Meelmore Lodge - Hostel

A friend recommended this place, arrived yesterday, the staff were fabulous, family run business. allowed us into the room early as it was empty (which allowed us to have a needed rest) before we went into Newcastle. The room was as expected, clean bed, tea making facilities, warm and cosy, en-suite toilet and shower. Downstairs is a Kitchen with anything else you may wish for, a lounge if there’s a small group to relax. A few metres away is the Bistro, we had an exceptional breakfast watched many hikers going from here for their day in the Mountains. 100% will return here.

Myself and the kids camp here as often as possible and love the place , Dessie and the staff are fantastic. I have read some reviews here and think this is not a true refection on this place. Dessie even went out of his busy schedule to go and collect a young lady who hurt her knee and he assisted on giving her a lift in his Quad.

Stayed one night at Meelmoore Lodge on Friday of early May Bank Holiday. We had no car so got a taxi from Newcastle which was easy to do and cost £12. I had booked online a few months ahead and received confirmation emails near to the stay, however, when we arrived they didn't have any record of our booking - it seems the online system isn't always tying up with the paper diary - they said we were lucky there was space - funny that, seeing as it was us that booked it!! Then owner told us that they had no heating as had been let down by an oil delivery. We weren't too worried about the heating as it wasn't specially cold, but only realised after this meant no hot water also which not good not being able to shower - at least we were only there one night. No apologies or compensation offered from owner. Also my friend and I ended up sharing the king bed as my request to split it into two had also been missed. Having said this, the lodge has well equipped kitchen, is nicely decorated and clean, lovely rooms with very comfy beds, tea, coffee, biscuits and kettle. Good value for money as quite high standard for a hostel. The views and location are fantastic, you can walk straight onto footpaths out of the lodge. Beautiful flowering yellow gorse in May. We also had a great breakfast in the Bistro with good prices and service and could leave our bags in the lodge while we did a days walk. The campsite was full of DofE / outward bound young people camping - didn't disturb us at all. There were only a handful of other tents on the campsite and no problems or noise.

Honestly I don’t know where to begin. We camped one night and were woken by half naked man hassling the girls wanting into their car with them. We all got in our cars and left the campsite out of fear of our safety. When we came back in the morning, the toilets had been vandalised with blood everywhere. When we reported this explaining how petrified we were and wanting to call the police, the owner just brushed it off like it was just an odd occurrence. No attempt at an apology or refund, nor anything done about the man harassing us. There is some CCTV but conveniently broken around the toilets. Owners are more concerned about money then their customers safety!

Unfortunately have to give just one star. Booked in April, paid, arrived August Saturday night all the way from Dublin to find out they put someone else in the room..girl at reception mentioned overbookings happen here all the time apparently. No apology, no alternatives given. Sadly had to drive all the way back to Dublin as everything booked pit being bank holiday weekend. Definitely not going to stay again.

Me and my partner stayed here for two nights on the 9th September and it was great. We were able to have our car next to our tent plus a 3 metre gazebo plus room for our BBQ area. Although I think space is more restricted during the busy summer. The campsite is on a hill so we took the gazebo down 6.30 am on the second morning as the wind picked up and we've only got cheap pegs. We just turned up without having to book and got to pick out where we wanted to camp. Then paid at the reception next to the cafe. (Receptionist was lovely) The views are amazing and so is the little cafe where we ate breakfast on the second morning as we couldn't be bothered to cook. Although it doesn't offer electric hookups it does let you charge your phones in the cafe (also free WiFi), outside the cafe and in the dishwashing room. Toilets and showers were really good considering we had people constantly in and out with hiking boots. Noise levels were kept low even though we had many families staying, a few single campers, a group on a stag doo and kids doing Duke or Edinburgh or some other award. (These stop too the right of the toilets, away from other campers) so the site was busy. It's also a dog friendly site. Another reason we loved camping here is it's the 1st campsite that the owner came around and asked if we needed a fire pit as it was going to be cold. He provided wood (2x£5) as well. We didn't end up getting a fire pit but later regretted this as it did get really cold. Owner was nice and said it's not normally this busy in September. We will definitely be back next spring/summer this time with our daughter.