One of the top 10 YHA accredited hostels, Elmscott Youth Hostel is fantastically situated right on the Hartland Heritage Coast, with the SW Coastal Path just minutes away. Once a Victorian School Masters House and School Room this three star, privately owned hostel is right in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has fabulous open views and is ideal for couples, families, groups and school parties.
It’s the perfect base for walking, outdoor pursuits, wildlife and nature watching, sea sports and, of course, exploring the area. There are amazing rock formations and many quiet lanes to explore. The famous fishing village of Clovelly is a few miles away with its cobbled streets and pretty harbour. Also nearby is Hartland Abbey where Sense and Sensibility was filmed and Doctom Mill gardens and tea room. Hartland Village has shops, galleries, potteries and pubs.
Open all year Elmscott has 32 beds (all bunks) in ground and first floor mixed and single sex dorms sleeping 2, 4 and 6. In winter it operates the YHA “Escape to” scheme (from October to April) which means only the whole hostel can be booked for your private use (for groups of up to 35). All the bedrooms have washbasins and mirrors, sheets and duvets, curtains and comfortable chairs. There are plenty of toilets and showers on each floor.
Very well equipped, the kitchen has all modern appliances and plenty of crockery, pans, cutlery and tea towels. The bright and airy dining room seats 24 and the lounge has a woodburner, comfortable seating, books and puzzles.
Outside the pretty walled garden with its wide open views to Lundy Island is a real sun trap and has plenty of lawn space, picnic tables and benches. There are also BBQ facilities, a cycle shed, drying room and washing facilities.
Although Elmscot is self-catering only, there are a range of pubs in Hartland and Welcombe serving food for all tastes and budgets, and the Wreckers Bar at Hartland Quay has the most spectacular setting. We also run Elmscott Farm Bed & Breakfast, a beautifully decorated period farmhouse in lovely gardens. See our B&B entry.
Prices start from £20 per night. Please get in touch so Elmscott Youth Hostel can help you get the most out of your visit – see an example review:
“I stopped in this hostel whilst I was walking in the area and I have to say that this is one of the best hostels I have stayed in. The hostel is in a stunning location in a quiet little spot of Devon and the coastal walking very near by is wonderful and inland the scenery is amazing. The lady running the hostel was very welcoming and gave me some very useful information about the local area and has done a great job of getting the hostel to a very high standard of accommodation.” From the YHA website, October 2013