The opening of Ty'n Cornel

Tyncornel is the 'baby' of the YHA having opened only this Easter, but already its appeal as the most remote hostel in England and Wales has whetted the appetite of many a keen hosteller.

Situated over a mile away from the nearest tarmac road, in the centre of the wildest and most stirring area in Wales, known as the Elenith, Tyncornel nestles cosily near the head of the Doethie valley at a point just reaching 1,050 ft above sea level. From Tyncornel, the adventurous cyclist and walker are able to explore almost all of this wild and beautiful expanse of mountain plateau, which gives birth to the rivers Teifi and Tywi and their tributaries. These are the isolated valleys, some smooth and gentle, some tree-lined and some steep and rocky, whose scenery ranks amongst the finest in the country.

A little history of Tyncornel indicates the de-population of the area that has taken place over the years. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Doethie valley was quite lively, with about a dozen farm houses, mostly smallholdings, a chapel called Capel Bettws Gelynen, one of seven belonging to Llanddewi-brefi Church, and a school which in the year 1747, it is recorded, had 48 pupils. Now, apart from Blaendoethie and Tyncornel, all that remains of these buildings are small, scattered piles of stones and a few low, dilapidated stone walls.

The last resident of Tyncornel, Mr. Lewis, who moved to Blaendoethie in June, 1953, remembers a Sunday School being held at Tyncornel once a month, and preachers staying there and at other farms several times a year. The local farmers used to fetch them on horseback from Llanddewi-brefi. At that time, the post was delivered on horseback only three times a week; now the better road surfaces have made it possible for mail vans to deliver post daily. Today, the nearest chapel is only three miles away at Soar, in the beautiful Camddwr valley, and in the Summer a service is held there on some Sunday afternoons. This chapel was built in 1822.

Tyncornel Hostel is a 17th-century farmhouse, but for the last twelve years it has been uninhabited. Now it has been carefully converted by volunteer week-end working parties from the Birmingham area, throughout the past winter. The first of these, early in September, was accompanied by a lorry loaded with all materials and equipment required. The ensuing week-ends were spent reducing the store of materials, until only a few weeks ago the last piece of timber was in place, and the hostel was completed.

There was never any shortage of helpers for these working parties, ably led by David Robinson and John Wager, for this 18 bed, self-cookers-only hostel has an appeal of its own, so secure and reassuring in such a wild and ruthless area. Two local groups, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield, provided most of the labour force for these winter working parties. Each week-end a group of four or five drove the 140 miles, to arrive late on Friday night, but were always cheerfully greeted by a large fire burning happily. And here we say many thanks to our Warden, Mr W. D. Lewis, of Blaendoethie, who always made sure of this welcome for us.

A great deal of thought and hard work went into planning the layout of the hostel to make it easy to clean and simple to run. As a result many new ideas have been incorporated, particularly in the dormitories where the usual steel bed frames have given way to individually-constructed timber bunks of superb quality and comfort. Yes, Tyncornel is certainly a simple hostel with a difference; its cheerful comfort will be a constant attraction for further visits.

It is hoped that Tyncornel, which has already been described as 'what YHA is really all about' will be a challenge to all YHA members. It is very remote, but it now gives all hostellers a welcome opportunity of exploring the Elenith to its full. After all, this is regarded as the last remaining really wild area south of the Scottish border, and it is seriously being considered for designation as a National Park within the next few years. This little-publicised, but remarkably beautiful area has a share in three counties, Cardigan, Carmarthen and Brecon. Tyncornel provides a useful link between Ystumtuen, Blaencaron, Glascwm and Nant-y-dernol hostels in the north and east; and Llanddeusant in the south. Negotiations are at present proceeding for another property in the Elenith, situated a day's walk from Tyncornel, which if successfully completed will provide an ideal sister for Blaencaron and Tyncornel. The various routes between these hostels provide many interesting days' walking and cycling amongst really stimulating country and very fresh air. One important proviso in travelling in the Elenith, is to be adequately clothed and equipped. One should never travel alone in this isolated area, and I cannot stress too much the importance of these cautions. It is essential to wear warm strong clothes and carry plenty of food, maps and compass. Maps should be of no smaller scale than 1 inch OS. Remember, the same rules apply when exploring the Elenith Mountains as the more popular mountains of Snowdonia and Lakeland.

Tyncornel is fully open for seven months: for the rest of the year, advance bookings are accepted at the discretion of the Warden. I sincerely hope that members will make full use of the facilities provided at Tyncornel, which are in fact a lot more pleasing than the Handbook would lead you to believe. It is up to us to support this unusual little hostel and the confidence and enthusiasm of those members who devoted so much of their spare time in converting it. Working with great gusto alongside our working parties was Mr Lewis, our Warden and Landlord. We must record our appreciation of the vast amount of help we have received from him. Our sincere thanks are also extended to all those other individuals, each of whom has done his share of the work, particularly to Solihull and Sutton Coldfield Local Groups and Ty-Mawr School for 'lending' South Wales Region their workers. In short, at Tyncornel we have a hostel which the YHA and in particular the South Wales Region are proud to open, and I hope I will see you there sometime.

Christine M. Evans