Shining Cliff Hostel

Shining Cliff hostel has a long history of providing accommodation to groups, as it opened in 1947 as a Youth Hostel Association hostel. Since 2019 it has been run as an independent hostel providing simple but well equipped self catering accommodation by Shining Cliff Centre C.I.C. The centre also offers day hire of a Woodland Hut with an awesome fire pit area, and woodland events for all ages.

The Hostel nestles into the base of Shining Cliff, the crags that give both the hostel and woodland their name. The hostel is only accessed by foot, the private hostel car park is half a mile away, creating a unique get-away-from-it-all experience. Wheelbarrows are provided at the car park to porter your belongings to the hostel - adding to the wonderful sense of adventure when staying at the hostel!

The hostel is an ideal location for family or friends get-togethers, school and youth groups, spiritual retreats, physical boot camps, training organisations, corporate team building events. It is a wonderful location to host your own event, we have yoga groups, women’s retreats, mens mental health retreats, nature therapy groups, live action role play groups, scouts, schools and local youth groups all using the hostel throughout the year.

The hostel can also be hired by the day in the midweek, which is ideal for school days out, corporate team building days, and group meetings.

The Woodland Hut is a simple hut in the woodland, providing a dry place to store your belongings whilst you spend the day exploring this stunning, ancient woodland. There are a myriad of paths to follow and wander along, exploring streams, crags and Mermaids Pool. You can then cook your lunch over the fire, in a stunning fire pit that nestles up against the crags.

Although you could spend all your time exploring this 400 acre woodland, there are also great businesses to explore in the local area. White Peak Distillery offers tasting tours and the WireWorks Project, a studio, workshop and gallery is well worth a visit, both are located by the River Derwent at the bottom of the woods a short walk away. It is possible to explore the surrounding area using the footpaths that pass through the woodland, including the long distance Midshires Way, and the nearby Derwent Valley Heritage Way. You could also hire bikes from Belper Bike Barn, a short distance away from the woodland. to explore the beautiful countryside around the woodland.

The hostel sits within the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site, and the nearest village of Ambergate has a lovely train line that connects you to Cromford, Belper and Matlock which are rich in the history of the industrial revolution.