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From under £25 per person per night.

thekettlewell

Winner of TGO magazine HOSTEL OF THE YEAR 2026!

This is the time of year where pumpkins are super

This is the time of year where pumpkins are super cheap, as well as carving them, you can eat them too!

Here is a my recipe for a spicy winter vegetable soup, it is super easy tasty and is a little bit fancy! You just need to buy one ‘special’ ingredient which is Ras el Hanout, it is available in the supermarket and isn’t too expensive!

I used 4 medium pumpkins, 1kg each of parsnips, carrots and onions and made 35x 250g portions, you might want to scale it down for home use…. It does freeze really well if you make more than you can eat at one go!

1kg red onion, cut into wedges
2 Kg Winter Vegetables in whatever quantities: parsnip, carrots
4 medium pumpkins

4 tbs garlic puree
10 tbsp ras el hanout
4 tbsp olive oil
•
6l hot vegetable bouillon or veg stock cubes (I tend to mix this a bit strong, for flavour)
•
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip all the vegetables into a roasting tin. Sprinkle over the ras el hanout and pepper, drizzle over the oil and give everything a good stir. Roast for 30-35 mins, turning the vegetables over halfway, until they’re tender and starting to caramelise a little.

Transfer the roasted veg to a large saucepan, add the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes, pour over the hot stock and simmer for 5 mins. Purée the soup with a hand blender and then in a food processor until smooth, add more bouillon if needed.

Sprinkle with a dash of smoked paprika, or some mixed roast seeds if available

Don’t bother to peel the carrots and parsnips as it is being pureed, just trim the tops.

Throughout the year, we have some weekends that ar

Throughout the year, we have some weekends that are special, coming up we have a really special one!

Organised by our friends @eventsduenorth it is really exciting opportunity to get to meet and have a bit of running coaching from genuinely one of the world’s greatest fell runners.

If you are looking for an inspiring weekend of running, no matter where you are in your running journey, you will leave better prepared and more inspired! You will need some trail/fell shoes and a head torch, if you are looking for the nudge to come over to Trail running from the road, this could be the inspiration that you need.

WOMEN’S TRAIL RUNNING WEEKEND WITH NICKY SPINKS

20 November 2026 at 17:00 – 22 November 2026 at 13:30
A full weekend of running, coaching sessions lead by Nicky Spinks, record breaking fell runner and UKA Coach

Coaching sessions lead by Nicky Spinks, record breaking fell runner and UKA Coach on Saturday

Nicky will give a talk about her journey from farmer to fell runner

Saturday evening head torch run!

Sunday you will get chance to practice your new skills on a guided run with the Due North Team.

Tips on Navigation practice, What to wear & pack for longer days out, preparing for races.

Give it a google to find out more, booking is through eventbrite, and you can see@more about due north events and races on their website.

Autumn is such a good time to get outside and get

Autumn is such a good time to get outside and get into nature, there are loads of mushrooms to find, the leaves are starting to turn and the light at this time of year casts beautiful long shadows, it is so good to get out!

@yhaofficial
@indiehostelsuk

We have had a busy old time of things here at the

We have had a busy old time of things here at the hostel! We have done some great big meals! (Whenever we cook big piles of burgers, it reminds me of Wimpy from Popeye cartoons)

We have had some delightful groups of all different types; a Japanese School, A clothes retailer running a DofE programme for its employees (very good to see), a group of friends coming from Leeds to enjoy a some running/cycling/walking together some musicians hanging out together, it is always so interesting how different groups use the spaces, and how the hostel feels different with each group in it.
In between all of the bigger parties, we have also managed to open to see lots of Families and Individuals coming just to enjoy a bit of time away, as well as some parents breaking the journey after dropping their children off at a university…..

It is nice to be busy, and if you come and the weather is nice, the long shadows and cool days are really beautiful once you get out!

We have added a winter vegetable soup spiced with Ras el Hanout to the menu, it seemed about time!

@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

This week, we have ticked off another major step i

This week, we have ticked off another major step in our low-carbon project with the installation of two 20Kw batteries to store the energy produced from our solar panels for use later that day.
Ultimately it helps to reduce our impact on the world, although right now it does feel like we have just bought something big and un-knowable!

Anyway, outside, it is really nice. Autumn is coming, the mist clinging to the landscape in the morning, mushrooms popping up, waterfalls are water-falling, it is all pretty good!

@yhaofficial
@indiehostelsuk

After even a short time away, we have really notic

After even a short time away, we have really noticed a change in the seasons, the low clouds dragging through the hill, the ground is softer underfoot after some wetter days, mushrooms are starting to pop up, we even had the stove lit in the hostel at the weekend! Very nice…
It is a really lovely time to get outside!
@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

After a crazily early start yesterday in Stockholm

After a crazily early start yesterday in Stockholm, we were in Denmark for an hour and then back to Heathrow, and a day on the trains home! It has been a while since I have got up at 3!

We had a lovely time away, it is good to eat out, enjoying spending some time with Mollie, Humph and Josh, without having to think about being back for check in at 4.00!

Now that we have had some sleep, it is really, really good to be back! Driving up the dale never fails to lift the spirits!

We have been stranded in Sweden for another couple

We have been stranded in Sweden for another couple of nights while the airlines recover from yesterday’s IT problems in Heathrow! @flysas have been really good, arranging a fun conference hotel for us to stay in nearby, and it also gives us a chance to pop around Uppsala for a day before a staggeringly early flight home tomorrow!
Luckily Grandpa John is at home looking after the hostel (and Billy the dog) but we will be back home and ready to open by Friday (when our next guests arrive)

A few more snaps of our little break in Stockholm,

A few more snaps of our little break in Stockholm, we are having a lovely time! We will be back home later this week all refreshed and full of fika!

We are having a few days away in Stockholm, we wil

We are having a few days away in Stockholm, we will be back next week, refreshed and full of fika!

We are still available to book and can answer emails if anyone need us!

Now that the @kettlewellscarecrowfestival has fini

Now that the @kettlewellscarecrowfestival has finished, the village has returned to it normal quiet self!although Ona busy day, even when the village carpark fills up, it is so rare to see many people out on the hills!
@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

This is the last weekend of @kettlewellscarecrowfe

This is the last weekend of @kettlewellscarecrowfestival for 2026 it has been a wonderful week, the village has been busy with families and sightseers, with the hot weather there has really been a holiday atmosphere!
We popped into the church today which has gone for a Christmas theme, very nice!
One of our very lovely neighbours came round and gave us a great crop of Rhubarb! It is a cruel twist for Laura to have a bumper crop of something that your family doesn’t really like! (Rhubarb Crumble coming soon to the menu)…
Thanks @mamaappleton for sharing your crop! Watch out for the doorstep side crumble. @yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

The scarecrow festival is wonderfully busy, it rea

The scarecrow festival is wonderfully busy, it really is like being in a seaside town with folks walking around with ice cream! I think my favourite this year is at the vicarage, a great set up with great use of props, scale, perfect!

Meanwhile in the hostel, we have our second annual singing/guitar/songwriting week, mainly in Dutch, with our friend @colin.l.price bringing his expertise and musicality to the place, good vibes all round!

And as I write, the eclipse is about to come, we are planning to watch it through a colander, so it doesn’t ‘strain’ our eyes!
@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

We had the best lunch in the village hall today! I

We had the best lunch in the village hall today! If you look carefully, you can see the names of the people that made them!
The ‘grownups’ trail sheet is particularly good this year, the ‘thrillers’ theme has really brought out the villages creativity!
@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

@kettlewellscarecrowfestival is going brilliantly!

@kettlewellscarecrowfestival is going brilliantly! Although my photos don’t really show how very charming it is to walk around, maybe you come and see for yourselves before it ends on Sunday!

There are two trail sheets, one for children, where the scarecrows are all sports related, the one for adults is horror/thrillers and the village hall pop up cafe is stocked with locally made cakes and good things to eat, what a treat!

@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

Is is a big day in Kettlewell today, with the judg

Is is a big day in Kettlewell today, with the judging of the scarecrows happening this morning!

Cakes are being delivered to the village hall, sandwiches are being made and final touches are being made (it really is a nice day out!)

Everyday until next Sunday. It is just £4 to park, the trail sheets are only £1, it is such a great value, wholesome way to get everyone outside! The village hall pop up cafe is open each day for lunch, what a treat!

@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk @yorkshiredales

Kettlewell is very much in pent anticipation for @

Kettlewell is very much in pent anticipation for @kettlewellscarecrowfestival which starts on Saturday! We have spent the last couple of days putting bunting up all around the village, it looks really nice! (Even if I do say so myself!)

Although we are very close to being booked up for the whole time, there are still a couple of rooms for the second weekend….

In hole news, we are still waiting for someone to come and fill in the last bit, and someone is coming on Friday to remove some old cables from the back of the building….. after that we will be waiting for the batteries to be delivered to @bgreenn_limited so they can come and fit them…….
@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

It has been another beaut of a day, the boggy bits

It has been another beaut of a day, the boggy bits on the way up great Whernside are all dry and the going is easy, the distant views are clear and a glorious sky that is ever changing.

Back at the hostel, I thought that I would do a post about how I make the ‘8 hour beef stew’ which is a perennial favourite on the menu, but I managed to take a few pictures of some ingredients and then got caught up in the cooking untill it was all in the oven (the small one is a #glutenfree version). Maybe another time…..

In other news, we have the electricians coming back for the final push, we should be connected to our new supply tomorrow fingers crossed, once that is done, we will get a certificate to say that we can get the car charger connected…….

@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

To give this story some context, we have been here

To give this story some context, we have been here 11 years, we are pretty thoughtful people and always try to look out for ways to make the place better, today we found a good one.

A guest turned up, tired and hungry as people often do, a long walk, generally in need of a bit of human kindness and a cup of tea. Now, he turned up at 4.30 (we open at 4.00) the door is always closed, but unlocked so you can just push and walk in, the door is also heavy….

He stood outside for 10 minutes, ringing on the doorbell, (which has never been connected to anything), and finally in frustration called us from his mobile to ask what exactly the hell was he meant to do? Calmly, i told him to just push the door and come in.

On entering, he saw how nice it is here, and that he could have a cup of tea and a sit down, there was some good music playing in the dining room. Things were going to be alright. He had been hot and cross, but good vibes prevailed!

The teaching of this story is ‘do not press the button’ the door is open. (From 4.00)

@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

The road men came to deliver some tarmac this morn

The road men came to deliver some tarmac this morning! So the road is back open! For fun though there are still signs around the village saying that roads are closed, which people are enjoying!

Talking to one of the workers, they told me about ‘poison pen-sioners’ I shall not go into it, but it is a nice use of words!

I have made a beef stew today, including a batch of gluten free (made with ilkley brewery’s GF IPA).

Lastly, Magnus the fearful cat, was looking fine in the garden this morning, he might run away from you, but he is a good looking boy!

@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

We have a delightful wedding group here this weeke

We have a delightful wedding group here this weekend, Kettlewell church is really special and they have done a very good job at making the place feel a bit special for their guests, it is so nice to be a part of these things!

In other news, wild swimming is still a lovely way to spend an hour or so, just along the river towards Starbotton is our preferred spot!

And in Big Hole news, some road workers came today and half filled the road part of the hole in preparation for the tarmac team some time in the future…. The road is still closed, we still don’t have our new electricity supply, but at least we are moving forward…..

It felt this morning that we were about to make so

It felt this morning that we were about to make some real progress, but, when the man came to ‘liven up’ our new connection the the grid, it turns out that the digging team who were here yesterday missed the last 6 inches, meaning that the connection guy couldn’t do his bit, the digging team will have to be called back, then the connections guy will have to come back and so it goes……

We still have our electricity supply and they might be able to get the road back open, which is not bad.

Meanwhile, we have just added a new vegetarian burger to our menu! The ‘Crunchy, Crispy, Spicy Smoked Tofu Burger’ I think that it is really good and a couple of people who had them tonight really enjoyed them. So off to a good start! We only managed to get a pic of the #glutenfree version, we will try to get a pic of the regular one soon….

The electrical work hasn’t quite gone as quickly a

The electrical work hasn’t quite gone as quickly as we would have hoped, yesterday the diggers only arrived at 12 meaning today they had to come back today to finish the hole…

Meaning that the jointer who could only come after the hole was dug, didn’t come, as the hole wasn’t ready for him,

Meaning that the man who was to move the meters couldn’t do his part….. so it all goes into another day with our electricians finished for now……

Still, inside the hostel is still really nice, it is still so beautiful in our part of the world and we still have electricity (just a big hole outside the building!)

In the end however we will be able to have a car charger, and batteries, and in the future we will have capacity for more chargers when the time comes, it is all a bit painful now but we try to tell ourselves that we are still working towards something positive!

@yhaofficial @indiehostelsuk

Work is continuing to get the new electricity supp

Work is continuing to get the new electricity supply into the hostel, I think that if we had known quite what this job would entail, we might have closed for a couple of days longer!

That said, we often hear tales from guests that they stayed in some hostel or other when the power went off/the roof caved in/the ground floor flooded, which makes ours seem quite benign in comparison!

More work tomorrow!

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The Kettlewell Hostel
Whernside House, Kettlewell, North Yorkshire, BD235QU
01756 760232
hello@thekettlewellhostel.co.uk

OS Grid Ref: SD970724
Lat: 54.1472ºN Long: 2.0475ºW
w3w: stow.chuckling.hobbit

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