Since 1931, YHA’s network has included hostels run by private owners. Today, franchises are an important part of our network make up, as they are in the international hostelling movement. For many years, YHA has achieved growth in income and impact through a mix of...
There are thousands of kid-friendly walks across the nation offering families an inexpensive great day out. The art of following a walking route, like those below, can provide plenty of fun and curiosity, so why not let the children take control of the map, whether...
Creating the self-guided walks for YHA includes a team of experts to test out the routes to make sure they are safe and accessible as well as adding in details such as nearest facilities and scenic places to stop for a great view. Mountain leader, Simon Lightowler,...
To bring you our fantastic set of self-guided walks, YHA enlisted the help of some fantastic volunteers who tried out all of the walks to test for accessibility and add some extra details such as picnic spots, scenic viewing points and refreshment places. Here Toni...
As we arrived at YHA Boggle Hole we had to park up the car and walk down a pretty path. We wondered how long our walk might be but it was literally a few minutes later and we were treated to the most spectacular view of the little cove where the youth hostel is...
Dear YHA, With the season of love upon us, I wanted to share some moments that make me smile from my stays with YHA. Adventuring around the magical Lake District staying with YHA holds wonderful memories. It is no wonder that prolific authors, William Wordsworth...
According to a 2022 study carried out by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, over 80% of people now believe that travelling in a greener, more sustainable way is important . Whether it’s waving goodbye to carbon-heavy air travel in favour of eco...
Think sustainable travel and you probably imagine wooden eco huts perched on stilts over clear blue seas or luxury African safari lodges looking out over glistening sunsets towards silhouetted giraffes. It’s certainly the dream that’s sold to us by sustainable...
We’re all trying to be more eco friendly these days. Shopping local, skipping plastic bottles and choosing zero waste options where we can. But when it comes to taking our annual vacation those green intentions can quickly go out the window. It’s not that we don’t...
With 75% of the environmental impact of the tourism industry caused by aviation , a staycation right here in the UK is a significantly more eco friendly choice than a budget flight to the Costas. However, holidaying at home comes with its own sustainability...
For me, volunteering to check map routes for the YHA Festival of Walking allowed me to re-discover the joy of hostelling and getting out into nature. The fresh air, exercise and change of scenery worked wonders for my physical and mental health. I have been a keen...
It all started with a pledge. Entering the new year in 2021, I wanted to try something different. Like most people, the COVID-19 pandemic had left me in a bit of a rut resulting in a search for a new hobby. I’ve always loved swimming and the ocean but living in...
