Bosc de Hamsterley

Lovely lady greeted me on arrival and even carried my suitcase up the stairs for me. Room was clean and comfortable bed. Elswick park just down the road and free car parking opposite the hotel. 25 min down hill walk to city centre. Made use of the complimentary tea/coffee and real milk!! Handy convenience store next door. I would stay again.

Excellent. Cheap (stayed for Great North Run) and full of other runners and nice people. Had 2 showers in a 6-person dorm - clean and with shampoo/body wash - good temperature, clean and considerate roommates. Felt like a proper, well established company doing everything right. Very good value breakfast (£7), great seating options and free coffee. Literally no idea how they could do anything better. All hostels should use this as an example of how it can be done.