YHA Black Sail

Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AX

97%

Superb rating

(181 reviews)

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Private room View options & details

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What our private rooms offer

Bed linen
Cot available
Lock on doors
Smoke alarm

What you need to know about our private rooms

Check-in: From 17:00 - 20:30
Check-out: Before 10:00
Towels and toiletries: Hand soap is provided next to all sinks. Towels are not supplied as standard but can be rented from the hostel.
Bedding: Bedding is supplied in all our private rooms.

Hire

Whole hostel View options & details

Sleeps up to 16 people
3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms

YHA Black Sail is a former shepherds bothy offering compact but comfortable accommodation with a real mountain hut atmosphere, making it the perfect escape to get away from the stresses of modern-day life.

Where you'll sleep

Across the entire building there is a total of three bedrooms.

Ground floor

Two rooms that sleep up to 4 people each. They include 2 sets of bunk beds.

One room that sleeps up to 8 people. It includes 4 sets of bunk beds.

A cot is available.

Shared spaces

Kitchen and dining

The small kitchen is located on the ground floor and includes a range of conveniences listed below.

Kitchen appliances: grill, kettle, oven, refrigerator, wood stove.

Kitchenware: dishes and cutlery, kitchen utensils, pots, pans.

Cleaning basics: anti-bacterial spray, bin bags, cloths, paper towels, soap, tea towels, washing up liquid.

Located on the ground floor, the cosy dining area seats up to 16 people. It has tables and bench seating. You can relax with stunning views of the surrounding fells.

Please note the hostel is only accessible by foot or bike. We recommend picking up supplies for meals en route to the hostel so you can enjoy your stay in the knowledge that you can cater for yourselves after a busy day exploring.

Bathrooms

Outside the building, there is a total of two bathrooms. You will need torches for night-time toilet trips!

Toilets: 2

Showers: 1

Toilet paper is provided and hand soap is available next to all sinks.

Outdoors

The hostel doors open directly onto countryside and amazing mountain views.

Outdoor amenities: benches, grass/lawn.

What our whole hostel offer

Bed linen
Carbon monoxide alarm
Central heating
Cleaning basics
Cot available
Dishes and cutlery
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
Fridge
Grill
Heating
Hot water
Kettle
Kitchen
Kitchen utensils
Lock on doors
Mountain view
Outdoor seating
Oven
Shower(s)
Smoke alarm

What you need to know about our whole hostel

Check-in: From 16:00
Check-out: Before 10:00
Heating: There is central heating throughout the property.
Towels and toiletries: Hand soap is provided next to all sinks. Towels are not supplied as standard.
Bedding: Bedding is supplied in all our rooms.
Dogs: Hire YHA Black Sail and bring up to four dogs! Add a dog to your booking at the checkout and bring your four-legged friend along with you. Dogs are not permitted in the bedrooms, on the furniture or in the kitchen, and must be kept on a lead in the grounds.
Checking in: You will receive an email prior to your arrival with the property address and check-in instructions.
Guest access: Guests have use of the whole property. YHA Black Sail is only accessible by foot or bike. The nearest road is 2.5 miles away in the Buttermere valley, accessing the hostel via 'Scarth Gap pass'. Guests can leave their cars in the Bowness Knott car park and walk or cycle 6 miles up the Ennerdale valley to the hostel. Vehicles are not authorised beyond the gate at Bowness Knott.

Your booking summary for YHA Black Sail

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Overview

Location, location, location. Quite simply, that is what YHA Black Sail is all about. Remote and accessible only on foot, it’s a unique rural retreat that lovers of the great outdoors can normally only dream about.

Located in a traffic-free valley, it’s as tranquil as a stay in the Lakes gets. Those on walking, hiking and climbing holidays will value the superb access to nearby peaks including Great Gable, Pillar, Red Pike and Steeple.

Why guests love YHA Black Sail

Café
Mountain view
Self-catering kitchen

Unique location at the head of the Ennerdale Valley
YHA's most remote youth hostel
Unrivalled access to great walking

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Accommodation at YHA Black Sail

Private rooms

Like your own space? Private rooms offer the hostelling experience with more privacy.

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Hire the whole place

With YHA Exclusive Hire, you can take the entire building for you and your group.

View info Book now

Group bookings for 16+ guests

Let YHA take care of your stay with our group booking service.

View info Book now

Reviews

Food and drink at YHA Black Sail

Unlimited breakfast at YHA Black Sail

Enjoy all you can eat from our cooked breakfast options including sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes and beans. Continental options include fresh fruit, cereals, yogurts and pastries. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to get stuck into. Drinks are included too! Under 10s eat for £1 with our special offer.

View menu

Evening menu at YHA Black Sail

Take your pick from today's selection of hearty classics and delicious desserts. Vegan and vegetarian options available.

Group catering at YHA Black Sail

From tasty breakfasts and convenient packed lunches to hearty evening meals, groups are sure to find something delicious to enjoy on their trip to YHA Black Sail.

This hostel offers group catering for pre-booked groups of 16 people or more. Choose from a range of options starting with bed and breakfast and going up to full board. See our sample menu.

Self-catering at YHA Black Sail

Our kitchen includes everything you need to cook up a storm.

Bring your own food and make use of our oven and refrigerator plus a kettle and wood stove. Dishes and cutlery are provided as well as cleaning essentials.

Things to do around YHA Black Sail

Climbing in Ennerdale

Don't miss the classic scramble up Slab and Notch on Pillar Rock.

Cycling in Ennerdale

Get out and about on your bike and enjoy the landscape. Whether it’s hill or valley you want to explore, you can ride as far as your legs will allow you.

Walking and rambling around Black Sail Pass

Walkers and ramblers can try the high-level traverse under Pillar Rock up to the summit of Pillar and along the ridge to Black Sail pass with spectacular views of Scafell and Great Gable. The Ramblers...

Ennerdale Lake and Valley

The Ennerdale Valley is a remote, wild valley with magnificent scenery with a wide range of walking and cycling routes. Visit Ennerdale Water's website

Wild Ennerdale Valley project

Visit this secluded valley to experience a sense of wildness, increasingly rare in this busy urban world we live in. Visit the website

Climbing in Black Sail

Don't miss the classic scramble up Slab and Notch on Pillar Rock.

Cycling in Black Sail

Get out and about on your bike and enjoy the landscape. Whether it’s hill or valley you want to explore, you can ride as far as your legs will allow you.

Mountain biking in Black Sail

Travel light and bike up to YHA Black Sail before conquering two of the toughest lakeland passes - Scarth Gap and Black Sail Pass. These both offer stunning views of the Ennerdale valley and Wasdale.

Hostel facilities

24-hour access after check-in
Café
Dining room
Evening meals
Games
Group meals
Intermittent mobile coverage
Licensed bar
Mountain view
No WiFi
Outdoor seating
Restaurant
Self-catering kitchen
Unlimited breakfast

Hostel need to know

Reception opening hours: From 08:00 - 10:00 and 17:00 - 20:30.

Food and drink: Breakfast is served to guests daily from 07:30 – 09:00. Meals are also available from 17:00 – 20:00. Group catering can be pre-booked for groups of 16 people or more.

Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire.

Self-catering: Guests have access to a self-catering kitchen.

Parking: YHA Black Sail is only accessible by foot or bike. The nearest road is 2.5 miles away in the Buttermere valley, accessing the hostel via 'Scarth Gap pass'. Guests can leave their cars in the Bowness Knott car park and walk or cycle 6 miles up the Ennerdale valley to the hostel. Vehicles are not authorised beyond the gate at Bowness Knott.

Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Black Sail, except when hiring the whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire. Assistance dogs are welcome – please notify us at the time of booking.

YHA Black Sail - Access Statement

(PDF download - 125 KB)

YHA Black Sail

Black Sail Hut, Ennerdale, Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AX

Map references

OS Map:: 89
OS Grid Ref:: NY194124
Lat/Lng:: 54.500346, -3.244845
what3words: fights.rainbow.short

Contact information

Phone:: +44 345 371 9680
Email:: [email protected]

Get directions

Volunteering

Volunteering with YHA is a fantastic way to have fun, learn new skills, boost your CV and travel to different places. We have a variety of different opportunities to choose from and volunteering roles to suit everyone.

The tasks are varied and in return you will meet some great people, who both work and stay in our hostels, as well as enjoying your time off discovering the local area and attractions.

Find out more and apply to volunteer.

History

YHA Black Sail is one of the oldest hostels in Britain and it started life as a shepherd's bothy - a small hut used for sheltering in the mountains. Back when the hostel opened in 1933, the bunk beds were constructed from a kit of parts and the mattress was simply a canvas between wooden stretchers! Domestic chores and cooking all took place in the common room (or outside) and the water used to be supplied from a nearby stream.

Have a look around the hostel for some vintage snapshots and you'll see how we've preserved its unique character. With a tasteful makeover, a variety of awards, plus support from Defra, we hope this iconic hostel will be treasured for generations to come.

Meet the team

Manager recommends: Take the opportunity to stay in a remote mountain retreat in the heart of Cumbria's Lakeland High peaks without the hassle of traffic, mobile phones and the internet. Make sure you watch the sun rise over Great Gable, and set over Pillar, simply stunning.

This project was supported by the Rural Development Programme for England, for which Defra is the Managing Authority, part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.