet the team
Manager recommends: For climbing holidays and hiking holidays, scaling Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, Great Gable and Bowfell will reward your effort with some fantastic views. For family walking holidays try the walk to Watendlath, Langstrath or along the crystal clear River Derwent to Castle Crag to relax and restore. For outdoor activity breaks, The Honister Via Ferrata, Whinlatter Mountain Biking and Go Ape tree-top ropes course are sure to exhilarate. We have all the ingredients needed for a wonderful day out on the Fells, perfect for family breaks and school trips. Brilliant!
On a seriously hot day there really is only one place to visit and that’s ‘Black Moss Pot’. The legendary local swimming spot is where brave souls can dive off 15ft high rocks into the plunge pool or simply find a comfy patch of grass and do some quality sunbathing.
Visit the Bowder Stone. Thought to weigh 2,000 tons and standing 30ft high, this ginormous boulder is one of the most famous and quirkiest sights in the Lake District. It is balanced, seemingly preposterously, on one edge and has a ladder to the top.
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