Dot Crotchets Singing Group, September 2017
Covid Secure Accommodation
We've worked extremely hard to ensure the hostel offers a safe and secure environment and to minimise the risk of transmission of the coronavirus. The following information is to help you plan and prepare for your stay.
Face Coverings
From 8th August, the law requires that guests wear face covings in the public areas of the hostel, which include the entrances, corridors, lounges and brew room, but not in the dining room when eating
Reduced Occupancy
We've limited the number of rooms we are using, and reduced our overall total occupancy.
Your Room
You can book a room for up to six guests from any number of households. We've enabled under occupancy of our larger rooms, to allow you to book a large room if you choose.
Arrival & Check In
Please sanitise your hands at one of the sanitiser points by the main doors, each time you enter the building.
Check in at reception will be contactless. Your sanitised room keys will be in your room, along with a hostel information sheet.
Please follow the instructions on signage regarding social distancing of 1+metres. There is a one way system on the main stairs - up the reception stairs and down the front stairs. In corridors where it may not be possible to pass at 1+ metres distance, please allow others to come down corridors before entering.
Payment for your stay will be taken automatically from the card you used to book with. This payment will be processed automatically on your day of arrival.
Please pay for all food, drink and shop purchases using contactless card payments.
A Secure Environment
Reduced Occupancy. We want to ensure the hostel is a safe and secure environment, and to minimise the risks of virus transmission we've reduced the occupancy of the hostel and are no longer opening the hostel during the day to passers by for a brew and a cake. Reducing the number of people you have contact with is key to reducing the risk of virus transmission.
Managing Illness. Please do not travel if you are ill. All bookings have free cancellation, up to 24 hours prior to arrival (up until midday on the day before check in), so if you are unwell, it is important you do not travel and cancel your booking. If you experience new coronavirus symptoms during your stay, please contact NHS 111 and report your illness to hostel staff immediately.
Cleaning & Hygiene
- We've increased our cleaning routines to minimise the risk of transmission of the virus.
- We'll sanitise all frequently touched points in the hostel 4 times a day.
- Do your bit by washing hands frequently.
- Toilets will be cleaned 4 times a day to ensure they stay perfectly clean.
- Between guests, rooms will be deep cleaned and all surfaces sanitised.
- On departure we'll ask you to strip your beds, leaving the bedding in a single pile on one of the beds, and to leave the windows wide open for ventilation.
Toilets and Showers
Each room will be allocated a single dedicated shower, which is for the use of the guests in your room only. Toilets are available for all, and will be cleaned 4 times a day, to ensure they stay clean, and to minimise any risk of virus transmission.
Self Catering Kitchen
Unfortunately we are not permitted to re-open our communal self catering kitchen, but we will ensure you have access to a boiler for hot drinks and a microwave to reheat food. Crockery, cutlery and glassware, fresh from the dishwasher, will be available on request from hostel staff.
Hostel Food & Drink
Breakfast. We'll be offering a full breakfast service, served at your table. Please preorder the evening before hand.
Evening Meal. An evening meal will be available each day at 7.00pm, on a limited 2 course menu, which will feature our traditional home made specials, including vegetarian option, and a range of 12 inch pizzas, plus a choice of desserts. As usual orders are taken up until 6.00pm each evening.
Packed Lunches. Packed lunches can be ordered the night before for collection in the morning.
Hostel Bar. The bar will be open at reception until 11.00pm each evening.
Dining Room
This large and spacious room is idea for social distancing. Whenever you order food from us, either dinner or breakfast, we'll allocate a table for your meal, with at least 2 metres between diners, and to avoid having to move around the room, we'll serve to your table.
Lounges & Games Rooms
The lounges will be available for use, but with restricted occupancy, and we've had to remove all of the books and games. Unfortunately we are not able to open the games rooms. Remember to bring any games, footballs etc that you need, as we aren't able to lend out communal items at the moment.
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Derwentwater Independent Hostel
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Looking down on the hostel
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A bedroom in the modern annexe
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Evening light on Derwent Water
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Barrow House in Spring
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Inspiring local walks
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Red squirrels can be seen in our grounds
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View of Derwentwater Independent Hostel from a kayak
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Spring-time view from Derwentwater Independent Hostel
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Room One, our largest dormitory
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Autumn colours by the waterfall
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A heron next to our waterfall
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Spectacular local walks
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You can see Derwent Island from the hostel grounds. It used to be owned by Joseph Pocklington, the wealthy bachelor who built Barrow House.
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Astronomy workshops at Derwentwater Independent Hostel
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Expedition Medicine training at Derwentwater Indepedent Hostel
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The dam of the hydro-electric plant in the Derwentwater Independent Hostel grounds
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Walking up the fells behind the hostel
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Castlerigg Stone Circle - a short walk from the hostel
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Ashness Bridge - at the top of the hostel waterfall path
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Mist on Derwentwater
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Keswick Launch on Derwentwater
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Clear night sky
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View of Skiddaw Range from Falcon Crag (above the hostel)
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Half way up Cat Bells
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Keswick Christmas lights
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Bluebells near Buttermere
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Many of our guests enjoy walking on the fells around Borrowdale
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Building shelters in our woodland
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Our groups often enjoy adventurous activities in the Borrowdale Valley
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Sunset from the terrace in April
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Some of the staff and volunteers with our giant Easter Egg
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The dining room decorated for a wedding in 2014
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Conservation volunteers making a willow shelter in our grounds 2014
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A local walk around Watendlath
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A close-up of the fireplace in Room One
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Gingerbread house in front of the real thing.
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Staff take an evening walk along the lake shore.
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A very calm day on Derwent Water.
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A Mandarin duck on the lake shore.
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York Rowing Club training on Derwent Water during their stay with us.
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Bugle flower in the hostel grounds
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Tea and cake in the servery
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Winter walking
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Wooden hands sculpture on west side of Derwent Water.