Islesburgh House voted best youth hostel in Europe

I would be surprised if the local council would have any interest in the hostels in the Lake District, as there will be no shortage of commercial buyers of the property. In the current financial situation facing councils I wouldn't think that they would have any interest in getting involved in what is really just tourist accommodation. I believe the one in Lerwick is part of a larger Youth and community center, and also have been there for ages, at least 15 years I think. I remember years ago the Highland council was talking about opening one in Kinlochleven when the smelter shut down, but I think that is run totally privately. They once gave a school on the western isles to the YHA to run, but the YHA sold it a few years later. With all the cutbacks anyone would be hard pressed getting any money out of Govt. of any kind.

Perhaps it could be run as part of the "big society" - It's just that said society would have to find the millions to buy it, as no funding would materialise from government. I remember the local community tried a community buyout of the coldingham hostel a few years back, but the Scottish executive would fund it, and they couldn't raise enoug by themselves