Things to do
Lindsey’s travel love letter
Dear YHA,My love affair with youth hostels began when I was a young boy. I was around 10 years old, and as a family we had just got our first car. On sunny Sundays we would go out for a drive and frequently visited YHA Ilam Hall’s Italianate Garden. I recall...
My apprenticeship journey with YHA
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, I wanted to reflect on my time as an apprentice at YHA. I started my Operations Management Apprenticeship Level 5 in October 2021, due to complete this September. I decided on an apprenticeship as I knew how important they...
First signs of spring across England and Wales
“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow” or so the saying goes. The nights are not drawing in as quickly as they did in winter, and the air feels a little warmer which can only mean one thing – spring is on the way. The season of spring is brighter...
Solar panels and biomass boilers: how green is YHA?
According to a 2022 study carried out by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, over 80% of people now believe that travelling in a greener, more sustainable way is important . Whether it’s waving goodbye to carbon-heavy air travel in favour of eco...
A local guide to the rolling White Peak
In stark contrast to the wild remote Dark Peak the White Peak is a landscape of gently rolling limestone plateau and strips of colourful hay meadows studded with native wildflowers. Home to crystal-clear rivers and streams and species-rich limestone heath, the...
The Big Help Out: a national day of volunteering
Bear Grylls and charities from across the UK will today launch The Big Help Out – one of the centrepieces of the celebrations planned for the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort in May, just 100 days away. The Big Help Out has been...
Visit Chester – the perfect city break
The quiet, charming, quaint old English city of Chester, which was founded as a Roman fortress in 79 AD and surrounded by ancient walls, should be top of your to-do list. It’s a city full of historic treasures mixed perfectly with modern adventures. Whilst staying...
A local guide to the remote Dark Peak
If you’re looking for somewhere to re-wild yourself, the Dark Peak is the answer. Here you’ll find windswept moorlands peppered with heather and harebell and imposing gritstone escarpments jutting from the landscape. Here is our guide to the Dark Peak...Kinder...
Five of the best dog walking holidays in Wales
According to recent research, 34% of households in the UK now own a dog. It’s no surprise then that more and more families are seeking dog-friendly holidays. Not only can putting your furry friend into kennel accommodation be expensive, but many of us simply don’t...
Four cool camping ideas for Bank Holiday weekend
Who doesn’t love a bank holiday? It’s time to pack up your things and head off for some much-needed relaxation with a camping trip to one of our perfectly positioned properties. Frills-free camping or great glamping. Traveling with good friends or with family....
Five mindfulness activities to help with the winter blues
Winter can be difficult to get through for a lot of people. We have less daylight, it’s colder, and the weather is generally less pleasant than what we get in the summer months. If you’re feeling the January blues and need some inspiration to get outside and have...
Back in time at YHA Ironbridge Coalport
To be awestruck by an engineering wonder of the world you don't need to travel to the Pyramids or even as far as the Humber Bridge. There's one a minute's walk from YHA Ironbridge Coalport, past the kilns of the old china works and the duck houses bobbing on the...