The evenings are getting cooler, the leaves are falling and, somewhere in the woods, there are kids collecting conkers. For many people, autumn is a time of year to relish, a season when nature begins steeling itself for the winter ahead. Here’s a handful of hostels available for YHA Exclusive Hire over the coming weeks and months. Bring your friends and family and hire the whole hostel.
YHA Helvellyn
Lakeland base under Helvellyn
Helvellyn is one of the great Lake District mountains, the second highest in the entire range. YHA Helvellyn is a rural 64-bed hostel and fantastically located for groups looking to walk the Lakeland giants or cycle the park’s high passes — while the property’s sturdy, rough-clad stone building is a fine base in its own right.
Hire YHA Helvellyn
YHA Newport Pembrokeshire
Converted school house in Newport
Newport is a lovely seaside town on the Pembrokeshire Coast. YHA Newport Pembrokeshire is a carefully converted Victorian school in the middle of the town, a short stride from the Nevern estuary. It couldn’t be better located for bracing, sea-facing walks along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail.
YHA Snowdon Llanberis
Large hostel at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
Gaze out of the window at YHA Snowdon Llanberis and you’ll see the great mountains of Wales looming over you. The hostel is a short walk from the outdoorsy town of Llanberis and sits at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) itself. It’s a large 45-bed property with a variety of rooms and all the amenities you’d need for a large group.
YHA Holmbury St Mary Surrey Hills
Woodland colour at this Surrey hostel
The Surrey Hills are an often overlooked part of the country, but walkers and cyclists in the wider southeast region flock to the area. In among it all, the 30-bed YHA Holmbury St Mary Surrey Hills sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty characterised by open fields and woodland that comes alive in autumn.
YHA Ravenstor
67-bed hostel in the Peak District
YHA Ravenstor is a former mill owner’s house set between Bakewell and Buxton and brilliantly located for autumn walks in this lesser-visited part of the Peak District National Park. The hostel has a games room, a lounge and even a dedicated classroom. The nearby Monsal Trail provides an easy walk or cycle directly to Bakewell.
Hire YHA Ravenstor
YHA Sherwood Forest
Modern Nottinghamshire hostel in famous woodland
If you want to see autumn leaves in full display, where better than Robin Hood’s old stomping ground of Sherwood Forest? This 48-bed hostel is across the road from the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre and a 20-minute walk from the colossal Major Oak, one of Britain’s most famous trees.
Hire YHA Sherwood Forest
YHA Boscastle
Evocative north Cornwall dwelling
There’s no shortage of hostels in the network with drop-dead gorgeous locations, but YHA Boscastle must surely be near the top of the leaderboard. This stone building sits at the mouth of the River Valency as it empties into the wild Cornish sea. Boscastle is a busy little fishing village near the attractions of Tintagel and Bude.
Hire YHA Boscastle
YHA Windermere
Lakeside views from this Lakeland escape
You can see England’s largest natural lake and some of the finest Lake District mountains from the grounds of YHA Windermere — an alluring vista for walkers, runners, cyclists and watersports lovers. The unbeatable location of this 50-bed hostel would make for a fun group trip.
Hire YHA Windermere
YHA Beverley Friary
Historic stay in Yorkshire
YHA Beverley Friary stands apart even among YHA’s extensive network of singular buildings. This former Dominican Priory, near the East Yorkshire market town of Beverley, has some six centuries of history under its belt — as well as 32 beds and a princely location for exploring the countryside of the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Hire YHA Beverley Friary
Read next: Discover how to ID birds on the water.
