Bike your way round Britain with Independent Hostels
Mountain Bikers seeking value accommodation near to exciting trails will find a great selection on offer from the Independent Hostels UK network (IHUK) of over 300 houses, cottages, camping barns and bunkhouses, many of which have overnight bike storage.
They generally provide self-catering facilities and are suitable for singles, couples and groups seeking friendly, clean and inexpensive accommodation without membership requirements; prices start from £7.50 per night.
Amongst those with bike storage is Dales Bike Centre, near Fremington, which is right on the challenging Woodcocks off-road, coast-to-coast mountain bike trail. Providing an ideal base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales, the four-star graded hostel has a café and bike shop plus bike hire, workshop and secure storage facilities; from £24 per night for bunk bed and breakfast.
Exmoor National Park also offers some great mountain biking with stunning descents, wide open spaces and tricky single-track routes. Riders can take advantage of a lock-up shed and guided outings on offer from the Base Lodge hostel in Minehead; prices from £15 per night.
Wales is well served by the IHUK network with 65 places from which to choose, several in great mountain biking areas. Those with bike storage start from £12 per night and include Gilfach Wen barn, adjacent to the Brechfa Forest, and Braich Goch bunkhouse and inn, near Machynlleth which has the Dyfi Forest mountain bike trails on its doorstep. A former farmhouse, the Yr Helfa bunkhouse near Llanberis is in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, groups are welcome here from £12 per night.
In Scotland the Comrie Croft hostel, Perthshire has its own 230 acre estate offering mountain bike trails; it offers a great value escape amongst the Scottish Hills from just £7.50 per night for under 16s and £15 for adults, under 5s can stay for free. Mountain bikes can be hired from the Slochd Mhor lodge, near Carrbridge in the spectacular Strathspey area of Cairngorm National Park (from £15 per night), while the Great Glen Hostel nestles between mountains and lochs ten miles south of Loch Ness and has safe storage and accommodation from £14.50 per night.
To help mountain bikers choose the hostel that’s right for them, the IHUK produce a neat, annual handbook that will fit easily into a rucksack, or large pocket. At least one page is devoted to each hostel with a full description of facilities, price guidelines, contact details and colour photographs.
Copies can be purchased (£4.95 each plus £1.50 postage and packing) by emailing sam@backpackerspress.com or from the website: IndependentHostelsUK.co.uk
Details of the hostels are also online at IndependentHostelGuide.co.uk with excellent search facilities and maps plus special offers and competitions.
IHUK is sponsored by Berghaus, manufacturers of innovative outdoor clothing and equipment. Over 850,000 people stay at independent hostels each year, the majority are hill walkers and ramblers who constitute a key audience for Berghaus. More information about their range of products can be found on berghaus.com.
