Funnily (or not) after Weevils comments about old people I was going to add the self service kitchens being full of vegetarian Christians paranoid about people using their spoon to stir a spag bol!
I'm not so sure that the comments on the levels of professionalism and comittment found in NGO's is fair though.
re. my previous post. -I wouldn't have been bothered by 'vegetarian Christians paranoid about spoons in their spag bol.' if I could have gotten into the kitchen to cook at all!!
Shouldn't knock 'em they are a business. I wild camp most of the time but on longer trips I still use the Hostels for the odd night to have a shower,a meal and to do laundry. There still out of the way ones. You can camp at some and you there are bunk barns.
Upgrading old premises to modern standards is costly and with some the refurbishment it just doesn't add up. Years ago I was told by a tourist board official if a Hotel hasn't got 30 beds forget it. Hostels slightly different but you get the idea.
I have spoken to several wardens and they say YHA are just responding to the market which want better facilities i,e Mum won't go unless assured there are good showers and clean beds, family rooms. Not to mention all the young foreigners who use the larger ones on the tour of Britain.
Should knock them, they are a charity. I am am member, and I agree with the stated aims of the charity.
The charitable object of YHA is: -
“To help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, and appreciation of the cultural values of towns and cities, particularly by providing youth hostels or other accommodation for them in their travels, and thus to promote their health recreation and education.”
The last time i 'stayed' in a SYHA was the last time i 'used' their services.
A friend and i had booked into the Killin hostel for the weekend. We arrived early evening, dumped our gear, and went to the pub. We got back after the 10.30pm curfew, and the warden wouldn't open up. We slept in the car.
The next day we had a great day on the hill. Back to the hostel for a 'shower 'n shave', then out to the pub. The live band were great, so was the lock-in. Another night sleeping in the car.
I've used plenty of independant hostels/bunkouses since.
Mike -- Must have been a different warden at Killin to the one I met there a couple times, and also at the old hostel by Loch Lomond. You always knew where you were with him -- in the nearest bar.
Hostels have had to change. Firstly, a lot of the properties weren't owned by the YHA and when the leases ran out the YHA couldn't afford the new terms or the purchase price. Afair, it was a rising property market. Secondly, many folks nowadays don't find the simple standard satisfactory. Even Travelodge is well above the level of comfort of most of the old, simple hostels. Obviously, there are other factors at play, as well. I join every year and do a few nights in the Winter months at those remaining open that I can cycle from, or between. The rest of the year I camp. The hostellers haven't changed that much in the last 50 years, imo. Still plenty of youngsters out on life's great adventure as though they are the first. A sprinklIng of very wealthy Oz and Kiwi sheep farmers who have decided to do Europe on the cheap. Occasional depressive Finns and a selection of 'ordinary' everyday people from around the world as you might meet anywhere. I'm one of the old, white, vegetarian, Christian, middle class farts living on a pension and even amongst the mates I travel with I'm a little different, but I've never managed to fill a kitchen :0)
