The Journey: winter 23
Hello …and a very warm welcome to the winter issue of The Journey. The final few months of 2022 seemed to gallop by, and suddenly here we are, well past the December solstice and enjoying the tail-end of winter as the days start to lengthen and spring starts to unfurl its first green tendrils.
What are your plans for the year ahead? You’ll find plenty of ideas and inspiration for 2023 trips in the following pages, whether you’re keen on disappearing into the fells of the Lake District or losing yourself in the streets of Bristol and Bath. We also take a look at some of the many superb attractions offered by English Heritage. How many can you chalk off in the months to come?
Elsewhere we meet hiking advocate Maxwell Ayamba, look at how you can make a difference when you’re out on the trail, and take a close peer at the urban wildlife that’s never far away in the city. There’s also space for the usual news and reviews, as well as Let’s Go!, our special pull-out kids’ section. Happy New Year — and here’s to the adventures that lie ahead.
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Articles for this edition of The Journey
YHA Borrowdale – it’s a winner!
A huge thank you to readers of hillwalkers’ bible The Great Outdoors Magazine for voting YHA Borrowdale the ‘Hostel or Bunkhouse of the Year’. One reader praised it as ‘homely after a wander to some Wainwrights’, while another loved its family-friendly approach...
The great outdoors – a space for all
Journalist and access activist Maxwell Ayamba talks to The Journey writer Daniel Neilson about getting more minority groups into the outdoors, the challenges they face and walking in the steps of the first Black Roman emperor. The theatre production of Black Men...
Renewed focus on Wales
For the first time, YHA has developed a strategy specifically for Wales. The report, YHA in Wales, refocuses the organisation’s mission of serving local communities and positions it as a partner in the broader wellbeing of young people throughout Wales. In...
How to be a responsible walker
The British countryside is our playground, but it's also the lifeblood of our environment. Here we’ve gathered a few tips to make us more responsible walkers. Bring it in, take it outAs humans we can help on a macro scale — aiming to lower emissions, for example —...
Taking care of the Trails – an interview with Rob Dingle
England and Wales have 16 National Trails, long-distance walks through some of the finest scenery in the UK. Each one has a dedicated Trail Officer — but what does the job entail? We spoke with Rob Dingle, who oversees the spectacular Offa’s Dyke Path, to find out...
Time travel through 2023 with English Heritage
English Heritage is the custodian of more than 400 historical monuments and buildings across the country, from Roman forts and medieval castles to ancient abbeys and even a Cold War bunker. With this mind, we’re using English Heritage locations to weave our way...
Let’s learn about the Jurassic Coast
What is the Jurassic Coast? You’ve probably heard of the Jurassic Park films, which are all about dinosaurs… but have you ever heard of the Jurassic Coast? It’s the name we give to a 95-mile stretch of coastline in southern England. It runs along the bottom of the...
Five things you didn’t know about London
London is the capital city of the United Kingdom. It’s a place full of history, culture and exciting activities… and it also has some amazing secrets! More than eight million people live in the city, and between them they speak over 300 languages. These include...
Fact file: Sherwood Forest
Perhaps Nottinghamshire’s best known attraction, Sherwood Forest is the legendary domain of Robin Hood and is great for enjoying woodland walks, nature spotting and enjoying the majesty of the historic Major Oak. Here are some interesting facts about Sherwood...
Bristol and Bath by bike: a (two-wheeled) tale of two cities
Bristol and Bath can be easily combined by bike, as Ben Lerwill discovers. If you go by their reputations alone, Bristol and Bath are poles apart. One’s synonymous with street art, docklands and the underground music scene; the other conjures up images of afternoon...
9 hostels with literary links
Bookworms, take note. Many of our hostels sit in destinations with strong links to some of the country’s most legendary writers. We’re highlighting nine of them here — all of which are available this winter.YHA BathEvoke the world of you-know-whoBath is synonymous...
Urban wildlife in England and Wales
According to the 2021 census, there are now around 33 million people in England and Wales living in cities. This figure is seemingly getting larger all the time — as are the cities themselves. But as our urban areas continue to creep outwards and encroach on the...
Tried and tested: latest winter outdoor gear
Outdoor items put through their paces by The Journey teamOsprey Duro 1.5 ospreyeurope.comA running vest is essential if you’re hitting half-marathon distances or further, especially off road. It should fit like a garment of clothing rather than a backpack, with no...