YHA Ilam Hall - Hostel

I’ve stayed at this YHA twice and love coming here. It’s warm indoors, the rooms are spacious, and the bar and restaurant are good. There’s no TV, no phone reception and the Wi-Fi is patchy, which makes it a nice place to get away.

The grounds are well kept and really picturesque, with a lovely river nearby and plenty of walking trails. It’s a big, spacious YHA, with lots of family-friendly areas, plus a hall with a pool table and table tennis. Self-catering was easy, with plenty of fridges and decent cookware. It was shockingly the cheapest YHA I’ve visited in the last 15 years. We went in winter, and I’m tempted to come back in summer for an exclusive hire. The letdown was the fireplace. My friends and I meet every year at a YHA with one so we can sit around, play cards, sing and have a good time. I booked this one with that in mind, as I do with all YHAs, and the pictures showed a fireplace. When we arrived, we were sadly told it had been decommissioned.

The location is still outstanding, and it’s one of the main reasons we love coming back. The two lounge areas had Christmas decorations up, which made for a nice atmosphere. Our room was clean and comfortable, with a handy portable heater because the radiator was underpowered. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and the kitchen has plenty of space and storage for self-catering. Another great stay at YHA Ilam.

The location is nice, with a good area for walks. It’s about 30 minutes to the stone steppings on foot, or five minutes by car, and we could visit again. The internet is free but only in the hall. Mobile signal is very bad or nonexistent, so it’s a chance to relax with the family. The room isn’t great, but there’s a kitchen with everything you need to cook, or you can buy food. There’s a small bar and a huge hall with a pool table and table tennis. The kids loved playing hide and seek there.