About Thorney How
Thorney How Independent Hostel offers welcoming, clean, comfortable, and simple holiday and backpacking accommodation in Grasmere, the heart of the Lake District.
Thorney How offers a range of pleasant, sociable and welcoming environments for its guests to enjoy.
The flexible accommodation can cater for individual bookings, family rooms, small groups and large groups.
Up to 42 bunk style beds are arranged in a total of 10 bedrooms ranging from 2 beds to 6 beds per room. Pus 8 person Camping Barn. Total accommodation is 50 people.
The main gentleman’s style residence and 350 year old farmhouse is charming and has well proportioned, comfortable and warm rooms with fabulous views onto the grounds and the distant Fairfield / Hellvellyn mountain range.
Just behind Thorney How sits Helm Crag, with stunning views across the valley this is one of Grasmere’s most popular walks.
The separate newly refurbished bunk house sits alongside the main residence underneath Helm Crag with views of the Easedale Valley. This is an independent 16 bedded space suitable for mixed types of groups.
Private parking, electric car charging points, electric and standard bike hire, cycle store, drying room, licensed bar and spacious grounds completes the experience.
Thorney How, previously owned and managed by the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) from 1931 to 2010 was acquired in 2011 as a family owned and run hostel. We are now in the process of upgrading areas of the hostel in order to develop and extend the existing hostel provision bringing our own personal experiences to create a unique and welcoming environment providing relaxed holiday accommodation.
New for 2013
Our newly refurbished bunkhouse, camping barn and biomass heating system were all fully functional from Easter 2013. This takes our full compliment of showers (increased from 3) to 6 bringing us in line with thee requirements for our 3 star grading status.
About the Grasmere area
Grasmere is probably Cumbria’s most popular village. Offering tranquil charm, literary heritage and of course is at the centre of lake district fell walking country.
If you’re planning to do the classic Coast to Coast path or simply wanting to explore the surrounding fells from a convenient base, Thorney How, just minutes from the centre of Grasmere, is a great place to stay.
Grasmere lake lies to the south of the village, around which there are some gentle walks for those that prefer the lower ground.
For those that prefer a greater challenge, in Grasmere you’re centrally situated for taking on the craggy peaks of the Scafell Pikes, Helvellyn, Skiddaw and the Langdale Pikes.
The brainchild of Alfred Wainwright, the well-known writer and hill-walker, the Coast to Coast Walk crosses three National Parks, undoubtedly some of England’s finest scenery. Many walkers choose to link Youth Hostels (YHA) with Independent Hostels and B&B’s to complete the walk.
More information can be found here http://www.coast2coast.co.uk/
Grasmere is now almost totally given over to the tourist industry, with plenty of gift shops, and places to eat and stay. Grasmere as a busy tourist hub with good public transport links offers plenty for the traveller. Only a short step to Thorney How brings a sense of quiet and remoteness for those that feel the need to get away from it all.
Grasmere was once the home of the famous poet William Wordsworth; today you can visit two of his former homes – Dove Cottage and Rydal Mount. Also in the centre of Grasmere is St. Oswalds Church, the churchyard of which contains the Wordsworth family graves.
Grasmere is a charming village right in the heart of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. Within easy reach are the honeypot towns of Ambleside, Keswick, Hawkshead, Coniston, Bowness and Windermere.
For further information see Visit Cumbria
The History of Thorney How
Thorney How is made up of two buildings. The first was originally a farmhouse with barn built around 350 years ago and is of traditional Lakeland stone construction.
Thorney How’s Victorian heritage is enhanced by several literary references and visits by William Wordsworth and his associates.
Local information states that the lane running along the north boundary of Thorney How is known as Flashing Lane (referring to a short cut).
Thorney How was acquired by the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) in the 1930’s and has the distinction of being the first property that the YHA fully owned.
Thorney How remained in the ownership of the YHA as a working youth hostel for nearly 80 years until 2011. The YHA made further changes to the property by converting the barn into a dining room, adding shower and toilet facilities, building an extended reception area.
A second more modern building – the Annexe – was added to house additional bed spaces. Records indicate that the Annexe was once a single storey farmers cottage
Thorney How was sold by the YHA in February 2011, reopening as an Independent Hostel at Easter 2011.
Coming up in 2012 – awaiting planning consent. News and images will be posted here:
Note: our planning decision has been delayed pending a resubmission with amendments. We hope to be able to report back again on this late Summer.
