YHA St Briavels Castle

YHA St Briavels Castle provides great opportunities for English and History students with various educational packages available. The hostel has beds for up to 66 people, classroom facilities and meals provided.

We run fantastically rewarding History, PE & Geography Packages that help children to “Learn Outside the Classroom” (and are LOTC accredited).

Visit the YHA School Trips website for more information.

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.

You can find out more and apply to volunteer at this hostel on the volunteering website. 

The Castle dates back to the 12th Century, and many a tale from this world and the next can be found across the Internet. As an introduction why not take a Virtual Tour, but there really is no substitute for the real thing, and joining one of our regular Castle Tours where you can become a history detective and help uncover the secrets of the past.

As King John’s former hunting lodge we are uniquely placed to offer this within a living reminder of the King and one of the most important pieces of history to shape our society today. You enter this remarkable and unique YHA site through a triple portcullis gatehouse into a secluded courtyard and walled garden, and then enter through the grand wooden period door into the West Tower to a warm welcome fit for a King or Queen. Take a walk through time within this former hunting lodge of King John from the 13th century, spend a peaceful moment in his Chapel, rest your feet in his bed-chamber, and wonder who spent time in the debtors prison and met their grizzly end on the Castle gallow.

All bedrooms are full of character with amazingly well-preserved Castle features, original stone walls & features from the Medieval to Victorian period (when the Castle was extensively renovated as a family home). However, they are basic (bunk beds/storage only). The only exception is Isobel’s which does have sinks and a double bed, with single over.

There are no en-suites and some rooms are quite a walk from washroom facilities and up steep, narrow staircases – the Grade 1 listed nature of this site does not permit modernisation to facilitate demands for smaller rooms/en-suites. The compromise in facilities however is more than made up for with the opportunity to step back in time and imagine yourself a travelling lord or lady staying as the guest of a Medieval Sheriff, joining his household for a feast and rest on your journey of discovery through the Royal Forest of Dean. A smaller, quiet social area is set up in the Old Kitchen under the remains of the “Turn Spit Wheel” – a marvellous old feature that would have turned the Wild Boar on the spit over the kitchen fire, powered by a small dog.

Hostel Manager Linda

My name is Linda Harrison and I have the privilege of being the latest custodian of St Briavels Castle, just one character to reside within the lifetime of the Castle but hopefully adding in a small way to the rich legacy of this remarkably well-preserved and awe-inspiring site. It truly is a pleasure to come to work every day, to step within the Castle walls and share its secrets and fascinating story. My background is history and archaeology so the Castle and I are a match made in Heaven, and I enjoy to continue to discover and share its hidden past.

Working for the YHA for over 10 years, I have been privileged to spend time in fabulous locations (including the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Devon), sharing customer experiences and journeys, and developing new skills and interests along the way, including, since my arrival in the Forest of Dean, richly rewarding school activity packages & YHA Summer Camps.

There are plenty of family fun attractions and outdoor activities; wooded walks, cycle trails, canoe routes, world-famous rock climbing and views at Symonds Yat, watch the Severn Bore, and visit even more castles! You are in the middle of the Forest of Dean and close to the Brecon Beacons, or if you are looking for a city break for the day Gloucester, Bristol and Cardiff are all within easy reach.