Black Sail youth hostel

Pressure from hungry walkers has forced a u-turn on plans to stop serving food at one of England’s best loved youth hostels.

YHA earlier announced plans to stop offering catering at the isolated former shepherd’s bothy at Black Sail, in the shadow of Great Gable at the head of Ennerdale. The hostel is only accessible by walkers, cyclists and an odd four-wheel drive vehicle.

There was an outcry when the association said it would stop serving meals and turn the remote site into a self-catering only setup. Walkers complained the traditional hot meals served at the hostel were an integral part of the enjoyment of the place.

YHA’s problem was that a scheme to return Ennerdale to a more wilderness environment meant the pressure was on to minimise vehicle movements to the building. The whole valley is slowly being allowed to revert to its natural state, with pine plantations being replaced by native species and the forest track to the valley head being allowed to deteriorate.

The Wild Ennerdale scheme was devised by the major landowners in the valley, The Forestry Commission, National Trust and United Utilities.

So the hostel’s administrators had to look at pulling its hot meals service. An appeal was also started to raise £250,000 to make Black Sail self sufficient and more ecologically sound, and to improve the main Ennerdale hostel at the valley’s roadhead.

The main hostel provides most of the supplies for Black Sail, using Land Rovers along the forest track.

John Connelly, YHA’s regional general manager for the North, explains the organisation’s change of heart: “YHA is a firm supporter of Wild Ennerdale and we were always very mindful of the need to reduce the environmental impact of Black Sail to support the project’s objectives.

“We believed withdrawing catering for our guests would help reduce the number of vehicle journeys in the valley but this was a proposal that was not taken well by some of Black Sail’s many admirers.

“They told us they believed the memorable meals they had enjoyed at the hostel were an integral part of the experience and this helped us reach a suitable decision.

“Well, now we’re delighted to announce that we have carried out a detailed assessment of vehicle movements required to service Black Sail and come up with a new plan that is acceptable to all involved parties.”

The track leading to Black Sail, 10km (6miles) from the nearest road

Simon Ainley, development manager for the North, added: “While we still need to take a Land Rover to the hostel to transport laundry, refuse, gas bottles and cleaning products, through proposed changes to energy use and storage capacity on site, we can also provide catering while keeping the number of journeys to an absolute minimum.

“We have also agreed in principle, a scope of works with our partners which will see Black Sail improved and reduce its environmental impact while retaining its essence and unique character.

“The Forestry Commission has lent further support by generously offering us all the seasoned oak we need for the scheme, most notably replacing doors and window frames.”

A hydro-electric scheme will be built using money from the earlier appeal.

The YHA will also explore the possibility of securing grant funding to make more eco-friendly improvements such as solar panels, sheep wool insulation and a new wood-fuelled heating system.

Black Sail stands on the route of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route and is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, with Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Brandreth and Haystacks all overlooking the hut.