News

Check back regularly for latest updates and happenings around Elterwater:

23 Before Tea, via the Badger Bar

Tuesday, 24th March 2026

Two runners have joined the results board for the 23 Before Tea challenge from Elterwater Hostel, with two unusual deviations from the route. Jennifer Parker and Richard Kendall completed the […]
Read More

Top of the list on Trip Advisor!

Tuesday, 3rd February 2026

We are very pleased to be ranked 1st in TripAdvisor top 5 Hostels in the Lake District. The Westmorland Gazette ran an article last week titled “Best Hostels in the […]
Read More

A new 23 Before Tea route

Tuesday, 6th January 2026

A new completion of the Elterwater Hostel challenge 23 before Tea was logged at the end of the year. Carlisle-based Adam Armata made a solo unsupported circuit after being defeated […]
Read More

Elterwater Commended in the Great Outdoors Awards

Tuesday, 16th December 2025

We’re absolutely delighted to share that we have again been recognised in the Great Outdoors Awards, this year with a Commendation. Antony Moore General Manager said: “We’re over the moon […]
Read More

Bottom Bunk Club

Friday, 28th November 2025

November has been a very busy month with a record number of groups joining us and enjoying some lovely mild weather. Our winter Bottom bunk deal, which originated when a […]
Read More

New Chapter Begins at Elterwater Hostel with New Manager Antony Moore

Friday, 20th June 2025

A new era has dawned at Elterwater Hostel in the Lake District as Antony Moore steps into the role of manager, following the retirement of long-serving Nick Owen, who led […]
Read More

Handover

Thursday, 19th June 2025

Back in January, we broke the news that Nick had handed in his resignation and was off to enjoy his retirement at the end of May. It was a busy […]
Read More

Bob does the round

Monday, 5th May 2025

There’s a new name on our leaderboard for the 23 before Tea challenge. Bob Halstead, who runs for Todmorden Harriers, ran round recently on a VERY hot day and finished […]
Read More

The End of an Era

Tuesday, 21st January 2025

It is with huge gratitude and a sense of sadness, that we have accepted our long serving Hostel Manager Nick’s decision to retire in May this year. Nick joined Elterwater […]
Read More

Chris and Rowen go round!

Tuesday, 7th January 2025

Taking a chance on a good weather window between atrocious storms, Rowen Ratcliffe and Chris Worth became the latest completers of our 23 Before Tea challenge. Rowen and Chris, members […]
Read More
Dinner is served 🍽️
Join us from 6–8pm for a relaxed evening meal, with everything from Cumberland sausage & mash and chilli (beef or 5 bean) to curries, pasta, quiche and 12” pizzas.
Fancy something lighter? We’ve got soups, toasted sandwiches & baguettes too. And don’t skip dessert… sticky toffee pudding is calling 👀
Non-residents welcome – come in, grab a table, and enjoy!
New breakfast menu now being served! 🍳☕️
Join us daily from 7:30–9:30am for everything from a hearty Cumbrian breakfast or veggie Fell Walker, to pancakes, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches.
Pair it with our fresh bean-to-cup coffee for the perfect start to your day.
Non-residents welcome – pop in and enjoy!
We’re delighted to share that we’ve been awarded a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5-star Food Hygiene Rating! A huge thank you to our fantastic team for their hard work and commitment to maintaining the highest standards.
We’re also excited to introduce our refreshed dining experience, with new menus and a more relaxed, café-style approach. You can now enjoy:
🥐 Breakfast served between 7:30am – 9:30am
🍽️ Evening meals available from 6:00pm – 8:00pm
It’s all about great food in a more casual, welcoming setting.
Keep an eye out for more posts coming soon as we showcase our new menus… we can’t wait for you to try them!
A fantastic effort from Jen and Rich, completing this year’s first Elterwater Hostel 23 Before Tea round in 8 hours 35 minutes.
The day was also a recce for Jen’s planned attempt to break the female record later this year — so watch this space.
Best of all, they were welcomed back to the hostel with tea and sticky toffee brownie, which sounds like just about the perfect finish.
Well done both!
#ElterwaterHostel #23BeforeTea
Bring your group together around the breakfast table!There’s something special about starting the day with good friends, good food, fresh coffee, and time to connect before the day’s adventures begin.When you stay with us as a group, you can add our buffet breakfast served in a relaxed space to gather and plan the day ahead, perfect for walking groups, school trips, retreats, corporate teams, or friends exploring the Lakes together. Fuel up, slow down, and start the day right together.Get in touch to add group breakfast to your booking!
Part 3: The RevealAnd here it is…..Our new reception, bar servery and refreshed lounge/dining space are complete and we couldn’t be happier with the result.Lighter, warmer colours, a more open layout and a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere from the moment you walk through the door.
It’s now a space to check in, grab a drink, sit back, and feel at home.

We’d love to know what you think and even better, come and see it for yourself.
Post 2: The Build, From idea to realityWith the old reception removed, work began on creating a new modern, multi-functional space – bringing together reception, bar servery and a more open connection to the lounge and dining area.Behind the scenes there’s been a lot of careful planning, building (and a fair bit of dust!) as the new counter took shape. Every decision was about making the space more practical for our team and more welcoming for our guests.Nearly there…
Refurb Part 1 - The Strip Out!Big changes start with brave decisions… and this was one of them.We’ve said goodbye to our original reception cubicle to make way for something much more open, flexible and welcoming.It’s served us well over the years, but it was time to rethink how this space works for our guests today.This was the first step in transforming our reception and lounge into a place that feels warmer, more relaxed and better suited to how people really use the space.Watch this space 👀
We are very pleased to be ranked 1st in TripAdvisor top 5 Hostels in the Lake District.With an average 4.9 out of 5, based on around 375 reviews,
Small, friendly and tucked away in one of the prettiest valleys in the Lakes, it draws rave reviews for its “relaxed”, “homely” feel and “big breakfasts”.
In November, one reviewer gave the hostel a five-star rating on TripAdvisor. “Excellent venue for outdoor activities,” they said.
“The hostel is clean, well-equipped, comfortable, warm, and all the staff are welcoming and most helpful.”Read the whole article here:https://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/25809020.best-hostels-lake-district-ranked-tripadvisor/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1769961366
Happy Birthday Alfred WainwrightA man who shaped how we see and walk the Lake District, with a legacy deeply rooted in the Langdale Valley.His love for the fells lives on in every path explored and every quiet moment enjoyed.At Elterwater Hostel, we’re proud to be part of the landscape he inspired so many to cherish.
Cold, snowy days here in the valley but that hasn’t stopped us cracking on with a big project behind the scenes.
Lots of hard work happening despite the weather and it’ll all be worth it.
Keep an eye out for updates coming soon…

newsletter signup