YHA Idwal Cottage

Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 3LZ

96%

Superb rating

(219 reviews)

When would you like to stay at YHA Idwal Cottage?

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Guests

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Bed in a shared room View options & details

Start your booking

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What our shared rooms offer

Bed linen
Central heating
Heating
Hot water
Lock on doors
Lockers
Smoke alarm

What you need to know about our shared 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 shared rooms.
WiFi: There is no WiFi at YHA Idwal Cottage so it's the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle and have a digital detox.

Private room View options & details

Start your booking

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What our private rooms offer

Accessible rooms available
Bed linen
Central heating
Cot available
En-suite rooms available
Ground floor rooms available
Heating
Hot water
Lock on doors
Lockers
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.
WiFi: There is no WiFi at YHA Idwal Cottage so it's the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle and have a digital detox.

Camping & Cabins View options & details

Start your booking

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What our Camping & Cabins offer

Bed linen
Cot available
Fire extinguisher
Heating
Lock on doors
Smoke alarm

What you need to know about our Camping & Cabins

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 our Anglesey Hut.
Heating: Heating is supplied in our Anglesey Hut.
Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Idwal Cottage. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.
Guest access: Guests have use of the whole hostel during public opening hours.

Hire

Whole hostel View options & details

Sleeps up to 36 people
10 bedrooms
8 bathrooms

YHA’s longest standing hostel, YHA Idwal Cottage offers quality accommodation with great features including a wood burning stove and large picture windows with wonderful views. This property is a remote but very beautiful base for family activity holidays in the Ogwen Valley.

Where you'll sleep

Across the entire building there is a total of 10 bedrooms.

Ground floor

One accessible en-suite room that sleeps up to 4 people. It includes a single high-sleeper bunk with a double bed underneath and a single bed.

One room that sleeps up to 4 people. It includes 2 sets of bunk beds.

First floor

One room that sleeps up to 1 person. It includes a single bed.

One room that sleeps up to 2 people. It includes a set of bunk beds.

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

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

One room that sleeps up to 6 people. It includes 3 sets of bunk beds.

A cot is available.

Shared spaces

Kitchen and dining

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

Kitchen appliances: grill, kettle, microwave, oven, refrigerator, toaster.

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

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

Located on the ground floor, the large dining room seats up to 36 people across 9 tables and chairs. There are patio doors to the front of the hostel and outside seating.

There is a soft seating area at the end of the dining room with sofas and a pool table.

Highchairs are available.

Lounge

The snug lounge is located on the ground floor and seats up to 8 people. There are soft armchairs, coffee tables and wood-burning stove. You can relax with a book or board game.

Bathrooms

Across the entire building there is a total of eight bathrooms, including an en-suite bathroom with disabled access.

En-suite bathrooms: 3

Toilets: 7

Showers: 7

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

Outdoors

Outside is a large garden. The garden is enclosed with a fence.

Guests have full access to the garden.

Outdoor amenities: grass/lawn, picnic tables.

What our whole hostel offers

Accessible rooms available
Ambulant accessible
Bed linen
Carbon monoxide alarm
Central heating
Cleaning basics
Cot available
Dishes and cutlery
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
Fridge
Garden/grounds
Grill
Ground floor rooms available
Hangers
Heating
Highchair
Hot water
Iron and board
Kettle
Kitchen
Kitchen utensils
Lock on doors
Microwave
Mountain view
Outdoor seating
Oven
Shower(s)
Smoke alarm
Toaster
Wheelchair accessible
Wood stove

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: Pets are not permitted at YHA Idwal Cottage. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.
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, except the Anglesey Hut - if you would like to add this to your booking, please contact the hostel. The hostel manager lives onsite, in a separate building within the hostel grounds.
WiFi: There is no WiFi at YHA Idwal Cottage so it's the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle and have a digital detox.

Your booking summary for YHA Idwal Cottage

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Overview

This eco-friendly hostel offers superb Eryri (Snowdonia) accommodation for activity breaks in the Ogwen Valley and is surrounded by all of the area’s geographical wonders. YHA Idwal Cottage is great for strolls to the Cwm Idwal nature reserve, or for walking holidays on the Cambrian Way or the Welsh 3000s.

This is YHA’s longest standing hostel – follow in the footsteps of YHA's founders and relive the walks and scrambles enjoyed by the Merseyside Group in those early years. Remember to pick up a copy of the 'Idwal log' at the hostel!

Why guests love YHA Idwal Cottage

Large garden/grounds
Self-catering kitchen
Cycle store

YHA's oldest location in Wales
Excellent Eryri (Snowdonia) accommodation
Stay in style in our Anglesey Hut

See all (29)

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Accommodation at YHA Idwal Cottage

Bed in a shared room

If you're happy to share, dorm rooms have multiple beds - ideal for budget breaks.

View info Book now

Private rooms

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

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Private en-suite rooms

Enjoy your own space with a private en-suite room, including bathroom facilities.

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Anglesey hut

Feel close to nature with some home comforts in our traditional old-style wooden hut.

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Pitch-up camping

Bring your own tent and get closer to the great outdoors. You can't beat camping!

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Hire the whole hostel

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

View info Book now

Reviews

Things to do around YHA Idwal Cottage

Adventure Okehampton, kids gorge walking

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Betws-y-Coed – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Information Centre

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View of Llyn Dinas lake in the direction of Beddgelert village

Beddgelert – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park Information Centre

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Penrhyn Castle

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Zip World - Fforest

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Electric Mountain

Electric Mountain is home to the Dinorwig Power Station, set in the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) and dubbed "Britain's largest battery" this hydroelectric station houses 6 electric generators...

Walking and rambling in Idwal

Walk around Llyn Idwal and discover stunning waterfalls, the famous Devils Kitchen and the magnificent Eryri (Snowdonia) hills - beautiful on any day of the year.

Ropes and ladders

High level activities to get the heart racing! Enjoy the leaps, swings and zip line with spectacular views of Eryri (Snowdonia).

Cwm Idwal Nature reserve

Discover a landscape that was sculptured by ice thousands of years ago. Cwm Idwal has the glacial lake of Llyn Idwal at its centre, is encircled by some of Wales' most impressive mountains and is home...

Running in Idwal

Glyder Ridge Distance: 5.5 miles/8km Start/Finish: Ogwen car park, Llyn Ogwen, LL57 3LZ Terrain: Mountain track, trail Toughness: Challenging Ascent: 731 metres Navigation: Moderate to challenging...

Mountain biking in Idwal

Popular with confident mountain bikers from all over the world, there's excellent mountain biking in the area, especially on the Marin Trail - but this is only suitable for serious mountain bikers as...

Cycling in Idwal

The Lon Las route takes you from Portmadog to Bangor. You can either do the route in one day, or take time to explore the mountains and use the hostel as your base. There are numerous circular routes...

Climbing in Idwal

The best climbing in the whole world, well, so the hostel manager says! You'll find all varieties of rock and levels. Even beginners can get a grasp of the rock as instructor led courses and equipment...

Watersports in Idwal

Llyn Ogwen is very popular with fishermen. You might even catch a Gwyniad, a sub-species of European white fish, trapped in the lake after the Ice Age 10,000 years ago.

Hostel facilities

24-hour access after check-in
Ambulant accessible
Coach parking on premises
Contactless payments
Cycle store
Games
Garden/grounds
Highchair
Large garden/grounds
Library
Licensed bar
Minibus parking on premises
Mountain view
Near bus stop
No WiFi
Paid parking on premises
Self-catering kitchen
Shared drying room
Shared laundry room
Shared lounge
Sole use available
Water refill station
Wheelchair accessible

Hostel need to know

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

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: YHA Idwal Cottage is self-catering only. Guests have access to a kitchen.

Parking: Paid parking is available at this hostel. YHA guests can park for free from 5pm to 10am each day (daily charges apply outside these times).

WiFi: There is no WiFi at YHA Idwal Cottage. Get away from the hustle and bustle and have a digital detox.

Dogs: Pets are not permitted at YHA Idwal Cottage. Assistance dogs are welcome - please notify us at the time of booking.

YHA Idwal Cottage - Access Statement

(PDF download - 131.67 KB)

YHA Idwal Cottage

Nant Ffrancon, Bethesda, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 3LZ

Map references

OS Map:: 115
OS Grid Ref:: SH648603
Lat/Lng:: 53.123287, -4.020508
what3words: fattening.dressings.hills

Contact information

Phone:: +44 345 371 9744
Email:: idwal@yha.org.uk

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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.