Oneandtwohalves
Google
Our recent stay at YHA Borrowdale was a bit of a mixed bag, with some real highlights and a few disappointing elements but overall, it made for a memorable and adventurous experience.|The atmosphere is definitely one of the hostel's strong points. There's a genuine sense of adventure about the place, helped by its beautiful location and quirky touches like backpacks on the wall and walking boots turned into plant pots, little things that add loads of character. The surrounding scenery is absolutely stunning, and the outdoor space is perfect for soaking it all in with a drink or a meal.|We found several members of the staff to be lovely, particularly Will, Sam, Rosie, and Theo. A special mention goes to Theo, who was especially kind and attentive with my children, really appreciated.|The food was another strong point. Although the menu was a bit limited (likely due to how busy the hostel was), everything we did order, both at breakfast and in the evening, was well-cooked and genuinely tasty. The addition of extra items to the menu was a nice touch, and the pricing overall was very reasonable.|We stayed in one of the landpods, which was clean and comfortable, and the outdoor toilets and showers were surprisingly good, clean and with reliably hot water, which isn’t always guaranteed in places like this.|That said, there were a few things that really let the experience down. Most notably, the self-catering kitchen was absolutely vile, by far the worst I’ve ever seen in a YHA. The fridges, in particular, were in a shocking state. It’s an area that clearly needs immediate attention.|Another real disappointment was the games room, which looked more like a forgotten storage space than somewhere children might enjoy. Dirty, messy and uninviting, a real shame given how family-friendly the rest of the site tries to be.|The food service system could also do with a rethink. Using numbered spoons rather than table numbers makes things chaotic and inefficient for the staff, who end up walking all over trying to locate the right person’s food, not ideal, especially when seating stretches indoors and out.|There was also no sponsored beer available during our stay, not a huge issue, but worth noting if that’s something you’d normally look forward to.|Finally, while the manager came across as friendly and pleasant to chat to, the overall management of the site felt a bit lacking. Either they're fairly new and still finding their feet, or they've been there too long and become complacent. Either way, a bit more attention to cleanliness and organisation would make a big difference.||Final thoughts- YHA Borrowdale has heaps of potential and, in many ways, delivers a great outdoorsy, family-friendly experience with good food, great scenery and some brilliant staff. But it’s let down by poor cleanliness in key areas and a few organisational niggles that really shouldn’t be overlooked. With a bit more care and attention, this could easily be one of the best hostels of the business.
