YHA Blog
If you’re looking for a cosy Lake District break, then look no further than our glamping sites. Many of our Landpods, bell tents, and tipis come with a wood burning stove, perfect for keeping you cosy on chilly nights and warming you up after a long day on the...
Glamping and camping are great ways to spend an affordable few days away in nature with your friends and family during the warmer months. With the cost of living increases hitting all households, fewer of us can afford to go abroad this year. However there are some...
The Government has pledged £2.5 million to improve young people’s access to the outdoors. The welcome news builds on the success of Generation Green, a Defra-funded project delivered by the YHA-led Access Unlimited coalition, which also comprises Girlguiding,...
National Landscapes are places for relaxation and contemplation, for exercise and fun; they are places where we can harness the healing powers of the great outdoors. They are protected not only for the nation to enjoy, but for the flora and fauna that live within...
On a crisp winter’s day, there’s nothing quite like a Cornish coastal walk to snap your synapses into gear: wind stippling the waves, seabirds wheeling overhead and the immensity of the Atlantic stretching out to the horizon. The Gregorian calendar might be a...
Here in the UK, we have two different species of squirrel: grey and red. Grey squirrels are far more common, even though they were only introduced from North America about 150 years ago. Have you seen them scuttling through woodland or scampering up trees in the...
Dogs are the most popular pets in the country. They’re loyal, playful and intelligent — and they can also do some incredible things, as these five tales (or should that be tails?) demonstrate. JinxIn 2023, a cocker spaniel called Jinx became the first conservation...
Winter can be a beautiful time of year. Snow on the high ground, frozen spider webs on the hedges, semi-frozen lakes. And what better than a warm hostel, a mug of tea and games to entertain you through the long evenings? Here’s our pick of properties for a...
Emma Robinson was YHA’s Wales Development Manager until December 2023. She now runs Little Tree Studio and is Wales’ only Bob Ross certified instructor; specialising in teaching landscapes using the oil paint ‘wet on wet’ technique, made famous by Bob Ross and his...
Winter walking in the hills of England and Wales is its own experience. It’s colder and wetter than summer, and the days are shorter. That said, with a low sun shining on the slopes, for our money it’s the best time of the year. Snow on steep ground requires an ice...
When facing periods of stress, being outside and walking outdoors has the most beneficial impact on your mental wellbeing. Breathing in fresh air, hearing birdsong, connecting with nature, all contribute to making a difference to how you feel. With that being said,...
Follow your own (tow)path Canals have been a fixed part of the landscape for centuries. The UK was the first country in the world to establish a nationwide network of canals, a maze of manmade waterways that became one of the driving forces of the Industrial...
