Accommodation you have to hike to - is there such a thing?!

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Hello, I am looking for something a bit off the beaten track... I have 3 outdoorsy boys (4/7/9) and would like to take them on a bit of an adventure. Does anyone know of any accommodation you have to walk to with back packs? I was thinking somewhere with an open fire etc. (Google hasn’t come up with anything)

Alternatively does anyone know where to hire a camper van that sleeps 5 and where I could take them??

Thank you

Yes, I’ve seen this on tv independenthostels.co.uk/members/skiddawhouse/

Search for bothys in Scotland.

Some youth hostels are quite remote, some are just kind of barns - worth a look on the YHA website?

Staying in a bothie? Theyre found in Scotland. Not sure if they are bookable in advance but I would think some must be off the beaten track.

Youth hostels definitely. Some in hillier parts are best walked between, e.g. Snowdonia.

You could walk to the youth hostel I work at. None are actually in the middle of nowhere as they need to get deliveries etc but the ones on Dartmoor are quite remote.

You can also book outdoor activities for the kids and yourself at the one I work at too.

You could hike to lots of places, such as YHA hostels. They may also be accessible by road, but that doesn’t mean you can’t off-road to them.

Look up
The west Highland Way

Bothies.

Not necessarily easy to plan, if over full they work on first in first out, you could get a few days alone or be bumped out by a large group twelve hours behind you.

This place...

https://www.aspects-holidays.co.uk/cornwall/west-cornwall/cape-cornwall/p/wheal-call

I've just come back from a weeks holiday there and would happily move there tomorrow.

Ok, you can drive there but once you are there the South West Coast Path is literally on your doorstep. We walked on average 10 miles a day every day.

It's beautiful and amazing.

Bothys are extremely basic shelters and unless they are very remote or not widely known you also stand a fair chance of finding yourself cohabiting with a group of young pissheads. This time of year is also not ideal to be taking very young children into the scottish wilderness unless you know exactly what you're doing. Wait till spring, buy a cheap tent and take them to a campsite.

Our hostels are actually on Dartmoor so you can step out of the door and straight into the wilderness.

Hike Hadrian's Wall

There are quite a few companies that arrange accommodation eg

www.hadrianswall.ltd.uk

Knoydart - can only get there by boat. You can get the train to Malliag to get a boat. I think it is so amazing you can get the sleeper train from London wake up in Fort William and be so remote. £££ mind.

Other option is the youth hostel at Loch Ossian - get the train to For your.

Corrour! Aka the trainspotting station

Look up the mountain bothie association. There are also youth hostels that are quite remote and/or hike a section of the pennine way for instance.

Thank you everyone for your brilliant responses.

I have to be honest although I love the idea I think the boys are too young for bothies.

@crispbuttieno1 can you send me your hostel details please??!!

I’m off to google the rest!

Some camping barns specify no cars - eg this one: independenthostels.co.uk/members/gumberbothy/

Black sail hostel near ennerdale in the lake district. A great walk in for anyone who wants an adventure.

How about Lundy? www.landmarktrust.org.uk/Search-and-book/location/lundy/

You could do the Lundy letterbox trail with them.

Seconding Black Sail Hut. Only accessible on foot, stunning setting, but great food, and basic facilities - much more than you'd get in a bothy.

Might be one to add to your list for the future but the Camino de Santiago trail is meant to be stunning. You can choose to do sections of it and walk between guest houses/hotels.

https://santiagoways.com/en/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImbbM8HK3gIViOFRCh0Urwv6EAAYAiAAEgIUwfDD_BwE

Steepholm or Flatholm in the Bristol Channel? www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/bristol-channel-my-almost-private-island-paradise-137184.html

qwirkycampers.co.uk is worth a look.