Holly How YHA

The Accommodation Base & Facilities

YHA Coniston Holly How is a large Victorian slate country house, dating from the 1870s. It was built using slate from nearby Bannishead Quarry, just off the Walna Scar pass. The house was later extended to provide five bedrooms, a drawing room, dining room and library. The building is now a Visit Britain three-star 60-bed youth hostel run by YHA England & Wales Ltd., offering comfortable and reasonably priced accommodation and locally sourced food and drink.

Most guests choose Holly How as a base to climb Coniston Old Man or Wetherlam, or perhaps to climb on Dow Crag, or to explore further afield towards Langdale and the Central Fells. Other activities include watersports on Coniston Water and mountain biking on Walna Scar or Grizedale Forest. 

It has the benefit of being on the doorstep of the Coniston fells and therefore we are able to maximise training and assessment time. Less time spent in minibuses!! It has a number of dormitories and showering facilities, an efficient drying room, dining room, lounge/lecture room with an open fire and a games room/lectureroom. 

There are various options for catering at the hostel. A full board option is available and the food is fantastic as testimonials below state. There is also a self catering option with a well equiped kitchen facility.

Bookings for accommodation are made direct with the hostel however please ensure you mention that the information came from Ascent Training.

Comments from students on courses at Holly How 

• YHA Holly How a perfect venue. Phil and Chris do a superb job with the food
• Amazing food provided all week - great to have at the end of a hard day + good breakfasts to set us up for day ahead - couldn't have been better really.
• Really good. Catered extremely well for vegetarians
• Fantastic food! more than enough.
• Holly How very good location and grub top!