Shining Cliff Centre comprises Shining Cliff hostel and the Beech Hut within Shining Cliff woodland and offers woodland sessions for all ages. We are accredited with the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality badge.

Support Our Crowdfunder to extend Shining Cliff Woods!
We are working with the landowner, Grith Pioneers, and other local organisations and individuals to raise enough funds to be able to bid for farmland adjoining Shining Cliff woods on the 18th November.
Please support us by sharing and/or pledging on our Crowdfunder, thank you!

‘our native woodlands have now almost vanished.
only 13% of the uk is covered by woodland, one of the lowest figures in europe, and half of this is non-native plantations, which aren’t as beneficial for wildlife.
sadly, just 2.5% of our wild isles is precious ancient woodland’
(Saveourwildisles.org)

The Hostel

Shining Cliff hostel was opened by the YHA on 29th March 1947 and was originally a collection of former wooden huts built by a community of young unemployed men who were learning woodcraft skills and living off the land, the Grith Pioneers (known as Grith Fyrd when established in the 1030’s).

On the 1st April 1976 the wooden hostel completely burnt down when clothes drying around a fire set alight. The hostel was rebuilt – this time in stone rather than wood, and re-opened in 1976.

The YHA gave up the hostel in 2007; the lease was then taken over by Lindley Educational Trust who refurbished the hostel and used the centre for environmental activities with young people.

The lease was taken over by Shining Cliff Centre CIC in March 2019; with the aim of keeping this iconic hostel open for people to experience this magical place. Many people love this hostel and return to it frequently; come and see for yourselves!

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The Beech Hut.

The Beech Hut is one of the early buildings built by the Grith Pioneer community in the 1930s and 1940s. There were more wooden huts erected, but now only two remain, one of which is available to hire for the day.

Shining Cliff Woods.

The ancient oak woodland is set on the east facing valley side above the River Derwent. It was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1987. It is owned by several groups, including the Grith Pioneers, The Woodland Trust, The National Trust and the Forestry Commission.

The Oak woodland also contains Birch, Rowan, Hazel and Holly as native species. Sweet Chestnut, Larch and Scots Pine have been planted. Evidence of coppicing the Hazel and Sweet Chestnut can be seen on the walk to the hostel.

The acid Millstone-Grit soils result in a variety of plants growing on the woodland floor, including Bilberry, Wavy hair grass, Bluebells, Wood Millet, Bracken and Honeysuckle.

In areas where streams flow or springs emerge there are species of Spagnum moss, ferns and sedges.

In the tree canopy a wide variety of birds can be spotted including Pied flycatchers, Wood warblers and flocks of Brambling in the winter.

In the ground layer many invertebrate species are found, including wood ants. The dead wood you will see in the woodland part of the management plan to provide a vital habitat for many species of invertebrate, mammals, bird, lichen and fungi.

The woodland is a wonderful, tranquil place to explore from Shining Cliff hostel.

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Meet the Team…