YHA

[rareposter]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/HotelHigh ... gland.html

That's just a basic link to TripAdvisor - was there a specific part of a review or something you were trying to highlight?

I honestly don't know what you're trying to show with that - whatever specifics you may have tried to link to just takes me to a basic headline listing.

FWIW, very few people on here will click on a link that's posted with no explanation of what it's trying to show, no comment or opinion on it...

[mattheus]

Dales Bike Centre is also just up the road, that's an excellent bunkhouse type stopover (also with a campsite and some pod accommodation options) and again, cheaper than the YHA plus with guaranteed secure bike storage and a cycle workshop.

In fact if Grinton are wondering where their potential customers are, I'd guess they're 2 minutes up the road at DBC... One significant factor in that might be that (according to a review from this time last year on TripAdvisor), the YHA has one outdoor socket for charging e-bikes and won't allow them indoors. That's just unacceptable in this day and age. DBC allow charging of both fixed- and removable battery e-bikes indoors.

This is all good ideas as to how to better run such a place: in fact it *supports* the idea of people with some clue taking it on!

[Jdsk]

...
To provide more funding to YHA and Grinton Lodge my suggestion/proposal is for the YHA to issue share options to YHA members or affiliates, such as Cycling UK or the Ramblers groups. Shares offered at a price reflecting the property value. For example, at £950,000 value and at 10000 shares in Grinton Lodge, each share worth is £95.
Possibly one share could be purchased for £95 and provide a 10% discount on bed night fees at Grinton Lodge and perhaps a 5% discount for any other hostel in England and Wales, up to five shares per member allowed.

Shares could be returned to the YHA at 90% of the original value when not required. If the hostel closed or was transferred to new owners, a refund of 1/10000 of the property value could be returned or an offer to transfer the shares to an alternative hostel with adjustments for any differences in values. Each year the hostel property value could be estimated and listed in the YHA accounts. YHA would need to specify precise terms and conditions.
Could this approach support hostels located to help cycling and should Cycling UK engage with the YHA to explore how this may be workable and benefit both cycling and the YHA?
...

I suggest drafting:

1 A financial plan for the hostel for the five years after this change is made.

2 An organisational structure that is compatible with the YHA's. The YHA is a company limited by guarantee and not having share capital. It has charitable status.

Without those it would be very hard for Cycling UK to contribute. Or for individuals to buy shares as anything other than an expression of general support with a willingness to write off the purchase.

Jonathan

[rareposter]

This is all good ideas as to how to better run such a place: in fact it *supports* the idea of people with some clue taking it on!

Agreed and I think that's why YHA are selling these things off, they're just far to expensive for them to maintain and/or convert.

Notable that within the sale documents for the building (and this has been universal for YHA properties) is a caveat that it should remain as a hostel. How much they can enforce that, I don't know but it's a bit premature to be saying that it's being "lost". It should, in theory, remain as some form of accommodation, even if not being run by YHA.

Another good example of how things could be is the new-ish "Bikes and Boots" hostel near Hope in the Peak District. Bike hire (and secure storage with e-bike charging), events, film club, good restaurant and bar, accommodation (dog friendly), proper car park (with EV charging). Everything you could need, all in a modern and sustainable building.

[Steady rider]

rareposter » 15 Sep 2025, 9:01am wrote

Steady rider wrote: 14 Sep 2025, 4:09pm
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/HotelHigh ... gland.html
That's just a basic link to TripAdvisor - was there a specific part of a review or something you were trying to highlight?

I honestly don't know what you're trying to show with that - whatever specifics you may have tried to link to just takes me to a basic headline listing.

FWIW, very few people on here will click on a link that's posted with no explanation of what it's trying to show, no comment or opinion on it...

The link provided details on costs, YHA listed from £15, others were quite a bit higher, up to £180.

[Steady rider]

jdsk wrote

I suggest drafting:

1 A financial plan for the hostel for the five years after this change is made.

2 An organisational structure that is compatible with the YHA's. The YHA is a company limited by guarantee and not having share capital. It has charitable status.

Without those it would be very hard for Cycling UK to contribute. Or for individuals to buy shares as anything other than an expression of general support with a willingness to write off the purchase.

YHA may need to explore how members could contribute to individual hostels and the terms and conditions.

[mattheus]

Another good example of how things could be is the new-ish "Bikes and Boots" hostel near Hope in the Peak District. Bike hire (and secure storage with e-bike charging), events, film club, good restaurant and bar, accommodation (dog friendly), proper car park (with EV charging). Everything you could need, all in a modern and sustainable building.

"hostel"? Are you sure?? I'm getting £127/night upwards for a twin room. Looks nice mind!

(incidentally I saw that being built; had a nice week -despite lack of bike - in Bradwell, house-sitting. It reall y is a gorgeous area!)

[Bmblbzzz]

It appears there's a Bike & Boot hotel in Scarborough too, probably a chain in the making. I'm seeing prices of $85 for a night in late September. Don't know why it's quoting me USD. Definitely a hotel not a hostel, I'd say.

Anyway, back to the YHA: why?

[rareposter]

The link provided details on costs, YHA listed from £15, others were quite a bit higher, up to £180.

Ah OK. The wonders of the internet, demand-responsive pricing, algorithms etc mean I may not see the same prices and note that anywhere saying "prices from [xxx]..." usually translates to "yes, you can indeed pay [xxx] if you book 4 months in advance for a bed on a Tuesday night in November" but trying to pay for a bed in midsummer with 2 days notice will be [xxx] x 7"

Same thing with flights.

"hostel"? Are you sure?? I'm getting £127/night upwards for a twin room. Looks nice mind!

I've never looked at room prices there - I understood they had some dorm-type rooms but maybe not? Been to the bar there a couple of times, it's a nice place.

[Steady rider]

Grinton quotes £15 shared room, for tomorrow, and Thursday, £20 for Friday and Saturday, £15 for Sunday and Monday.

[steve.y.griffith]

In considering how best to save Grinton it might be worth investigating how other ex YHA hostels were saved (and if you look at the Independent Hostel Guide there are quite a lot there ) . In most cases individuals bought the properties and continued to run as a hostel sometimes still part of the YHA. via a franchise arrangement .
I am involved in the Elenydd Trust who bought the two remote hostels in the Cambrian Mountains : Dolgoch and Tyncornel. We set up a charity in 2007 and bought Tyncornel first,the YHA gave us a year to buy Dolgoch. Like most YHA properties they needed major renovation and we spent far more than the purchase price (the EU gave us a substantial grant which of course you won’t get now) . I suspect with Grinton you will have to spent a lot on renovation .
The key is forming a charity or other organisation and getting the YHA to take you seriously as a buyer . Warning it is huge amount of work
Over nearly 20 years we have operated successfully more than doubling the overnights the YHA and thanks to our volunteers open all year and running a surplus .

[axel_knutt]

Barrow House ran as an independent for 12 years after the YHA sold it, but it closed last year after they were served a notice to make fire safety improvements that they couldn't afford in the timescale they were given. Blackboys ran as an independent for a while, then closed. Steps Bridge ran as an independent, but then got converted to luxury B&B instead.

http://derwentwater.org/home

[mattheus]

I am involved in the Elenydd Trust who bought the two remote hostels in the Cambrian Mountains : Dolgoch and Tyncornel.
<snip...>
Over nearly 20 years we have operated successfully more than doubling the overnights the YHA and thanks to our volunteers open all year and running a surplus .

Isn't that cheating??

p.s. good work - I really hope to use one of those some time. Ridden past the Dolgoch driveway on numerous fantastic trips!

[steve.y.griffith]

Next time don’t ride by even if not staying pop in for a tea usually a warden around ….and there are a few more hills if en route to Tregaron !

Re Grinton I am aware of a hostel in Southern England the YHA want to exit the long lease and a group of hostellers are forming a charity to run it . It’s the usual story of a profitable hostel gone to rack and ruin . First they got rid of the paid warden who built the place up , then they moved to Groups only but that was a failure as they overpriced and you can’t drive right to the hostel . When I cycled past in March looked very neglected ..
so sad because these places can be run at a profit as the independent s have shown but not it seems by the YHA ….

[Steady rider]

steve.y.griffith wrote: 18 Sep 2025, 10:40pm

I am involved in the Elenydd Trust who bought the two remote hostels in the Cambrian Mountains : Dolgoch and Tyncornel.

Did you have to pay stamp duty?
For Grinton at £950,000 Stamp duty may be about £30,000,