It was open in 1963 when it was known confusingly as Dufton YH, despite being at - or rather just outside - the village of Knock. I walked past it a few years ago - old military buildings on the road to the radar station on Gt Dun Fell.
I stayed there one cold August night with my 2 fellow hikers northbound on the Pennine Way. We'd walked from Middleton in Teesdale in wonderful weather, and as we reached High Cup Nick the first wraiths of mist began forming round our heads. We had no map for the Eden Valley, nor indeed for Cross Fell next day, so we were on guesswork by the time we got down the hill. We phoned the warden at Knock and said we were on the way but might be a little late for dinner. As it happened we were the only people staying there, so he held the meal back for us.
That night the warden played cards with us to the frustration of his girlfriend who showed every sign of wanting to get her hands on his body. We, of course, were shocked: granted, it was the year of Christine Keeler, but for us sex had yet to be invented. As Philip Larkin later said, it was indeed invented that very year. Good thing too!

For reasons which I have never quite fathomed the swinging sixties somehow bypassed me too. Trainspotting (then) appeared far more appealing! Going to see an A4 or a night at "The Cat's Whiskers" ...... there was no choice in my eyes (then).

Surely you can fathom it out, slowcoach! It's in your name, isn't it?
Not that it matters when you look back - you eventually finished the PW, didn't you, so I guess you eventually got to taste the fruits of passion too.

I think I can just about remember such moments myself!!

Alas and alack, I fear you speak the truth. The only real excitement that I recall during the sixties was when a small group of girls asked me to help them in through the rear window of Queens, the old Ambleside Youth Hostel after arriving back after the doors had been locked. In order to effect easier entry they tucked their skirts (remember it was 60s) into their pants. The mountains somehow lost their appeal the next day .... however, 2 days later ......

"Fruits of passion" .... Yes ... I still like bilberries?

Oh Happy days!
Similar experiences at Longthwaite about 1964!
Wasn't young love wonderful?
It's all making a happy man feel very old.
I'll now retire from this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember Strip Jack Naked being a popular card game in the 'sixties and I dare say that, older and wiser now, you wish you had suggested such a session to the girlfriend having persuaded the warden he would be better off with Patience or Solitaire.

Yes, those were the days, when an A4 was a magnificent steam locomotive rather than just a sheet of paper.

Ah yes. Paper. The good old days. You don't see much of it these days. Wonder where it's all gone? It may have a resurgence one day,and we'll laugh.

Can I say in my defence...I don't curse.

It's the 21st Century. Be yourself.
Might even see you up there, and I for one won't care,as long as your enjoying life.
Thats what matters.

The good old days.....what a load of sh*te that was.....rip leonard sachs