Room/grounds hire
We are happy to receive enquiries about room hire and the use of our grounds.
The following facilities might be of interest:
- Large dining room with tall windows and a high ceiling. There are great views of the waterfall, red squirrels and birds from these windows. You can rearrange the furniture as you wish, from clearing out all the tables and chairs for a ceilidh, to putting the chairs in rows for a lecture or presentation. Without tables, this room can comfortably accommodate 70 chairs. For use as a dining room, we recommend a maximum of 60 people.
- Lounge. This room is ideal for smaller meetings of up to 10 people. There are normally sofas in the lounge, but they can be rearranged to make space for a table and chairs.
- Self-catering kitchen and dining room. This room has tables and chairs for accommodating up to 30 people. It has fantastic views of Derwent Water. There is a large white board on one of the walls.
- Free Wifi, but its strength varies throughout the building!
- Portable white screen and digital projector.
- Our tables seat 6 people. Two tables can be pushed together to seat 8 people. They all have removable plastic tablecloths.
- Simple homemade refreshments can be booked in advance.
- Outside electric socket.
- Ample parking and space for a coach to park/turn around.
- Bus stop at the bottom of the driveway, with buses running to and from Keswick (7 min journey).
- Small library of local interest books and pamphlets.
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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.