The Journey: summer 21
Hello and welcome to the summer 2021 issue of The Journey.
The warmest time of the year is traditionally the most carefree, and with everything we’ve been through collectively since early 2020, it’s a cheering thought that the months ahead are likely to hold fresh potential for exploration and adventure. New places, new discoveries, new acquaintances, and new memories.
In this issue, we cover several topics dear to our heart, looking to our post-pandemic future, spotlighting family travel, and suggesting nine great hostels that can be easily reached by public transport. In addition, you’ll also find a Wye Valley feature, the usual news and reviews, and Let’s go!, our special pull-out kids’ section.
Above all, of course, summer is a time of optimism, and with life looking like returning to something approaching normal, we could all do with a bit of that. We hope you enjoy reading the issue, and finding inspiration for your future travels.
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Articles for this edition of The Journey
Get your doctors moving
“I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.” This timeless quote comes from George Macaulay Trevelyan, whose legacy with YHA was assured by virtue of his being the organisation’s first president.The historian and author was instrumental in helping hostels to...
New to the network: YHA Chester Trafford Hall
Positive news has often felt in short supply over the past 18 months, so this summer we’re delighted to be able to welcome a brand new hostel to the network: YHA Chester Trafford Hall. Set in a handsome neoclassical Georgian mansion – complete with stone dressings...
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: 1921 – 2021
When Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away in April of this year, it gave us the chance to reflect on the life of a man who had made a significant impact on getting children to spend time outdoors. He began considering a project to support young people’s...
New outdoor films
Away from the multiplexes and big-budget studios, there’s a vibrant community of filmmakers focusing on their passion: the outdoors. Cyclists, surfers, climbers and hillwalkers are all now documenting the stories they discover on their travels. Here are six of the...
COVID stories: YHA’s response in the first year of the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating for our communities, beneficiaries, supporters and people. It has also deeply affected YHA’s ability to generate income and deliver impact. It was YHA’s 90th year, and easily one of its toughest. In response to the...
The birthplace of British tourism?
A stay at YHA Wye Valley, in the borderlands of England and Wales, lets you follow in the footsteps of early visitors says Ben Lerwill. A bit of advice about YHA Wye Valley. Don’t book a stay if you want to be within walking distance of a shiny shopping mall. Steer...
We love… dragonflies!
Fancy a bit of nature spotting? Now we are back outdoors we are getting really close to nature and it’s wonderful to take time and enjoy the wonder of the insects and creatures around us. If you’re near a river, pond or lake on a summer’s day, you might be lucky...
Dinosaurs in Britain!
Dinosaurs died out around 65 million years ago, so it’s easy to forget that they once lived right here on our planet. The countryside would have looked very different back then, but these giant creatures walked, ate and slept under the same sun, moon and stars that...
Hostel jokes and puzzles!
Try these out on your family and friends… In your overnight bag you have four red socks and four blue socks. How many socks do you need to take out before you can be sure you have two of the same colour? Three. Where did the dentist stay when she went on holiday?...
Summer hits: this is the year to take children out exploring
The clue is in the name: Youth Hostels Association. The proof is in the mission statement: ‘to enrich the lives of all, especially young people, by providing brilliant hostel stays and experiences that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and life skills.’...
9 hostels easily reached by public transport
One of YHA’s great selling points is the beautiful locations of its hostels. Some are remote, others in buzzing urban centres – but we like to think they’re all in reach. A huge number of our lodgings sit close to train stations or bus stops, meaning that getting...
How to… go outdoor swimming
Outdoor swimming, you’ll have heard, is officially a ‘thing’. Along our beaches, riversides and lakeshores are enthusiasts, perhaps wetsuited, taking the plunge into the waters of Britain. It’s hardly a new phenomenon, but its popularity has never been greater. And...
Tried and tested: outdoor gear
Four outdoor items put through their paces by The Journey team.KEEN Ridge Flex Mid WP keenfootwear.comNow here’s a serious pair of boots. Slip your feet into the new KEEN Ridge Flex WP and it feels like the beginnings of your own action-hero outfit. They’re sturdy,...
Now that’s a view
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 picture comes from Anthony Carver-Smith, and is captioned “Good morning from...