YHA Blog
Along with a waterproof jacket, a good pair of walking shoes is a piece of kit that’s always worth the investment. There’s a huge range of options, from traditional leather boots and trail shoes to sandals for summer wear. We’ve picked out three different shoes for...
Nordic walking has become recognised globally for its physical and mental health benefits. But what exactly is it? Let British Nordic Walking be your guide. As part of YHA’s Festival of Walking this September and October, British Nordic Walking is offering two...
YHA’s sleeping options extend far beyond the rooms in our hostels. Across our network, we have *deep breath* bell tents, Landpods, tipis, pods, safari tents, and even converted Airstreams. You can bring your own tent to many of the hostels, too. Here are some of...
Fifteen thousand species, eight million trees, protected habitats, lakes and waterways teeming with life, forests and plains. Welcome to London in 2023.Step off the train at London Victoria or King’s Cross and you’re met with a jumble of busy people, honking taxis...
We’re excited to say we have five copies of brand new book Stone Age Beasts to give away to readers! Published by Walker Books, this wonderfully illustrated book looks at 18 now-extinct creatures that roamed the land in the Stone Age, from the cave lion to the...
We live in a beautiful world — and it’s up to us to keep it healthy. Here are five easy ways to look after the land around you…Look after local wildlifeAs humans, we’re lucky enough to be able to help care for the wild birds, animals and insects that live around...
Here in the UK we have just seven native species of amphibians — animals that can live both in water and on land. They’re small and secretive but very special. Let’s meet the secret seven! Our three newt species are usually found in or near ponds and other cool,...
The morning sun beats down on the beanfields; bees buzz and drowse; butterflies flitter above the wildflowers. The day is warm and the hills are broad, but there’s no one to be seen except two walkers, packs on their backs, bound for Canterbury. It could be a scene...
Kenton Cool is one of the world’s leading high-altitude climbers. He has summited Everest 17 times, mostly as a guide, and became the first person in history to complete the ‘Everest Triple Crown’ — Everest (8,848m), Nuptse (7,861m) and Lhotse (8,516m) — in a...
Foel Goch and Moel Eilio offer a fabulous alternative to the summer crowds on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). But the plants and flowers below your feet are as worthy of your attention as the epic scenery.There’s no hiding from the fact that in summer, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) can...
In April, YHA Castleton Losehill Hall held a memorial event for Michael Dower, the director general of the Countryside Commission and a long-term supporter of YHA. Michael’s connections with YHA were longstanding — he served as YHA Vice President and YHA...
Cambridge wears its history well. Home to more Nobel Prize winners than any other city in the world, it still feels at times like a living museum piece, its college lawns and cobbled quads busy with bikes and professors. But beyond showpiece sights such as King’s...
