http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-15857539
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
"Five youth hostels face closure"
(9 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Pity. We have used hostels (not just syha) for many a bike trip.
Would have thought they would be even more popular in these cash strapped times.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Soon they'll just have a few city centre 'hotels'.
Stayed at Kirk Yetholm a couple of years back in June. On the night we were there there were two other guests.
Broadmeadows probably would have closed years ago if it wasn't the original SYH.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Is it the private backpacker hostels that are killing them off? Or are 'youth' just heading to Glastonburied/Pee in the Park/Ibiza/Thailand these days?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Independent hostels are certainly thriving. And to pick one example I'm aware of: the former Loch Lochy Youth Hostel, which presumably closed because it couldn't pay its way, has been a (presumably successful) independent hostel for some years now. If a private owner can make a success of it, why couldn't the SYHA? Probably because SYHA hostels are married to their rules (e.g. you are not allowed to arrive at a time that would allow "young people of limited means, living and working in industrial and other areas of Scotland" to reach them most of them after work on a Friday), and full of tutting old people. Or at least that's my theory; certainly I only ever stay at an SYHA if there is no independent alternative.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I was very sad to hear this yesterday. The borders are going to be somewhat bereft of places to stay. Coldingham shut a couple of years back and now these ones. The Melrose hostel is enormous and so I would imagine very expensive to run. Three of us were there when the Melrose 7's were on in April this year and there were not that many other guests there, one other woman and about three men, and the town was stowed/heaving....so I am not sure what they were doing wrong and why the place was not very much busier. The facilities were pretty good with the shower room not long having been refurbished.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Agree, very sad, spent many a happy night all over scotland and the lake district in many hostels, after camping it was luxury ! Coniston water to glencoe.Windemere to Arisaig ! We, if i remember correctly had both personall and school membership.
More i think of it I think i will organise a trip for me and the boy child,staying alternativelly hostel and tent !I predict a road to the isles expidition !
scottPosted 13 years ago # -
Posted 12 years ago #
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I prefer to camp!
Posted 12 years ago #
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