Hostel of the week

Burley – a typical New Forest village, close to the choicest forest scenery.

The first youth hostel in Burley was a house called Forest Glen, south of the village centre on Pound Lane. It was a bayed double-fronted brick villa with central porch and dormer. The hostel opened in 1935, replacing the short-lived New Milton hostel.

After a gap of four years the village of Burley had a new youth hostel (known today as YHA New Forest) when Cottesmore House, a former family home, opened on 21st March 1959.

The new premises operated in the summer only in the first season, before adaptations could be carried out.

An official opening ceremony followed on 2nd April 1960. More in John Martin’s detailed historical profile of the New Forest youth hostels. And some fabulous photos too like the one of the first Burley youth hostel.