Skiddaw House Hostel: "one of the loneliest dwelling places in all the British Isles"
A mountain yoga retreat offering on 22-24th March 2024
I roll out of the warm bed, and creep out of the room and down the stairs, trying not to wake the rest of the house. The embers in the fire are still glowing, as I take the kettle and light the gas ring to boil it. I unlock the front door, take a breath in, open the door and then it’s there. The sun rising ahead of me and views of Blencathra, Carrock Fell, and Great Calva. The mist is rolling up the valley and I soak it in. It is peaceful and calm, and today I only have to think of myself.
It’s hard to accurately describe why I love Skiddaw House Hostel so much. I think because it’s not about the stones and chattels of the place. It’s about the feeling. I remember walking past when it was derelict years ago and dreaming I could live somewhere so remote, so quiet, without any roads or buildings to be seen from its view. The old woodland surrounding it has been weathered by the winds so it hugs the house, protecting it from the storms.
I started coming regularly when I was a human rights lawyer. It was my sanctuary, a place where I could leave the overwhelming piles of paperwork and emails, and slip into a life with a different pace. I have come with friends, I have come and made new friends round the fire, and I have come to write parts of my book, years ago. I have come on two feet, fast running feet and two wheels on my bike. I even came to a folk gig up here a few birthdays ago.
It was described as “one of the loneliest dwelling places in all the British Isles”. It sits over 1,500ft above sea level and was built as a grouse shooting lodge in the 1800s. Being alone doesn't always equate to being lonely though.
Yoga and Walking Retreat 22-24th March 2024
I am offering a limited number of spaces to join me at the hostel from 4pm on Friday 22nd March until about 3pm on Sunday 24th March.
This is a weekend to disconnect from technology and busyness and retreat in the deep sense of the word. There will be yoga sessions for all abilities – all by the fire, including a morning flow, slow and relaxing evening yin yoga, and deep rest with yoga nidra. Walks will depend on the weather and group fitness, but we will be walking among some of the quieter lake district fells.
Skiddaw House does not have any vehicular access, so we will be walking as a group to the hostel at 4pm on Friday 22nd March. The walk is an about hour and just under three miles.
All yoga equipment, meals, bedding and towels are included. Meals from Friday evening until Sunday packed lunch will be provided, with all diets catered for so just let me know any requirements.
More information and booking is here.
Previous Skiddaw House weekend
The first weekend in November was a navigation skills weekend I ran at Skiddaw House. Having the knowledge of how to navigate from a map and compass opens up a whole new world of places to explore and routes to plan. We had an evening by the fire, before a full day of looking at maps, learning about a compass, and then a day on the hills practising navigation skills and strategies. On Sunday it was over to the participants who went out solo to find our hidden controls.
It was the first time all the participants had visited Skiddaw House and I loved sharing it.
The Future of Skiddaw House
You may have seen the property up for sale in 2021 – it reached the national news and was reportedly the most viewed property on Rightmove. The future is still uncertain.
It is currently leased to the Skiddaw House Foundation, a charity with the aim to run it as an affordable hostel, and I am a trustee. The foundation runs entirely on donations so please consider dropping a contribution into the donations box if you pass the hostel. The day-to-day running of the hostel is by warden Sue, with booking affiliated with the YHA. It is open for booking the whole hostel out until my weekend in March, and then after that is open to the public to book via bed or room for the night.
Whether you come for a retreat with me, with friends next year, or a solitary night, I hope you can wake up one morning too, and sit with a tea or coffee, watching the sunrise from the front door, drinking in that sense of peace.
