Britain’s Creepy Castles With Hostel Caretakers

Most tourists to Britain only tour castles that are purportedly haunted. But young adventure travelers can actually stay in one.

British folklore is full of stories of haunted castles, and a castle’s often bloody history can send a chill down anyone’s spine.

St. Briavel’s Castle is one of various castles, country manors and historic homes that have been converted into youth hostels. A Norman castle with a moat in Gloucestershire, St. Briavel’s was once a hunting lodge for King John. It retains many of its medieval features, including the chapel, a cell with prisoners’ graffiti, the hanging room and an oubliette (a 30-foot-deep dungeon into which prisoners were thrown and forgotten). Two unusual phenomena have been repeatedly reported at the castle. In the oubliette, visitors have said they experienced a feeling of being pushed, and in the room that is now the hostel’s main lounge, visitors have heard the sound of a baby crying. The reports of the crying can be traced back 150 years, and they are linked to a story that the remains of a baby were once found in the masonry. Contact St. Briavel’s Castle Hostel, Lydney, Gloucestershire; telephone 011-44-1-594-530-272.

Other interesting historic hostels that offer shared room accommodations for $17 per night include a Cornish castle built by Henry VIII, an Elizabethan manor and a Dominican friary mentioned in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.”

You can stay in the Victorian barracks inside Pendennis Castle Youth Hostel for as little as $15 per night. The castle, on the rugged coast of Cornwall, was erected by Henry VIII in the 16th century. It’s set on its own peninsula facing out to sea, and it’s close to sandy beaches, picturesque fishing villages and the South West Coastal Footpath. While you’re there, you can visit a nearby seal sanctuary and the Maritime Museum. The 76-bed hostel, at Falmouth, Cornwall, can be contacted at tel. 011-44-1-326-311-435.

The Beverley Friary Hostel is in a restored Dominican friary. The 34-bed hostel is in a traditional market town, with cobbled lanes and Georgian and Victorian homes, in East Yorkshire. You can use it as a base for exploring the rolling Yorkshire hills. The Beverley Friary Hostel can be found at Friar’s Lane, Beverley, East Yorkshire; fax 011-44-1-482-880118.

Hartington Hall is a 17th century stone manor house where Bonnie Prince Charlie once slept. The building retains period features, including oak paneling and open fireplaces. It’s on the edge of Hartington, one of Derbyshire’s prettiest villages, an area that is good for walking and cycling. Contact Hartington Hall Hostel at Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire; tel. 011-44-1- 298-84223.

These facilities are members of the Youth Hostels Assn. (YHA) of England and Wales, a network of 237 hostels that includes modern buildings, historic houses and National Trust properties. Shared-room accommodation ranges from $10 a night for a simple rural hostel to $36 for bed and breakfast at one of the London hostels. Some student discounts are available.

National Trust properties that have been converted by the YHA include the 50-bed Wastwater Hostel, an 1829 half-timbered house in the scenic Lake District. Wastwater is known for having the deepest lake, the highest mountain and the smallest church in England. It’s a popular region for hikers. The hostel is furnished in period style with many original features including a vaulted wine cellar, which is now the game room. Contact the hostel at Wasedale Hall, Wasedale, Seascale, Cumbria; tel. 011-44-19467-26222.

In London several historic buildings have been converted to hostels. Holland House is a former Jacobean mansion just off Kensington High Street. It has 201 beds, overlooks Holland Park and is within walking distance of Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace. Contact Holland House, Holland Walk, Kensington, London W8 7QU; tel. 011-44-20-7937-0748.

The City of London Hostel is in the home of the choir boys for St. Paul’s Cathedral. It’s been renovated to offer modern facilities but retains some original features such as its oak-paneled chapel. This 193-bed hostel has a licensed restaurant and a TV lounge. Find it at 36 Carter Lane, London EC4V 5AB; tel. 011-44-20-7236-4965.

Many hostels now also offer twin and family rooms, and most YHA hostels have restaurants. You can expect full breakfasts to cost $5 and a three-course dinner to be $6.50. There are also kitchens for guests who prefer to prepare their own food. Most city center hostels and all London hostels offer their guests 24-hour access.

Details of all YHA England and Wales hostels are on the Internet at https://www.yha.org.uk.

Lucy Izon is a Toronto-based freelance writer. Internet https://www .izon.com.