Castle Hedingham Youth Hostel is one of just three youth hostels in Essex, the other two being in Epping and Saffron Walden. | "The days when you could fill 50 beds with 50 different people in dormitories have gone." | | Alison at Castle Hedingham Youth Hostel |
It is closing down at the end of 2007 but until then, for the next two seasons, it is open for business as usual.
 | | The garden |
With Spring arriving people start going out and about into the Essex countryside, and part of that out door experience often includes staying in a youth hostel. They have a certain unique charm about them, whether is it because many are located in quaint old buildings with a lot of history to them, or maybe it is because they are alive with like minded people who all enjoy the great outdoors. For them the experience of youth hosteling is unique.
 | | Bunk bed |
Castle Hedingham hostel is located in a 16 century building, stamped on its chimney is the date 1675. Although the original part of the youth hostel is very old it has been added to over the years, with some newer buildings out the back, being constructed to provide more bedrooms. Although the hostel is closing down at the end of next year, it is looking forward to the forthcoming season, offering people home cooked meals and a beautiful surrounding.
 | | Dining room |
When it comes to dinner time they are never stuck for a mouth watering crumble. With a large garden containing two apple trees, rhubarb and raspberries, there is always plenty of home grown and freshly cooked food. You may even find local sausages and mash on the menu, alongside home made soup. The youth hostel prides itself on being friendly and homely. It holds a maximum of 50 people. As it is the closest hostel to Harwich, a lot of people from Europe come over and stay the night there.
 | | Self catering kitchen |
It's not just travellers that enjoy a visit to Castle Hedingham - school groups, choirs and sports clubs, as well as people on a family weekend away also stay the night. Contrary to popular belief there is no age limit to youth hostels - anybody from two months old to 90 years old can stay in one. However Alison who is one of three people who work at Castle Hedingham Youth Hostel believes that people want different things from youth hostels today.
 | | Lounge |
"The days when you could fill 50 beds with 50 different people in dormitories have gone. It's not less popular but the city locations where international back packers can go are more popular now." Altogether 30 hostels in the UK are going to shut down, and the savings made will be used to revamp the others. | 
