YHA Black Sail

We stayed for 2 nights and loved every minute. Weather was glorious and the youth hostel was ran by friendly and helpful staff Mark and Chloe. We were lucky and had a dorm to ourselves which I think might be unusual. Great shower. Fabulous to come down off the fells to a cold beer and a bottle of chilled ginger beer. We watched the sunset towards Ennerdale lake and the next morning woke to views over Great Gable. If you get the chance to stay here please do. Fabulous experience.

Outstanding bolthole in the Middle of nowhere. This is a place to stop and grab a coffee on the second day of coast to coast. After the long walk up the gravel path the trees open up into the most beautiful Valley huge rocks that have been dumped by the shifting Ice millions of years ago. If you book very early you might be able to get a room. Staffed by some fantasist staff. A great places to plan as a stopping point for a picnic on your way up to haystacks. Food is available at certain times check ahead. Fantastic views. A must go place. The most remote yha in the country bar non

This used to be an incredible place to stay with shared rooms. You were always guaranteed to run into some interesting people and chat the night away over some good beer. Alas now you can only books the whole rooms which I think takes away the charm of he place. I've spoken to the YHA and they say there is no plans to move back to shared rooms which is a shame. I think most hikers would rather it return to its roots rather than be some kind of glamping experience"."

Great youth hostel, ex shepherd's bothy, in Black Sail Pass, close to Haystacks. Good place to stop over for a rest, snack and brew, popular with those undertaking the coast to coast walk. Close by is a plaque to the brother of a dear friend M.T.Smith.

Can't comment on the sleeping facilities as I didn't stay overnight, hence 3*. I dropped in for a coffee and a sit down while walking the trail past Black Sail. There are toilet facilities. The views are spectacular. Coffee/Tea etc. Is charged via a honesty box. You can also buy small bars such as Kit Kat and the like, again on a honesty box basis. Will definitely stop again when visiting the area. BTW you can only get here on foot. Although there is a 4x4 track only forestry workers and YHA staff have permission to drive. The walk to Black Sail from Ennerdale Water is around 3.5 miles on a gravel track.

This used to be incredible. I first cameHere in the early 1990s a young boy with my dad. We had intended to wild camp, but the weather was atrocious, we just turned up and knocked to see if they had space and they did! Met with a warm fire and friendly characters. Over the years I loved returning, always a great craic with the fellow guests.Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. Completely ruined as they seem to have keyed into this social media hype with only allowing single booked rooms or renting the whole thing out.

As always an outstanding stay. Many thanks to the staff who has some superglue on hand to fix my mates boots, the sole was coming off. Thanks to that we were able to continue our wild camping trip. Warning though.... Pack's earplugs if you are a light sleeper as loads of snoring going on. If you get funny looks in the morning you know you were doing it too...I caught myself having dinner and remarking about the view through the door, generations have probably done that. In a few words. Homely sparse but iconic and a true cozy refuge in the hills.

My stay only consisted about 2 hours but it will stay long in the memory.I was in a bad way descending from Pillar down into the Ennerdale valley. I received assistance from some lovely people staying at the Black Sail to help get me down, who then plied me with hot drinks and offers of food and set out to contact the relevant people to help me get back to my accommodation. My huge thanks and appreciation go to them.In addition my lasting gratitude goes to the member of staff who went out of his way to help me get to Bowness Knott car park - Thank you

If you're even thinking about it, just go. You won't regret it. The hosts are incredible, the location is amazing, the facilities are perfect at the end of a long day on the fells. Highly recommended.