
Climbing in Wasdale
Follow in the footsteps of the Abraham brothers and climb to the top of Napes Needle - a classic hard/severe climb with stunning mountainside views straight down to Wasdale.
In Partnership with The National Tourist Organisation of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
In recognition that this business has confirmed that they have followed government and industry Covid-19 guidelines, ensuring processes are in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social/physical distancing.
This 19th century country manor is every bit as grand as its name would suggest. This Cumbrian hostel is often cited as a favourite due to the impressive nature of the building, not to mention its breath-taking scenery which has earned the title of 'Britain’s Favourite View'.
Set right on the shore of Wastwater, England’s deepest lake, from the hostel you can see the expanse of the lake plus the awe-inspiring mountains beyond - perfect for getting away from the pressures of everyday life and relaxing in beautiful surroundings.
YHA Wasdale Hall includes a selection of dorm beds and private rooms. This large Lake District hostel is cosy and full of character - perfect for adventure holidays.
Our cosy lounge centres around a log fireplace, which is great for keeping warm in the winter months. Our comfortable Chesterfield sofas are in keeping with the heritage of the building itself and we have a wide range of books available in the library end of the room. There is also a dining room on the ground floor with tables and chairs.
Due to our remote location and the local infrastructure, we do not have a TV signal and mobile phone reception is very patchy. We do have a payphone for guest use. This is a real get away from it all location, so turn off your electronics and relax!
This hostel is occasionally made available for hire on an exclusive basis. This means that you can have the place to yourself and choose how many of your friends, family, club mates, etc., join you. We allocate availability for exclusive use in blocks, typically up to 90 days in the future.
If you are looking for space to stay with us on a normal shared basis, and can’t see any availability three months or more into the future, then this hostel may be being held for Exclusive Hire. Check availability for Exclusive Hire.
Reception times: 8.00am to 10.00am 5.00pm to 10.30pm
Check in: 5.00pm to 10.00pm
Check out: Before 10.00am
Towels and toiletries: Towels and toiletries are not provided but are available to hire or purchase from reception. Bedding is supplied.
Parking: Off-road parking is available.
Breakfast: Breakfast is served from 7.30am to 9.00am.
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To enjoy YHA Wasdale Hall for just you, your friends and family visit our YHA Exclusive Hire website and hire the whole property.
YHA Wasdale Hall is the perfect place for an activity break with a school group. Water sports, climbing and abseiling are all on your doorstop. The hostel also provides geography and biology educational packages. There are beds for up to 50 people, delicious meals and classroom facilities.
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.
YHA Wasdale Hall was built in 1829, the owner was a Yorkshire Banker and Merchant called Stansfield Rawson whose family had connections with the East India Trading Company. How Rawson first came to Nether Wasdale is not known, but rich (and not so rich) off comers had been building houses for themselves in the Lake District since the 1770s! Rawson, unusually chose to build in a late-Medieval/Tudor style. Rawson’s son, was able to lay what his father called the foundation stone in the North East corner of the laundry (or servants hall gable). The stone is still there, not a foundation stone in the accepted sense, but a block set into the wall of one of the attic rooms! The new wing that he built, the present South wing of Wasdale Hall, was larger then the earlier one, housing not only a library with a morning room above, but also a dining room, with a bedroom and dressing room above, and at the rear of the building an ale cellar.
After Rawson died, his son inherited the property, and after his death it then passed through various owners as a home for the summer – much of its original grounds were separated and sold off. This 200 year old country pile was originally used as a lakeside holiday home before becoming a National Trust property. Built in the 19th century, the Youth Hostel retains many of its original features including panelled windows, gabled roof and cornicing. The Hall became a Youth Hostel in 1969 and in recent years has been restored and decorated to give something of the appearance and atmosphere which it might have originally had. The hostel's name was changed from YHA Wastwater to YHA Wasdale Hall in 2015 as it was felt that this was more reflective of the nearest area, Wasdale.
Steve is the manager at Wasdale and when not working can often be found walking and climbing on the local fells, canoeing on Wastwater or eagerly awaiting snow to crack out the skis and ice axes.
Manager recommends: Summer evening strolls around Wasdale are simply amazing. The screes turn pink in the setting sun and looking up the lake gives a view that was not only voted Britain’s favourite in 2007 but was also the inspiration for the Lake District National Park’s logo. For those with young children, I would heartily recommend exploring Low Wood and the banks of Wastwater. However, if you want to get up high Whin Rigg and Illgill Head on top of the screes offer stunning views without the crowds you will find on the honey pots of Scafell and Scafell Pike.