YHA Blog
Can you name the National Parks? England and Wales currently have 13 National Parks between them – with plans afoot for more. But how well do you know them? To be in with a chance of winning the prize, simply tell us the five National Parks in which these natural...
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,...
It must have been a magnificent way to arrive in Keswick, the train from Penrith rushing down into the steep-sided wooded valley, then crossing the River Greta again and again, eight times in all, across elegantly curved bowstring bridges, designed so they didn't...
The sweet smell of roasted chestnuts, spice-infused mulled wine and cheery yuletide ambience — what better way to get in the mood for the festive season than with the bright lights of a bustling Christmas market. England and Wales are glittered with an array of...
Ah, winter. The days become shorter and the weather is colder and wetter. Disheartening? Well, maybe slightly, but certainly not if you happen to be in London. That miserable combination certainly doesn’t stop the UK’s capital having great things to do. With...
Sleigh bells ring are you listening! From urban ice rinks to fairground rides, Santa’s grottos and glittering light shows, this is Christmas in all its ritzy, glitzy glory at some of the best winter wonderlands in the UK.Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London17th...
I could hear him coming up on the inside, legs whirring at 100 rpm. A decade of daily trampolining has given him strong calf muscles. Glancing sideways as he overtook me, I saw a big smile of delight on his face ... and then he was around the corner and out of...
This is a city walk with a difference — for a city with a difference. There’s nowhere quite like Bath, where wellbeing has been a way of life for 2,000 years, where townhouses stand on stately Georgian terraces, and where you still half-expect to see gentlemen in...
Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, covering 823 square miles of north Wales, is one of the UK’s most thrilling destinations. It encompasses nine mountain ranges and a whole world of long-distance walks, dramatic coastlines, gnarly crags and steep biking trails — as...
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...
With breathtaking rocky outcrops and waterfall trails galore, it’s no wonder why the Yorkshire Dales are so popular with so many visitors. Running through the middle of the Dales are the Pennines, otherwise known as the “Backbone of England” due to their impressive...
The leaves are changing colour, the air is chilly, and the nights are drawing in. Autumn’s here – hooray! It’s time to wrap up warm, tuck into your favourite comfort food, and enjoy as the leaves crisp up and fall from the trees. Autumn is one of the best seasons,...
