YHAgroup.org.uk

According to The Guardian this weekend, SYHA’s Lochranza YH, on the isle of Arran is due to reopen early next year after a half million pound makeover. New features include rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient lighting and heating, new kitchen and shower facilities and six en suite family/group rooms (as well as five regular dorms).

An outbreak of anti-social behaviour on the until-recently-bonnie banks of Loch Lomond is endangering vehicular access to Rowardennan YH, according to a report in the Stirling Observer. Speaking in support of locals concerned by irresponsible wild campers, local MSP Bruce Crawford said:

Having met with many locals and community representatives on site, I have no doubt that a solution must be found to the current problem surrounding access to the private road between the main road and the youth hostel.

The area has become a hotspot for some unruly visitors, who are unfortunately responsible for causing serious damage to the environment by sawing down trees to make wood for campfires and leaving vast amounts of litter, including beer bottles and the like, for others to clear up.

One solution proposed by some locals is to lock the gate on this private road, leading to obvious problems for the hostel and its visitors. SYHA are not keen on this, but have offered their support in finding an answer to the problem.

Inspired by the recent SYHA TV advert, a reporter from the Ross-Shire Journal has taken his young family on a short hostelling tour of Scotland.

Their zig-zag route across the country took in a cross-section of SYHA hostels: Carbisdale Castle, Edinburgh Central and Tongue. Carbisdale seems to have been a big hit:

Carbisdale Castle near Culrain is a jewel in the glittering crown of breathtakingly diverse hostels the SYHA has managed to bring under its wing since inception in 1931. Once you’ve feasted on the imposing exterior and convinced wide-eyed children that, yes, they really are going to sleep here tonight, it’s time to get to grips with the ghost…

What castle isn’t haunted, right? The SYHA blurb does nothing to discourage the legend — and nor does the collection of ghostly Italian marble statues lining the main gallery as you enter. There’s a spooky, otherworldly feel about the sprawling castle whose chequered history only adds to the experience.

Meanwhile, across the pond, the San Diego News Network have been sampling some historic YHA hostels. Their itinerary included Hartington, Whitby and YHA’s own castle: St Briavels. They come away impressed by how cheaply you can stay in some truly impressive buildings. They’re also pleasantly surprised to discover that you don’t have to be a youth to go hostelling. Indeed, as a perceptive hostel staffer points out:

“Without the over-40s, there would be no hostels,” said Anthony Rees, a YHA volunteer.  “Families, middle-aged and older travelers are some of our most enthusiastic guests.”

I do wish YHA’s marketing people would grasp this fact. Just about all the publicity material emanating from Matlock is dominated by pictures of children, young people and maybe the occaional parent. The age profile of people actually staying in hostels is much more diverse, and there’s a huge market of older people out there who don’t know that hostels are available to them as well as to youngsters.

I also hope that press coverage like this will encourage YHA to continue to look for and operate historic buildings as youth hostels. Purpose-built places may be easier and cheaper to run, but they just don’t have the “wow factor” of sleeping in a genuine castle!

In an effort, no doubt, to attract more cash-strapped scots through their doors, SYHA have produced a funky new TV ad:

Something I find interesting is that they brand themselves as “Hostelling Scotland” rather than anything to do with youth hostels. Is this a new thing?

Personally, I think it’s a good idea and reflects the age profile of the people you meet in hostels better than the Y word does. Maybe we can come up with something similar south of the border.

We’ve already seen a boost in YHA bookings due to the credit crunch, well the same is happening north of the border, according to BBC News:

Louise Nowell, head of sales and marketing at the Scottish Youth Hostels Association, said: “Our advance bookings are up 7% compared to the same time last year.

In an ordinary year I wouldn’t have expected the figures to go up as they have. There’s a reason for it – the economic situation.

The exchange rate is keeping Brits at home, foreign visitors are getting more value for money, and people are becoming more value-conscious due to the credit crunch. Suddenly we’re being seen as an affordable destination.”

It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good!

Local communities are still struggling to save Kyleakin and Coldingham hostels, but another of the hostels marked for closure by SYHA last year appears to be thriving.

The former Loch Lochy YH is now operating independently as The Great Glen Hostel, having been refurbished to include such 21st century essentials as free wifi internet access alongside the usual hostel facilities. Prices are on a par with the nearest SYHA alternatives, though discounts for under-18s are less generous (not that SYHA always have one!).

All in all, if you’re planning on doing the Great Glen Way, or just heading for that part of the highlands, it looks well worth considering.

Possibly inspired by developments at Coldingham, another Scottish community is hoping to buy and reopen a hostel recently closed by SYHA. According to a report on BBC News, the inhabitants of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye have formed a company to buy and run the hostel.

Already hit hard when the Skye Bridge by-passed the village, replacing the ferry which used to land there, the loss of the hostel has been a blow to local businesses. It’s also been a blow to anybody arriving late at Kyle of Lochalsh railway station – they now have to get themselves to Broadford, nine miles away.

Speaking on Radio Scotland last year, SYHA Chief Executive Keith Legge said that two Skye hostels (Kyleakin and Armadale) were closing “not because of lack of visitors, it’s to do with the fabric of the buildings”. If the people of Kyleakin are faced with a purchase and refurbishment bill like Coldingham’s (nearly a million pounds, all told), they’ll have quite a job on their hands.

If the plan to reopen Coldingham Youth Hostel gets off the ground, you should expect a really warm welcome from the locals. The results of the local ballot are in, and a massive 411 out of 433 votes were in favour.

The next task for the community company is to raise £22,500 – 5% of the purchase price – by January 2009. If you want to make your own contribution, you can do so via the village web site. You can read more about the vote in the Berwickshire News.

Locals’ attempts to save Coldingham YH are approaching a critical stage, according to a BBC report. Their plan to establish a community company to purchase and operate the company must be approved in a ballot of local people later this month.

If given the green light in the vote, they’ll still have to raise £27,000 towards the purchase price, and (apparently) a further half million pounds for repairs and refurbishment.If you want to help out, you can make a donation at the Coldingham Village Website.

Coldingham Sands YH, one of the seven earmaked for closure by the SYHA last year, could be saved if the local community have their way. According to a report in the Berwickshire News, the sale of the hostel has been suspended whilst local people attempt a buy-out under Community Right to Buy legislation. Residents have 21 days to convince Scottish ministers of their case.

If given the go-ahead, they’ll then have about six months to fully develop their business case and raise the necessary funding. Either way, the hostel will be closed for the 2008 season.

Leading the new community company is Ged Hearn, who already has big plans:

The hostel is already heavily used in summer and we know that with careful adaptation its use can be extended throughout the year [...] The plan is to run it as a hostel and we hope to affiliate to the YHA and advertise with them.

Mr Hearn doesn’t have to look far across the border for inspiration. Both Wooler and Greenhead are thriving under private ownership after having been written off by the YHA. Let’s see if Coldingham can follow suit.