It’s very common these days to lament the lot of our Youth Hostels out in the hills. Indeed, I’ve turned to this very subject myself from time to time.
On Saturday night I was at my ‘local’ hostel, at Bridges in Shropshire – handy for the Stiperstones and the Long Mynd. The hostel was pretty full, indeed, most times it is.
On Saturday we were a mixed group. There a big party of walkers from Nuneaton way; a big – and excited – group of over seventies from West Bromwich, having a night away and a short stroll the next day. And then there were the itinerant walkers like me. And we were a good range of ages, from people in their early thirties to people who may well have been in their late seventies. How nice it is to spend time with such a mixed group. And to cap it all; there were no snorers in the dorm!
On Sunday morning I was talking to a lovely man from Liverpool who – with his wife – had been visiting Youth hostels regularly since the children had left home; the best part of fifteen years now. He reckoned the Bridges hostel was the best he’d stayed in; and he put this down to the Warden.
I can never remember the warden’s name, but she really loves her job. Single handily, she keeps the hostel ticking, providing good, homily food in the evenings as well. There is a pub next door but it is increasingly poor with food smothered with sauces that have come out of catering packs. Back at the hostel, though the food was not the prettiest, we had a home made vegetable soup, proper beef casserole with fresh, seasonal root vegetables and an excellent home made apple crumble.
True enough Bridges is a popular hostel and a regular venue for Duke of Edinburgh Award schemes and these days you more likely to find more mountain bikers than hill walkers. But I’m sure the popularity is down – in no short measure – to the work of the warden.
Last year the Warden told me that she’d previously run a hostel on the Pennine Way. She loves the life and the interaction with the people who rely on her hostel. I can’t help feeling that if all Hostels were run this well they’d be busier for more of the time.
Youth Hostels still provide a great service and great value for money. If you’re thinking of walking in Shropshire you could do a lot worse than spending an evening or two here.
Totally agree about the food and welcome, by the way her name is Angela.