YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass Celebrates £1.3m Investment
Children from Beddgelert Primary School, the Chairman of Snowdonia National Park and legendary mountaineer Alan Hinkes have helped declare YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass officially re-open after its £1.3 million refurbishment.
The Youth Hostel’s extensive refurbishment early this year has resulted in
YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass becoming both environmentally and financially sustainable and has secured its long-term future. The refurbishment has also helped it achieve 4-star Visit Wales accreditation.
At the opening, the Chairman of Snowdonia National Park, Caerwyn Roberts, commented: “We are 300 metres above sea level surrounded by stunning mountains. There is nowhere else in the world more suited to provide a location for such a magnificent Youth Hostel. It provides an excellent opportunity for everyone to learn about nature and the countryside. The interpretation work within YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass is fantastic, giving information on local history and legends – all testament to the important history of this small corner of Wales.
“Now the refubishment is complete we can be confident that people from all over the world will be able to come here and stay in affordable, welcoming accommodation to appreciate our wonderful landscape.”
The extensive refurbishment at
YHA Snowdon Pen-Y-Pass was made possible following generous contributions from the Welsh Government, Visit Wales Tourism Investment Support Scheme (TISS), Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA), Welsh Water and a legacy left to YHA by the long-standing member of YHA’s Welsh regional council, walker, mountaineer and writer Tony Drake MBE.
As part of the refurbishment, a groundbreaking biomass boiler has been installed at YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass. The £167,000 biomass boiler project was part funded by Hostelling International after YHA (England and Wales) beat off stiff competition from youth hostels across the world to win the £25,000 Sustainability Fund prize.
As well as an 86% reduction in carbon emissions, the new boiler has enabled YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass to dramatically reduce its heating costs. Prior to its installation, the Youth Hostel spent £21,000 on heating oil, the highest spend across the entire YHA network of hostels in England and Wales.
Following the investment, accommodation at this hostel has been doubled, providing beds for 111 people in 27 bedrooms, 16 of which have en-suite facilities. Ten of the en suite bedrooms have been created in a former disused barn on-site. Additionally, the investment has also created:
• New café and bar open to both residents and the general public, offering hot food and drinks as well as a selection of sandwiches to take away.
• New games room and classroom with AV facilities
• New self-catering kitchen facilities
• Public WCs and showers for day walkers
The refurbishment of YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass has now brought the hostel in-line with YHA’s modern offering of en-suite accommodation, private family rooms, licensed restaurants and education facilities.
Caroline White, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales) said: “YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass welcomes thousands of young people with their schools and families every year, giving everyone, whatever their backgrounds, the chance to enjoy educational and outdoor activities in this superb location. Our investment will help the Youth Hostel become even more financially sustainable, securing its future for many more generations of guests.”
The investment in YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass is part of YHA (England and Wales)’s Capital Investment plan to create a world-class network of Youth Hostels in England and Wales. Since 2011 we've invested £25million in our network, refurbishing existing YHAs as well as acquiring new properties.
