Shining Cliff hostel

08/06/2026

☀Hooray, the weather forecast finally has sunshines in it!
🌳Next week we've got 3 bedrooms available for individual room hire from Sunday 14th through to Thursday 19th June.
🌳What do you get if you book to stay at Shining Cliff hostel? A STUNNING woodland setting, birdsong, quiet, time to yourself, use of a campfire nestled at the base of the crags and surrounded by woodland, endless walks, great cafe walks (I'm a walk and cake kind of person!), an overnight warden staying at the hostel (me), books to read, a great self-catering kitchen with stunning woodland views, it's quite magical!
🌳So if you'd like to have some time out, peace and quiet, then come and join us, it's just £25 per person and you get your own bedroom, with shared communal facilities.
Get in touch if you'd like to stay.
(sorry, no dogs on shared use bookings)

08/06/2026

Ahhh, booking platforms rant.....did you know that they do not allow hosts to inform you that you will pay much less if you book direct?
I've tried all different ways to nudge enquiries to go and book directly on our website but the messages get censored and I'm threatened with being removed from the platform and can't send anything that might in some way be steering people to book directly!
I get why the big booking platforms do it, it's to protect their income stream, and I have to raise my prices on them to cover the platform fee. So, if you are staying at Shining Cliff hostel, book via our website to avoid paying £100's extra!
(photo of campfire bread and elder whistle from our teen sessions as it's nicer than a photo of me looking utterly frustrated!)

07/06/2026

02/06/2026

The hostel track repairs this week have not quite gone to plan, mostly due to the torrential downpours we have been experiencing….so Bonnie at recommended that I go find some lovely nature to unwind in….thanks Bonnie, just the tonic needed to get perspective 💚

02/06/2026

We always appreciate people taking the time to write a review (although I'm curious why the one 1* review sticks in my mind more than all the others which are 4 and 5*!)
This weekend's guests were new to the hostel and it's lovely to have such fabulous feedback about this incredible woodland, the fire pits (hooray for campfires again!) and the hostel.

01/06/2026

🍃 A gentle pause in the woods… 🍃
Life can feel noisy and full sometimes.
Our monthly Take a Breath in Nature sessions offer a chance to step away from all of that for a while — to breathe, notice the trees around you, and simply be present.
Led by Suzanne Hill, these woodland sessions combine gentle breathwork and meditation in a relaxed and welcoming way, suitable for complete beginners as well as those with an existing practice.
🌲 Monday 22nd June
🕥 10.30am–12pm
🔥 Includes hot drinks and time around the fire afterwards
💚 Donation-only (£2–£4 suggested)
You don’t need to be “good” at meditation.
You just need to come as you are.
Booking link in comments

01/06/2026

If you've been to stay at Shining Cliff hostel, or use the Beech Hut, or booked to attend a session in the woodland, then you've most likely used the private track to access our car parking area.
It's been an goal for a LONG time to improve the drainage on the track and to have it resurfaced in stone to make it a pleasant experience to drive along, rather than one where you worry about getting grounded in the ruts!
Today the track repairs started, but it's a very expensive project and we would love your support. We've set up a Crowdfunder to help cover the cost of the repairs, if you are able to donate or share the Crowdfunder link we would be hugely grateful!
Shining Cliff hostel is a not-for-profit organisation and ploughs back income from hostel bookings into caring for the hostel, so any donations help us to keep on going!
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/woodland-track-repairs

01/06/2026

The private car park area for people booked with the Grith Pioneers, attending woodland sessions and booked at the hostel is accessed by a stone track. It’s getting a revamp this week, with drainage stone being added to reduce standing water and erosion and making it much less daunting to drive along!
Its been a very long time in the planning pipeline but finally work has started today 🎉
If you are walking on the track this week between the road and car park please take care when passing the digger/roller 🙏

30/05/2026

The fields surrounding Shining Cliff are a glorious sea of yellow buttercups this week 💚🤩