Blaencaron hostel

a traditional, basic youth hostel, closed for good in October 2006

Blaencaron hostel was originally built as a school in 1883 to serve children in the river Croes valley to the north-east of Tregaron. The school closed in 1932 and the building was taken over by the Youth Hostels Association in 1950. A group of German young people helped with renovation work in 1952 as part of a venture to rebuild ties after the second world war. The warden for 35 years was Mrs Jones, until her retirement in 2005, and she welcomed visitors from many countries including Canada, Australia and America.

Blaencaron was well situated as a youth hostel, being at the foot of the remote Elenydd hills and 15 miles from the unspoilt Ceridigion coast. Walkers who yearn to lose themselves in unspoilt countryside were happy here. Birdwatching is particularly good and there are plenty of mountain bike trails and walking tracks in the hills. Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, Strata Florida Abbey and the Devil's Bridge narrow-gauge railway and waterfall are all within reach.

The rural town of Tregaron is 3 miles from the hostel and has the 'Red Kite Centre'. 'Caron' was the saint who gave his name to the church, the town and the large bog of Cors Caron. 'Blaencaron' means the very edge of this area, up above the town.

Photo gallery

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Comments from the visitors' book

• This is a fantastic little hostel. Visiting hostels like this is what youth hostelling should be about. Have loved staying here.
• It is a comfort to know that you can walk in here after a hard day's walk and find all you need. Excellent.
• Lle tawel, arddechog gyda croeso cynnes.
• This is my second visit, just re-affirms how precious these few remaining small hostels are with a magic like no other.
• Dyma'r lle i fod! Digon o heddwch - a defaid!
• It is hard to leave a small patch of paradise, but we shall return.

Details

	Blaencaron hostel was along a country lane, 5 km / 3 miles north-east of Tregaron
	OS maps:	Landranger 146 Explorer 187 and 199	(1:50,000) (1:25,000)
	Grid Reference:	SN 713 608
	Nearest B+B:	Tregaron	5 km / 3 mi
	Nearest hostels:	Dolgoch   Ty'n Cornel	20 km / 12 mi (by road) 15 km / 9 mi  (by footpath) 23 km / 14 mi (by road) 13 km / 8 mi  (by footpath)

Blaencaron memories

• The opening of the hostel   (a newspaper article from the early 1950's)
• Volunteer wardening as it used to be   (memories of a 1954 volunteer warden)