YHA Idwal Cottage

Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 3LZ

96%

Superb rating

(219 reviews)

Your booking summary for YHA Idwal Cottage

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Overview

This eco-friendly hostel offers superb Eryri (Snowdonia) accommodation for activity breaks in the Ogwen Valley and is surrounded by all of the area’s geographical wonders. YHA Idwal Cottage is great for strolls to the Cwm Idwal nature reserve, or for walking holidays on the Cambrian Way or the Welsh 3000s.

This is YHA’s longest standing hostel – follow in the footsteps of YHA's founders and relive the walks and scrambles enjoyed by the Merseyside Group in those early years. Remember to pick up a copy of the 'Idwal log' at the hostel!

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 offered here

Why guests love this hostel

YHA's oldest location in Wales
Excellent Eryri (Snowdonia) accommodation
Stay in style in our Anglesey Hut

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Accommodation at YHA Idwal Cottage

Bed in a shared room

If you're happy to share, dorm rooms have multiple beds - ideal for budget breaks.

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Private rooms

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

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Private en-suite rooms

Enjoy your own space with a private en-suite room, including bathroom facilities.

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Anglesey hut

Feel close to nature with some home comforts in our traditional old-style wooden hut.

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Pitch-up camping

Bring your own tent and get closer to the great outdoors. You can't beat camping!

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Hire the whole hostel

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

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Hostel facilities

24-hour access after check-in
Ambulant accessible
Coach parking on premises
Contactless payments
Cycle store
Games
Garden/grounds
Highchair
Large garden/grounds
Library
Licensed bar
Minibus parking on premises
Mountain view
Near bus stop
No WiFi
Paid parking on premises
Self-catering kitchen
Shared drying room
Shared laundry room
Shared lounge
Sole use available
Water refill station
Wheelchair accessible

Hostel need to know

Reception opening hours: From 08:00 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 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, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire.

Self-catering: YHA Idwal Cottage is self-catering only. Guests have access to a kitchen.

Parking: Paid parking is available at this hostel. YHA guests can park for free from 5pm to 10am each day (daily charges apply outside these times).

WiFi: There is no WiFi at YHA Idwal Cottage. Get away from the hustle and bustle and have a digital detox.

Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Idwal Cottage. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.

YHA Idwal Cottage - Access Statement

(PDF download - 131.67 KB)

Food and drink at YHA Idwal Cottage

Self-catering at YHA Idwal Cottage

YHA Idwal Cottage is self-catering only. Our kitchen includes everything you need to cook up a storm.

Bring your own food and make use of our oven and refrigerator plus a kettle and toaster. Dishes and cutlery are provided as well as cleaning essentials.

YHA Idwal Cottage

Nant Ffrancon, Bethesda, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 3LZ

Map references

OS Map:: 115
OS Grid Ref:: SH648603
Lat/Lng:: 53.123287, -4.020508
what3words: fattening.dressings.hills

Contact information

Phone:: +44 345 371 9744
Email:: [email protected]

Get directions

Things to do around YHA Idwal Cottage

Cwm Idwal self-guided walking route

A great walk to Llyn Idwal which is surrounded by steep, high crags and scree slopes. With lots for geologists and botanists to enjoy this stunning route provides great views across the Ogwen valley...

Carnedd Dafydd and Carnedd Llewelyn self-guided walking route

An exhilarating and rugged mountain route which is steep in places, with short scrambles. Including a high-level section of the Cambrian Way, this route provides stunning mountain scenery and far...

Y Garn self-guided walking route

A challenging route passing the stunning Cwm Idwal to the single peak of Y Garn. With a couple of steep scrambles, and great views throughout, this is a very enjoyable mountain walk.

Adventure Okehampton, kids gorge walking

Plas Menai National Watersports Centre

Ideal for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and powerboating with easy access to the open sea and superb coastal scenery. Visit the website

Betws-y-Coed – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Information Centre

Visit the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Information Centre at Betws-y-Coed – the perfect place to learn about what makes Eryri (Snowdonia) spectacular as well as advice on visiting sustainably...

View of Llyn Dinas lake in the direction of Beddgelert village

Beddgelert – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Information Centre

Visit the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Information Centre at Beddgelert for all you need to know about exploring the area sustainably and making the most of your visit to Wales. Information centres...

Portmeirion

Portmeirion, the setting for the cult 60s series The Prisoner – 'I am not a number. I am a free man. The village consists of a cluster of brightly coloured houses. There are also shops, cafes...

Zip World - Slate Caverns

A unique range of very special adventures. Experience Europe's longest Ziplines, or massive underground trampolines and high-rope cavern adventures called Bounce Below. See the Zip World website for...

Zip World - Penrhyn Quarry

A unique range of very special adventures. Experience the world's fastest Ziplines, or a tour of the quarry.. See the Zip World website for full details of all the adventures.

Penrhyn Castle

This enormous neo-Norman castle is crammed with fascinating items, such as a one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria. View its fantastical exterior, admire its extensive collections of paintings...

Zip World - Fforest

In a stunning woodland setting nestled in the North Wales Conwy Valley, close to the iconic Eryri (Snowdonia) village of Betws-y-Coed, a host of forest adventures and foodie delights await. With...

Electric Mountain

Electric Mountain is home to the Dinorwig Power Station, set in the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) and dubbed "Britain's largest battery" this hydroelectric station houses 6 electric generators...

Walking and rambling in Idwal

Walk around Llyn Idwal and discover stunning waterfalls, the famous Devils Kitchen and the magnificent Eryri (Snowdonia) hills - beautiful on any day of the year.

Ropes and ladders

High level activities to get the heart racing! Enjoy the leaps, swings and zip line with spectacular views of Eryri (Snowdonia).

Cwm Idwal Nature reserve

Discover a landscape that was sculptured by ice thousands of years ago. Cwm Idwal has the glacial lake of Llyn Idwal at its centre, is encircled by some of Wales' most impressive mountains and is home...

Running in Idwal

Glyder Ridge Distance: 5.5 miles/8km Start/Finish: Ogwen car park, Llyn Ogwen, LL57 3LZ Terrain: Mountain track, trail Toughness: Challenging Ascent: 731 metres Navigation: Moderate to challenging...

Mountain biking in Idwal

Popular with confident mountain bikers from all over the world, there's excellent mountain biking in the area, especially on the Marin Trail - but this is only suitable for serious mountain bikers as...

Cycling in Idwal

The Lon Las route takes you from Portmadog to Bangor. You can either do the route in one day, or take time to explore the mountains and use the hostel as your base. There are numerous circular routes...

Climbing in Idwal

The best climbing in the whole world, well, so the hostel manager says! You'll find all varieties of rock and levels. Even beginners can get a grasp of the rock as instructor led courses and equipment...

Watersports in Idwal

Llyn Ogwen is very popular with fishermen. You might even catch a Gwyniad, a sub-species of European white fish, trapped in the lake after the Ice Age 10,000 years ago.

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.

History

Our network's second oldest hostel opened the day after it was acquired, in April 1931, and became an almost overnight success. In Idwal's first year of operation, camp beds had to be squeezed into every available space to accommodate the mountaineers that thronged here to conquer the crags of Snowdonia.

In the 1950s, extensive improvements began on the hostel, improving the exterior, electricity, water supply, number of beds and much more. To this day, YHA Idwal Cottage is a very popular hostel, due to the great access of exploring the iconic Snowdonia National Park.

Meet the team

Manager recommends: Don't miss Cwm Idwal Nature reserve, one of Wales’ most important wildlife sites. The footpath to the lake takes you through spectacular and breathtaking scenery. YHA Idwal Cottage is great for cheap family breaks to Wales, or walking holidays and activity breaks in a unique and dramatic landscape.