YHA Okehampton

The quiet countryside feel was lovely, and we had no concerns about the motorbikes in the large car park, even though it wasn't secure. It's tucked away from prying eyes. The trains also stop running fairly early, so it was quiet at night. A group of about 20 motorbike riders stayed overnight. The receptionist handled check-in methodically and without fuss, and was top-notch. The whole place was clean, modern and well decorated, a lovely conversion of an old train station annexe. Our room was a decent size, with two pairs of bunks and a private bathroom. The shower had plenty of hot water and pressure, just what you need after a sweaty day in the saddle. The cafe made lovely coffees while the reception machine needed cleaning and servicing. The woman there kindly made coffees for me and my friends in the morning, even though it wasn't open. They'd also been trying out evening pizzas, though apparently that hadn't gone very well. Maybe a bit of promotion would help. The downside was finding the reception coffee machine out of action when I was desperate for a coffee, but the cafe gent saved the day. Our bedroom was the last on the right before the upstairs lounge. The laminate floor had gaps between planks, and the edges were starting to fray, which wasn't great barefoot. The bathroom extractor fan kept running for a long time after we turned off the light, and you notice that in such a quiet place. At £79 for the room, that's nearly £20 per person if it's full, and it gets expensive as room-only when it's below capacity. We were there on a Saturday night of a bank holiday weekend at the start of half term, so no doubt that was reflected in the price.

We stopped at this lovely little railway station on the way home after a few days in Cornwall. It was a clean spot to enjoy hot chocolate and cake, and the busy little cafe served us quickly. There's a nice choice of snacks and drinks. The original little "waiting room" has been beautifully restored and is very well kept. Trains seemed to be arriving on time, making it a nice experience all round. There's good parking just outside the main platform.

If you're going for activities or hiking, it might be okay as a youth hostel. But this really shouldn't be advertised as a "3 star hotel". For anyone who's not a young adult, the mattresses barely support you, and you might as well sleep on the metal frame. Towels cost £2 to hire and are about as useful as a bath mat. The room was freezing when we first arrived, and the radiator seems to be there for decoration. If the beds are bunks, don't advertise it as a hotel. The room itself was untidy, with dust and dirt under the beds and mould in the bathroom. Bring an extra mattress topper if you want a decent bed. We were woken at 5:00 in the morning by people running and shouting along the corridor. On arrival, we were told by email we could check in by 23:00 because we were travelling late after a work shift. Then we were told off for arriving late and told, 'for future reference, you must check in by 22:00.' Even with the email confirmation, they made it feel like our fault and spoke to us in a very patronising way. For what it is, as I've said, it might be fine for activities and hiking, but it's not a hotel and that should be made clearer.

I was here for two days with a group, and the location is amazing. Bike hire is available onsite, with different walking and cycling trails nearby. The bathrooms could use an upgrade, and there aren't enough sockets in the rooms. Some of the USB plugs weren't working.