YHA Blog
WIN! One of five signed, framed A2 prints from illustrator Sam Chivers. We’re giving you the unique chance to win some of this artwork for yourself. We have five A2 prints to give away, and all winners will receive their choice of Countryside, Coast or City posters...
Each issue we publish a reader’s picture that’s grabbed our attention. Share your adventures with us by emailing [email protected] or tweet using the hashtag #LiveMoreYHA.This issue’s Reader’s Picture comes from Paul Radford, who captured this peaceful scene...
Outdoor items put through their paces by The Journey team.Hydro Flask Insulated Food Jar trekitt.co.ukA long winter walk – your boots muddy, your lungs filled with ice-cold air – is a gently life-affirming experience. And there are certain things that only enhance...
The health benefits of climbing are clear. It improves strength and cardio fitness. It also refines problem-solving and hand-eye coordination. However, the real bonus could be restoring mental health. This was the driver that inspired long-time friends Matt Birch...
We’ve pulled together nine great hostels ideally placed for winter getaways in the UK. From city breaks to coastal hideaways, and from active outdoor destinations to cosy lounges with roaring fires, you’ll find the perfect off-season getaway.YHA London Oxford...
There tend to be good reasons why honeypot walking locations are so popular: they might be the highest, or the easiest to get to, or the most obviously beautiful. But with popularity comes crowds. Every summer, we read stories of queues to get to the top of...
Every spring and summer, birds like swifts and swallows fly here from hotter parts of the world, as part of their yearly migration. But did you know that some birds only visit the UK in the colder months? Here are some of the wonderful winter wildlife that pays us...
The Moon plays an important role in the traditional Chinese calendar, which is based on where the Moon and Sun are in the sky. This means that Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year) always takes place several weeks after our own New Year’s Eve.Each year...
Winter is the perfect time to wrap up warm and enjoy the wonders of the night sky. On a clear evening in the countryside you might spot hundreds of different stars, but there’s one object that shines bigger and brighter than any of them: the Moon. Here are some...
England and Wales are both packed with memorable rail routes – lines that connect city, coast and countryside to often spectacular effect. Some are short rides that trundle through shapely landscapes, others are map-spanning journeys that cross multiple counties....
Alex Staniforth is a YHA ambassador and co-founder of Mind Over Mountains, a charity dedicated to restoring mental health through enjoying nature. Here, he shares seven tips for the year ahead. The idea of nature as a route to wellbeing is hardly novel. Most of us...
In August 2020, on an Instagram post, Amira Patel wrote: “Diversifying the outdoors one step at a time. Being a hiker and a Muslimah does have its struggles as it’s something not many people see, but I don’t let this stop me. I don’t let my hijab, my clothing or my...
