Floods Strike Lakes Hostels
Anybody who has been watching the news this weekend will be aware of the extraordinary floods that have struck Cumbria this weekend.
Whilst the greatest amount of sympathy must be reserved for those whose homes have fallen victim to the waters, hostellers will be concerned about the fate of the many well-loved hostels located around the region.
Official news from the YHA is slow in appearing, but this note has been published on the Lake District hostels page:
Severe weather and flooding has affected the Lake District. Due to the flooding the services offered at YHA Ambleside, YHA Buttermere, YHA Cockermouth, and YHA Coniston Coppermines have unfortunately been disrupted. Guests with bookings for these Youth Hostels have been contacted.
Police are asking people not to travel to some parts of the Lake District unless absolutely necessary. Please check with the police and local authorities before travelling to affected areas. YHA is really grateful to guests and members for their continuing support.
The situation is changing rapidly and guests with bookings are advised to call 01629 592700 for more information.
Of the four hostels mentioned, Buttermere and Coniston Coppermines both seem high above any likely source of flood damage. Presumably it is approach roads and suspect bridges that are the problem here.
According to a post from a staffer in the YHA forum, Ambleside’s basement has flooded, leading to a loss of power and heating in the hostel. Once the level of the lake has fallen again, it should be possible to re-open the hostel pretty swiftly.
Which just leaves Cockermouth YH. Sitting as it does on the banks of the River Cocker (it’s a converted water mill), it must have been very severely damaged in the record floods which have devastated the town. It may take a fundraising appeal similar to the one for Boscastle to get it going again.
Elsewhere in the district, the BBC have a picture of flood waters just inches from the door of Keswick YH, but the hostel remains open.
More news will be published here as I hear of it.
Related Pages
Powered by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Update: As at Monday 23rd Nov 2009:
Severe weather and flooding has affected the Lake District. Due to the flooding the services offered at YHA Ambleside, YHA Buttermere, YHA Cockermouth, and YHA Coniston Coppermines have unfortunately been disrupted.
YHA Ambleside will be closed until at least Thursday 26th November.
YHA Buttermere will be open within the next 48hrs
YHA Cockermouth and YHA Coppermines were both on Escape 2 and bookings have been successfully changed.
All sites affected are undergoing damage and risk assessments.
There is still localised disruption to the transport infrastructure in the Lake District – customers are being advised to check with police and local authorities..
The YHA website has been updated, and customers with bookings at any of our sites affected have been contacted through the contact centre or individual Youth Hostels.
Please check with the police and local authorities before travelling to affected areas. YHA is really grateful to guests and members for their continuing support.
The situation is changing rapidly and guests with bookings are advised to call 01629 592700 for more information.
More information on our affected sites will be provided when it becomes available.
Thanks for the update, Karl.
The National Park Authority are telling walkers to avoid the area until floods waters subside, which may be a while off with more rain forecast for tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Wainwright Society has set up a cash appeal to relieve the effects of the floods.
According to the website Keswick remains open although access is limited via the rear of the building. Mind you looking at the photo you posted I’ll be surprised if there isn’t some work needed on the front access.
The Keswick situation probably isn’t quite as precarious as that picture makes it look. Remember there’s a big park opposite the hostel for the water to fill before it can reach the level of hostel door. Whoever took the photo must’ve been standing in that park, and clearly hasn’t been swept into the Irish Sea – so we’re OK for now.
Still, I hope somebody at Keswick has/had the time to take a few photos of the high water mark – they’d look good on the walls of the hostel once the waters subside.
Full new update (as at 25 Nov 09) is now on the YHA forum.
Ambleside not open untill 7/2/10.Found out from head office after making a booking for 5th and 6th Feb direct with Ambleside
While on Lake District hostels, on another discussion site I came across the following most disturbing account of attempting to book accomodation at Buttermere YH ;
” An update on my accommodation. I tried to book the YHA, the booking office said they didn’t know if there was room, to call or email the hostel directly. I did and no answer until finally an answer to my email. Yes, there is room, let me know if you want to book. I answered immediately. A week later, nothing, so I did find a reasonably priced b&b (Dalegarth GH) and booked it. Now, another week and I get an email from the hostel – sorry, I have been on vacation but we can book you now.
I’m sorry too, but I’ll stick with Dalegarth. I’m also sorry if this sounds like a rant, but at least I feel better now – and I have all my days booked. “