See below, what a shame. I don't see this as described as "a positive move for both organisations", what is positive to the YHA apart from losing yet another "Walkers hostel" in favour of city centre hostels:-

""
Thanks for your enquiry about 2014. I am afraid that in line with the below statement, we will not be able to accommodate your booking.

"It has been mutually agreed between YHA and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council that the operation at Crowden YHA (Crowden Outdoor Education Centre) currently operated under a joint management agreement will pass back to the sole management of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council from the 31st March 2014. This is a positive move for both organisations which will see the centre continuing to offer a high quality service and facility to groups business only.

Bookings for stays taking place up to the 31st March 2014 will continue to be taken through the YHA contact centre, online and via the hostel directly for all our customers including families and individual guests.”

The team at Crowden are sorry that we can not accommodate you, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

If you are looking for our nearest YHA neighbour, you can find Edale and Manchester are the closest hostels. If you are walking the Pennine Way, or cycling the Trans Pennine Cycleway, and looking for alternative accommodation en route in the Crowden area, the Old House B&B and bunkhouse might be able to accommodate you (01457 857527).

Thanks for your continued support of the YHA. We hope that you find alternative accommodation within the network. Please visit the YHA website (www.yha.org.uk), or call the contact centre (0800 0191 700) for further assistance.

I agree, that doesn't look like good news for anyone heading that way. Both times Ive stayed at Crowden Ive camped at the nearby camp site. Ive met plenty of folks stopping at the hostel so I can see a shortage of accomodation being the norm now

So that explains it! I actually rang the YHA up last week enquiring why Crowden was not showing as taking bookings for the easter weekend. They could not give me an explanation then but I did tell them it seems daft as there will be a lot of Pennine Way walkers looking for an overnights stop there.
I am now revising my plans for doing the PW in chunks, chunk 1 starting from Crowden on 2nd May - will have to camp and YH as much as possible now my circumstances have changed.

Hi Calluna
The adjacent campsite at Crowden is nice, good facilities, a small shop and really friendly people running the show. Its not a hostel but I dont think camp sites get much better along the PW
Les

When initially I phoned the YHA central number I was told that there must have been a provisional booking! Luckily I emailed them to get the real answer.

Whilst I haven't camped there it does look good but when I chatted with some campers there in 2005 they told me that there were lots of midges - don't know if they made it to Scotland to find out what a lot of midges really means!

It is a Camping & Caravanning club site so the facilities should be good, I have had membership with them for 10 years now and used them a lot when going caravanning with my husband. Not been to this one though, so can add another one to my visited list - and I have a voucher to use before July 2014 so will cost me nowt

Starting to put together my schedule for chunk 1, buying those footprint maps off Slogger has helped. I would prefer to do it in one go but would need to use up too much of my annual leave, and have other hols planned. Typical, I now have the freedom (in a sad way)to go wherever, but not the A/L and money - need to win the lottery!

Hi Calluna
I've camped it a couple of times now so if you need any info on other sites just yell.
Les
PS Never had any midge issues at Crowden but have only been there end May and mid june both in dry warm weather

Calluna, you say you now have the freedom (in a sad way). To all of us that know what you have gone through these last few years, it is clear what that means.
So sorry. Words are never enough I know, but get yourself out there and enjoy your walking, you deserve it.
Dave.

Last time I used the site was in July 2006.Midges were quite bad but not as bad as in places such as keld.If you go before the middle of June midges shouldn't be an issue.

Cheers Les, I may well pick your brain at some stage re: good camp sites.

H