Grasmere Independent Hostel

When Erin announced that they were going hiking in the Lake District, i immediately made up my mind to go
As much as I'm used to travelling by myself, getting lost in the mountains by yourself isn't a sensible thing to do
so I basically jumped at the chance
the problem was accomodation.. Grasmere isn't cheap
especially if you're not sharing the room with someone else
and i couldn't possibly share with any of the couples who were going!

in the end, i found myself a link to the Hostel.. which cost only 19.50 a night.. in a shared dorm
I had to book it 6 weeks in advance.. yes.. it's tiny and rooms are limited
I was excited.. because it was on a farm (!) and i'd never stayed in a backpacker's hostel before
and it did meet my expectations.. at least outwardly
:)

Here's the driveway leading to the hostel.. daffodils dotting the roadside



the drive up



The hostel itself



I was in a 5-dorm room called the Rydal, named after one of the lakes in the area
to be honest, i was in shock when i first saw the room
It was narrower than my own room.. and had 5 beds!



I mean, it was a backpacker's hostel.. i knew
but i didn't think it'd be that small
I chose the bottom bunk next to the door
just because i thought i didn't want to sleeping next to the toilet
oddly enough, i spent the 2 nights there by myself.. so.. i didn't meet anyone

The room was nice and clean (phew..) or I'd have flown out of it immediately
of course I brought my own towels and toiletries
i'd also brought long pants to sleep in.. which i was thankful for ..
because the room was freezing.. and the blanket a bit thin



The lady who ran the hostel was nice enough..
she showed me the kitchen... where you're allowed a small cup of orange juice and 2 slices of bread for breakfast
In the end though, i didn't even go to the kitchen or the lounge.. because we spent most of the time hiking or in the village

Unfortunately, the room i got was really really noisy at night
with people coming back.. banging doors.. and a radiator that made funny little sounds
the first night, i slept fitfully, thinking someone was trying to get into the room!
Also, after dinner.. i walked 15 minutes in complete darkness
because there was no lights on the main road leading to the hostel

i sound like a spoilt princess.. -_-
but yea.. apart from the fact that it's completely noisy and dark at night.. i think it was a nice place
though i might stay in a different place the next time round..
it's difficult to walk 1 mile to the village when you've already hiked 13 miles in the mountains!
so i guess that might be my first and last try at a backpacker's hostel

of course.. the best thing about the hostel was the amazing views..



I was just awstruck by how peaceful it is..
during my short stay, i just kept thinking how i'd like to live there..
..

seriously..
I could open a backpacker's hostel!