Just returned from YHA Helvellyn and had a great weekend. On arrival we ordered 2 meals for 8 p.m and went off walking. When we got back down from Helvellyn, very hungry and tired, there were 2 fantastic vegetarian meals ready and waiting for us. The restaurant is a lovely dining area and we sat looking out over the beck... More

Basically a standard youth hostel in a stunning location. Perfect for climbing helvellyn or just exploring the lakes. The rooms are basic and clean but don't have any plugs in them which is fairly annoying. Staff were friendly and helpful, and I would definitely stay here again! :)

Fantastic location, very friendly, excellent homemade food available (good for veggies too), nothing was too much trouble. Have already booked to stay again. Hostel very warm and good drying room. Be prepared for unmade access track of approx 1 mile - fine by car but you have to go slowly and take care!

Another review from the same group as Jojeba & LichfieldGordon. The location is great, parking plentiful, rooms are typical YHA - clean and basic although I would say the private room we had was quit chilly, however propping open the door and letting the 'heat' in from the corridor helped, bathrooms were basic but fine, most importantly the showers were... More

This is a follow up to LichfieldGordon's review. I was part of that group and would like to make a couple of points to the YHA's response. 1) I cannot understand how you can have a bigger run on breakfast than expected, when our group had all booked, and paid for, our breakfasts weeks in advance. And if you had... More

Went to Helvyllyn last week - Easter weekend. Ample parking - no worries. Checked in - was given a cold look by the guy at reception with a look "what are you guys doing here?" sorta stare. I also noticed the person at reception gave directions to all the white guests, whilst we, being brown, were simply handed the keys... More

The YHA is an organisation that can't seem to work out what it is anymore. It used to be cheap and basic. Now it's not that cheap, but it's still pretty basic and they are amazingly inflexible. Helvellyn is more of a conflicting mass than most. The location is just stunning, about a mile up an unpaved road from Glenridding.... More

Stayed one night, and only had their bog standard breakfast which, as always, is brilliant! Really friendly staff, bunk rooms were adequate, men's shower could do with being fixed, though other showers and good volume and temperature. Excellent drying room. Walked down to Glenridding for dinner, about 30 mins max, recommend the Ramblers bar in the Inn on the lake.... More

I was there for only one night, but that was enough to show how unprofessional the hostel works. We were quite a big group of exhausted hikers and some of us were really hungry, but the hostel just offered us the choice between three different meals (I mean that's not the point: fish and chips, cumberland sausages, veggie curry (my... More