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    <title>YHAgroup.org.uk &#8211; Latest activity by user johnmann</title>
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    <description><![CDATA[The latest forum activity by johnmann]]></description>
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        <title>New topic: &#8220;Crowden YHA&#8221;</title>
        <link>http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/forums/hostels/topic-18/page-1/?recent=32#post=32</link>
        <description><![CDATA[This is a fairly new hostel, a joint venture which doubles up as an outdoor centre for Rotherham Council. The old hostel is nearby, currently empty and unused.

Although the building is old, it has been completely rebuilt (I believe after a fire) and is to all intents and purposes a new construction. Full disabled access, including a lift, is provided. A serious omission is the lack of a members kitchen (free tea, coffee and milk were available in the dining room at all times). Also it does not officially have a cycle store, however a party of cyclists booked in while we were there and were able to store their machines in one of the numerous outbuildings.

We had some trouble finding the common room, it is on the first floor labelled \"Games Room\". Despite this, it contained no table football, giant tic tac toe or other games. A wide selection of board games could be borrowed from reception. Leading off this room was another good-sized \"TV room\" containing a wide screen TV. This cannot be used to watch broadcast TV, only for DVDs which again can be borrowed.

Evening meal was excellent, there is a choice of two items each for starter, main course and dessert. Courses can be purchased individually, even just dessert if you want. A variety of alternatives for picky children were available although not listed on the menu. This is a B&#38;B hostel, breakfast was the now-usual buffet with sausage, beans and hash browns also on offer. Toast was make-your-own in a rather slow toaster.

The washroom on the first floor was being run as unisex, the sign on the door appeared detacheable so possibly they revert to more conventional arrangements when they have school parties in.

We had a 4 bed family room which was a good size and provided with lockers and drawers. Oddly for a new hostel there were no bunk lights.

There is fantastic walking straight out of the hostel, up the Pennine Way to Black Hill or a climb up to an abandoned quarry which is very dramatic. There is a good and cheap rail service into Manchester from nearby Hadfield.

At present, there is no hostel rubber stamp!]]></description>
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        <pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
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        <title>New topic: &#8220;Gradbach Mill&#8221;</title>
        <link>http://www.yhagroup.org.uk/forums/hostels/topic-13/page-1/?recent=21#post=20</link>
        <description><![CDATA[Initially we were a little put off by the statement on the YHA website that “Gradbach Mill is predominantly a group visit only hostel “. Would we be turned away for not turning up with a coachload? In the event there was no problem booking for two adults and two children. It was noticeable however that our fellow hostellers were all families apart from one small group of adults. We visited during half term week, possibly there might be school parties during term time?

Judging from the picture of the hostel building (an old textile mill) you might expect it to be near habitation. In fact it is in a remote setting, all the workers cottages having been demolished long ago. I had never visited this part of the Peak District and was surprised to find the “highest village in England” here, who would have thought that would be near Stoke-on-Trent?

The main hostel building contains a large dining room on the ground floor and a long narrow common room above. There is a TV but luckily it was not too intrusive. The member’s kitchen is in a separate building, the old manager’s house, but is of a good size.

The food provided for evening meals was absolutely excellent, the best I have encountered in a hostel. I was less impressed by the breakfast, which is the new “continental” system. There was little choice of cereal and the other options were various bread rolls (warmed), slices of ham and salami and hard boiled eggs. No toast or cooked breakfast option. On the plus side a coffee percolator was regularly refilled, not just at meal times. I realise that the continental breakfast has been imposed from above, and it means less work for busy staff, but it was definitely not as good as traditional hostel breakfasts.

A must visit from Gradbach is Lud’s Church, a natural chasm. Imagine a narrow cave passage, but with no roof so you are effectively at the bottom of a deep crack in the ground. It can be hard to find as it is not signed. Follow the path past the manager’s house. After crossing a footbridge and entering a wood you need to briefly scramble up a steep slope which puts you on a well-defined path leading upwards which will eventually bring you to the chasm. Hostel staff told us there is a “fact file” about it in the hostel, but it couldn’t be found while we were there.

We had a very enjoyable stay and will definitely return to this hostel. 

(also posted to uk.rec.youth-hostel)]]></description>
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        <pubDate>Sun, 10 Dec 2006 09:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
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