15% discount

Welcome
At YHA we believe passionately in the good that can come from new
adventures and fresh experiences, and this time of year — with the days
continuing to get longer — is always an enjoyable one for exploring
England and Wales.
I hope this new issue of #LiveMoreYHA will help you do precisely that.
Part of the beauty of the UK is that no matter how many mountains you
walk or how many cities you visit, there’s always something new to enjoy.
In this edition we highlight some of the endless diversity that’s out there,
from mountain-biking trails and renaissance theatre to fell-running and
indie music tours.
You’ll also find an interview with our inspirational new ambassador, Alex
Staniforth, the young adventurer who twice attempted to summit Everest
in his teens.
As an organisation, we’re deeply proud of how much we’ve modernised
in recent times, but with many of our properties still boasting strong
historical roots, we’re also using this issue to tell the stories behind some
of the most remarkable hostels in the country.
We also take a look at the new YHA Cotswolds and highlight some of the
unique meeting places on offer across the network. And if you’re after
something for a rainy day, we have a guide to getting creative with your
old OS maps (intended for kids young and old!).
Finally, by the time you read this, both England and Wales will be gearing
up for football’s European Championship in France. Good luck to them
both. If the trophy was awarded for natural beauty or potential for
adventure, they’d surely both be among the favourites! Happy reading.
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Contents
06 Stepping Out: News, views and
inspiration
28 How to... upcycle OS maps,
plan routes & more
12
Meet the new YHA Ambassador
Alex Staniforth
30 Gear: the best new kit for
16
Take a musical trip around
the city of Manchester
32 Hostel guide: plan your next
exploring the great outdoors
adventure
20 The best mountain biking
38 Pictures from your adventures
24 Uncover the remarkable history
39 COMPETITION: Your chance to win
routes in England and Wales
of YHA hostels
and #LiveMoreYHA tweets
a Lowe Alpine daypack
5
Stepping Out: Cabins
Stepping Out: Cabins
Cabin fever
Who needs bricks and mortar? If
you’re looking to get away from it
all, we now offer a wide range of
campsites, camping pods, cabins, huts
and camping barns.
That doesn’t mean roughing it, of
course. Far from it. Our camping
pods – such as those pictured here,
at YHA South Downs – are heated,
6
comfortable and, though we say
so ourselves, rather lovely. They’re
available at nine hostels.
And if you’d rather be under canvas,
we also offer glamping in fully kittedout bell tents and tipis, everywhere
from Cornwall to the Lakes.
See yha.org.uk/places-to-stay/campingand-cabins for more.
7
Stepping Out: Run YHA
Stepping Out: YHA Cotswolds
Run free
Hostels provide the perfect
places to relax after a long
day on the trails.
Just out of YHA Eastbourne I climb onto
the behemoth’s back, jogging up to
the first of its spiny crests. “Our blunt,
bow-headed, whale-backed Downs”, as
Rudyard Kipling memorably described
them, will serve as my route for a 15-mile
run from YHA Eastbourne to YHA South
Downs, where upon arriving I shall feast
on lasagne and promptly fall asleep under
a green duvet.
It’s a crystal-clear but cold day as I bound
(OK, pant) along the South Downs Way.
At Beddingham Hill, YHA South Downs
comes into sight. I gingerly descend to the
converted farmhouse and barns – it’s a
friendly hostel, and I meet two other runners
doing the same as me. It makes sense: using
hostels as running bases means you can
travel light, eating in the restaurants and
making the most of the facilities.
So it's unsurprising that RunYHA, an annual
run out of YHA Castleton in the Peak District,
has become such a success. “It’s basically
like a big trail-running house party,” says
hostel manager and organiser Alistair
Boyd. “There’s a real mix of first-timers and
experienced runners, but they all mix really
well. It’s an unmissable event in the YHA
calendar.” See right for more details.
8
A new countryside hostel
Cotswolds
The handsome Gloucestershire town of
Cirencester welcomes a brand new hostel
from April 2016 with the arrival of YHA
Cotswolds. Set in a building known as The
Barrel Store and linked to the New Brewery
Arts Centre, the beautifully designed
new property gives guests the chance to
join various craft workshops, as well as
providing a base for exploring the hills and
villages of The Cotswolds.
Six ways to get a new take on The Cotswolds
RunYHA
May 6-8, 2016
YHA Castleton Losehill Hall, Peak District
Now in its third year, RunYHA is a trail-running
event held at YHA Castleton Losehill Hall with the
spectacular backdrop of the Peak District. The
three-day event includes a night run on the Friday
evening, a ‘Skylite’ Half Marathon on the Saturday
and a lighter 10km run on the Sunday. There are
also films, talks and workshops throughout the
weekend, plus live music on Saturday.
Two nights’ bed and breakfast, entry to all three
runs and access to all films and talks is £85.
The cost for non-running friends, partners
and family is £70.
• Book direct with YHA Castleton Losehill Hall at
Castleton@yha.org.uk or calling 01433 620235
Quaint tearooms in honey-coloured villages
are all well and good – believe us when we say
we’d be the last to decry a good cream tea – but
there’s more to The Cotswolds than its clichés.
Try the following:
Visit an old brewery – and a new distillery
Family-owned Hook Norton still occupies a
Victorian tower brewery, while the nearby
Cotswolds Distillery was founded in 2014 and
uses local barley in its gin. Both offer tours.
Walk The Monarchs Way – Follow the longdistance footpath for 610 miles (yes really),
tracing the escape route Charles II took after the
Battle of Worcester in 1651. Cirencester
lies en route.
Cycle to Burford – The 26-mile
route between Cirencester and
Burford runs through some of
the finest countryside in the
region – and finishes up
in one of its most pictureperfect villages.
Visit “Downton” – The market
town of Bampton doubled as
Downton in the Downton Abbey TV
series. Call into St Mary’s Church to see where Mary
and Matthew got hitched – and Edith got jilted.
Try shin-kicking – The eccentrically
wonderful, 400-year-old Cotswold Olimpicks
take place in Chipping Campden on June 3.
Have a go at everything from shin-kicking to
sledgehammer-throwing.
Sprint through town on two wheels
– Fancy some floodlit cycling?
Cirencester hosts the Via Roma
Twilight Town Centre Races on 31
August this year. Last call for entries
is 9 August, so get training…
Stepping Out: Stratford-upon-Avon
The
Bard: 400
years on
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre:
Stratford’s showpiece playhouse has 2016
performances of Hamlet (until 13 Aug),
Cymbeline (29 Apr – 15 Oct), A Midsummer
Night’s Dream (15 Jun – 16 Jul), King Lear (20
Aug – 15 Oct) and The Tempest (from 8 Nov).
“We are such stuff as dreams are made on,
and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
And lo, for advance bookings, 10% off
breakfast the next morning.”
The Other Place: Reopened in March,
this 200-seat theatre has now been fully
redeveloped.
OK, so we might have sneaked that last bit in
ourselves. But it’s the 400th anniversary of
Shakespeare’s death this year, and we can all be
forgiven a little writerly indulgence. The locals
certainly aren’t holding back in his hometown.
If you’re planning on visiting YHA Stratford-uponAvon yourself, here are the year's highlights.
Events: The town always stages celebrations
around the Bard’s birthday in April, but the
remainder of the year holds plenty too. Key
dates include the family-friendly Stratford
River Festival on 2-3 July, a mass picnic at
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage on 23 July and a
poetry festival between 22-25 September.
City sky
capers
Attention all urban thrill-seekers. The
newest Go Ape has now opened in
London’s Battersea Park, and it raises
the bar – literally – for outdoor adventure
courses. Its highest obstacles are double
the height of those at most Go Ape venues,
and its crossings are twice as long. If your
knees don’t quiver, in other words, you’re
made of stern stuff.
And the first ever inner-city Go Ape isn’t
just for adults. Pint-sized adrenaline
junkies can grapple their way around Tree
Top Junior, an easier but still challenging
course featuring the now familiar range of
climbs, rope swings and treetop platforms.
Remember – YHA members receive 10% discount on all Go Ape adventures
R
Meet unique
Swan Theatre: This autumn sees the
opening of a major new exhibition in the
Swan Reading Room. ‘The Play’s The Thing’
focuses on props, costumes and set designs
over the years – pre-booking tickets is highly
advised.
Heritage Buildings: Shakespeare’s
Birthplace is an obligatory visit, but you can
also now see the playwright’s last home at
the recently renovated New Place, as well as
his former schoolroom – open to the public
for the first time.
shakespeares-england.co.uk
Stepping Out: GoApe
Looking for somewhere different to sound out creative ideas?
In search of quality meeting space for your new start-up?
YHA’s portfolio of meeting rooms takes in 21 of our properties
around the country, from London St Paul’s, where you can sit
in a panelled boardroom that still boasts carved Victorian-era
graffiti, to the South Downs, where the conference space
occupies a stylish modern loft.
The meeting space
at YHA South Downs
• Full day hire starts from £45 – and you’ll even get 10% off
overnight stays. yha.org.uk/meeting-rooms for more details.
Photos: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
11
Stepping Out: Celebrity
Celebrity Q&A
Alex Staniforth
Meet YHA's newest official ambassador, the inspirational young
Cheshire adventurer Alex Staniforth. The 20-year-old made
headlines after twice attempting to climb Mount Everest in
his teens, raising £34,000 for charity in the process, and is now
established as an endurance adventurer. His story is all the more
remarkable given he was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of
nine, a development which also led to bullying, depression and
panic attacks. These days, it’s safe to say that little holds him back….
What was your first great outdoor
experience?
I was about 14, hillwalking in the Lake District
with my friend. We headed out to the tiny
village of Kentmere and walked to the
reservoir, hidden in the middle of nowhere
in a valley with peaks all around. The
tranquillity of the location had a profound
effect on me and opened my mind up to all
sorts of possibilities of things I could discover
on my own home turf.
Your new book, Icefall, recounts your two
attempts to climb Everest, both of which
were thwarted by avalanches. What did
these experiences teach you?
Well, we sadly lost three of our team in the
earthquake and avalanche last year. It taught
me that no matter how hard we work or
how much we give, life owes us nothing and
dreams can come crashing down at any
moment, so we have to live every day to the
best of our ability. But most of all, that dreams
can be replaced – lives cannot.
12
You took on six different ultra-endurance
challenges in the run-up to your second
Everest attempt. Which was the most difficult?
Probably the 3 Peaks Cycle Challenge. It was
late autumn and it was just utterly bonkers – it
involved cycling 440 miles and walking the
UK’s three highest mountains in between,
unsupported and alone. On the first day I
had a bad crash and knocked myself out. I
remember arriving at YHA Ambleside rather
haggard with a bloody knee having cycled
160 miles – the lasagne and garlic bread had
never tasted so good! Those four days were
among the most mentally demanding of
my life, plagued with punctures, delays and
more logistical problems. I remember running
up Ben Nevis at 10pm alone in cycling gear,
buried in thick fog, with only a Snickers bar for
dinner. You just have to keep on pushing!
What excites you most about your new
ambassador role with YHA?
To be an ambassador for such a well-known
and established organisation like YHA is a huge
“
Summer
camps
“
Stepping Out: Celebrity
I'm extremely excited to be
helping YHA to reach out to
more young people and
make a difference, as I'm
already a huge fan of the
work it does.
honour for me, especially at such a young
age. With my passion for the outdoors and
inspiring others to achieve their own ‘Everest
in life’, I’m extremely excited to be helping YHA
reach out to more young people and make a
difference, as I am already a huge fan of the
work it does. I’m really looking forward to all
the exciting things we can achieve together
within the YHA community.
Do you have a favourite YHA?
There are so many hostels to explore, but so far
I’d probably say Pen-y-Pass. I love how it’s quite
isolated so you can get away from the stresses
of daily life. If you go out the front door you can
get straight onto the full Snowdon range, and if
you go out the back door you’re exploring the
Glyderau mountains! It’s a perfect location, and
the staff and restaurant are superb too.
Bear Grylls is an inspiration of yours and has
endorsed your book. You’re 20 years old, so
around half his age – what would you like to be
doing when you’re 40?
Hopefully what I’m doing now! Pushing my
limits in the outdoors and being able to use
my experiences to raise money for good
causes and inspire others to overcome
adversity and get outdoors.
Finally, where are your top three outdoor spots
in England and Wales?
A hard question! One of them would have to
be Buttermere in the Lake District, it’s absolutely
serene and beautiful. And the Kentmere Round
walk near Windermere has a special place in
my heart, as does the summit of Foel Fras in the
Carneddau mountains in North Wales.
What’s in the travel diary for the rest of 2016?
I’m walking the Skye Trail in a few weeks,
so looking forward to exploring a part of
Scotland I’ve never been to. Then there’s a
potential world record attempt, involving lots
of mountains. And in the autumn I’m off to the
Himalayas again for another expedition – it’s
not Everest, but it’s a similar challenge and
being kept under wraps for now!
Alex’s new book,
Icefall, is out now,
published by
Coventry House
alexstaniforth.com
13
Stepping Out: Hostellers’ Q&A
Stepping Out: Hostellers’ Q&A
We spoke to three outdoor
enthusiasts to get their thoughts on
dorms, dinners and day-walks
Want to appear here in the next issue? Email
your interest to livemoreyha@yha.org.uk
Countryside, city or coast?
Favourite hostel ?
Earliest YHA memory?
Ideal room mate?
Perfect hostel dinner?
An item to pack?
A book for a rainy day?
Favourite day-walk?
Stuart Bowkett
Jenna Brown
Judy Kneen
Housekeeping
manager at YHA
Manchester.
Part-time adventure
seeker, full-time HR
Assistant. Recently
spent 4 days trekking
the Sahara Desert.
Recently walked the
South Downs Way
again 25 years after
the first time, staying
in hostels en route.
A mixture of both coast and countryside, as I love
the openness of the places I visit to unwind.
To be honest, I don't have a preference, I like to
find adventures in all three.
Definitely coast. My knees won’t do hills anymore,
but along the coast you can have a gentle stroll.
Has to be Edale for me as it’s in the middle
e
of nowhere with fabulous views and great
at
walks to keep you occupied.
I recently had a great stay at YHA
Eskdale which involved good food, a
cosy fire, red wine and stargazing.
It would have to be YHA Eastbourne. It’s
modern, clean and perfectly situated at the
beginning (or end!) of the South Downs Way.
Strangely enough it was here at YHA Manchester when
it first opened, for a friend of mine’s birthday many
years ago – long ago before my white hair.
During a school trip to Shropshire.
I think we enjoyed the stay much
more than our teachers!
Cycling around the Isle of Wight with my son
and staying in youth hostels. It was a great way
to keep a 9-year-old engaged on the holiday.
Anyone who can make me laugh,
enjoy a beer or three and does not
snore gets my seal of approval.
Someone who enjoys an in-depth chat. Topic
of interest is pretty open, but usually ends up
in talk of the universe and outer space!
Someone who has been to the area before, so
they can share local knowledge that you don’t
get in the tourist guides.
Steak and kidney pudding with
creamy mash and mushy peas.
Something with a bit of spice and that can be
shared from one dish. Fajitas and a trifle for
pudding would go down well!
Anything that I don’t have to cook! The last thing
I want to do is cook dinner after a lovely day out.
But if I had to, it would be a stir-fry.
A map, as I have no
sense of direction
without one.
My microlight jacket. Packable for the often
unpredictable British weather, and it can
double as a pillow on the go.
Notebook, pen and sellotape. Our evenings are
spent writing a holiday diary, sticking in unusual
items we’ve collected along the way.
The bible of Manchester United. As a
massive United fan this is my book of
dreams – current season exempted.
I’m all about Game of Thrones at the moment,
so I would have to say settling down with that
in front of the fire.
Walking the South Downs Way, I enjoyed Peter
James books set around Brighton. You get a feel –
albeit a creepy one – for the area.
It has to be a local one – Snake
Pass in the Peak District. It does
usually mean consuming a
beer afterwards.
That's a really tough one.
The Four Falls Trail in the Brecon
Beacons was a stand-out
day walk for me – it’s such an
energising place.
Along the South Downs Way from
Eastbourne to the Eight Bells at
Jevington is a nice easy route for
all the family.
Seven Sisters by @adamonsea
14
15
Bamburgh Castle
Feature:
Feature: Manchester
“
Step
On
Since the 1970s, Manchester’s music scene has continued to
produce some of the world’s best bands. Ben Lerwill takes a
tour with a music veteran, and discovers what the city has to
offer the visitor today.
In the canalside café-bar at YHA Manchester,
two framed posters catch the eye. One shows
Ian Brown, lead singer of The Stone Roses,
above his tongue-in-cheek assertion that
“Manchester’s got everything except a beach”.
The other is a portrait of Noel Gallagher,
with the guitarist’s image set alongside the
following quote: “The thing about Manchester
is… it all comes from the heart.”
Music fans would find his claim hard to
counter. The city’s song-writing legacy over
the last few decades is blistering. From The
Buzzcocks, The Smiths and New Order to
Happy Mondays, Oasis and The Chemical
Brothers, Mancunian acts have made a habit
of releasing durable, culturally savvy, eradefining music.
Why? Inspiral Carpets’ drummer Craig Gill
has a theory. “People ask me ‘What is it with
music and Manchester? Is there something
in the water?’” and I always say ‘Yeah, there is
actually – it’s the rain!’” He chuckles and looks
up at the city’s overcast skies. “It seems to help
with the creativity.”
I’ve joined Craig on a walk around Manchester’s
main musical heritage sites. He’s been running
a variety of music tours around the city for a
decade now, and spending a few hours in his
company is enlightening in more ways than
16
Pavement in the Northan Quarter
“
Feature: Manchester
People ask 'What is
it with music and
Manchester? Is there
something in the
water?' and I always say
'Yeah, there is actually it's the rain!'
Lindisfarne Castle
one. Not only does he know his stuff, he also
has the anecdotes to go along with it.
To put it another way, it’s one thing being shown
a gig venue by a tour guide, and quite another
being shown the same place by someone
who’s headlined there in front of 11,000 people
and once poured a bottle of wine over the head
of The Fall’s acerbic frontman Mark E Smith.
Craig was just 14 when he joined the band, so
the “Madchester” era of the late 80s and early
90s didn’t so much influence his younger years
as shape them entirely.
The streets are busy with trams and midweek
shoppers. We head to the Free Trade Hall,
where four decades ago a little-known band
called The Sex Pistols came up from London
to play a gig which – in the minds of many –
kick-started Manchester’s musical revolution.
“There were only about 40 in the crowd but
thousands of people now claim they were
there,” laughs Craig.
“Before that gig there was almost a thinking
locally that you had to be born with the skill to
play an instrument. The Pistols showed that
attitude was as important as musicianship – it
gave people the confidence to have a go.”
17
Feature: Manchester
Feature: Manchester
Morrissey was there that night, as was the
now-legendary impresario Tony Wilson. Peter
Hook, soon to be a lynchpin of the peerless Joy
Division, went out the very next day to buy his
first guitar.
Manchester has modernised massively in
recent times. When we reach the Boardwalk,
the club where Oasis first performed and where
local bands such as The Stone Roses, James
and The Charlatans all cut their teeth, the
building is now filled with smart new offices. At
the much-fabled Haçienda, meanwhile, once
central to the rise of rave and acid house, the
curved frontage is these days a fully rebuilt
apartment block.
independent record stores and live venues. I
spend the next few hours buying into various
Manchester clichés: browsing T-shirts at
Afflecks Palace, tucking into a generous “riceand-three” at Yadgar and heading along to an
open-mic night. At The Bay Horse pub, local
guitarists are taking turns to pull plectrums
out of their wallets and play. You get the
impression there are big dreams on show.
Through the Ages
Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill
selects his quintessential Manchester
albums. Book your own tour at
manchestermusictours.com
UK’s third most visited music tourism site,
after Abbey Road and The Cavern,” he says
proudly. Still a functioning youth club, it has a
dedicated Smiths “shrine” and shares the same
ideal as YHA itself: providing experiences and
opportunities for kids who wouldn’t otherwise
have them. “It’s fair to say that without The
Smiths, we’d probably be closed,” he says.
Proof, were it needed, that in Manchester,
music provides more than just a soundtrack.
Early the next morning I make the 15-minute
wander across to Salford from the hostel.
At the century-old Salford Lads Club –
immortalised in an iconic 80s photo shoot
with The Smiths – volunteer Leslie Holmes
lets me in for a look-round. “We’re now the
Getting there
1970s: Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures
(Factory). “Martin Hannett’s production set them
apart from their punk contemporaries and set
the bar for every alternative act since.”
1980s: The Smiths, Meat is Murder (Rough
Trade). “Very hard to choose my favourite album
by The Smiths. This one was eagerly anticipated
upon release and it did not disappoint.”
As we walk, Craig points out some of the
lesser-known spots in the city’s music story –
the Whitworth Street flat where Noel Gallagher
wrote Definitely Maybe, for example, and the
Oldham Street café that became a second
home for Elbow – as well as setting the present
day in the context of Manchester’s longer
history, from its cotton-fuelled rise as the world’s
first industrial city to the notorious Peterloo
Massacre of 1819.
We finish off in the heart of the Northern
Quarter, still home to a colourful spread of
18
1990s: Oasis, Definitely Maybe (Creation)
“This album shook things up and put guitars
back in the mainstream. The complete
soundtrack to 90s hedonism.”
2000s: Doves, The Last Broadcast (Heavenly)
“Follows on that great Mancunian tradition of
making the melancholy uplifting music. Inspiral
Carpets even covered ‘Pounding’ off this cracker.”
2010s: Everything Everything, Get to Heaven
(Sony). “This LP has been a family favourite
in our house. It's got the makings of a future
classic; great pop music that blends lots of
styles and influences.”
CrossCountry provides rail services to Manchester from
key cities such as Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Reading and
other destinations across Great Britain. Advance tickets are
available from crosscountrytrains.co.uk. Download the Train
Tickets app for free by visiting your app store or by texting
TRAVEL to 87080.
Where it's at
Ruth Allan, editor of online listings
magazine Manchester Wire
(manchesterwire.co.uk), shares her top
live venues
Islington Mill – best for alternative music
“This former cotton mill is a place to meet
likeminded souls – great vegan food too.”
Gullivers – best for new bands
“An unassuming Oldham Street pub where up
and coming acts try out new material.”
Albert Hall – best for atmosphere
“Once one of Europe’s largest Wesleyan chapels gigs here really do feel special.”
Band on the Wall – best for sound quality
“One of Manchester’s oldest and finest live
venues – expect the best in world music.”
Feature: MTB
Feature: MTB
Go with the flow
The Dirty Dozen
Weaving around woodland in the Midlands is some of the country's
best mountain biking. Daniel Neilson pedals the trails of Cannock
Chase, and investigates more superlative singletrack
There are 12 dedicated mountain biking
sites on Forestry Commission land in
England, and a further eight purposebuilt centres in Wales run by Natural
Resources Wales. Here are 12 of the best.
WALES
I’m on the Roller Coaster when I first let out
an involuntary ‘whoop!’. On the metre-wide
mud and gravel trail in front of me, ascent
has just become descent. I pick up more
speed and the trail drops. There’s a flip in
my stomach, like going over a humpback
bridge a little too fast as a kid, then gravity
and momentum swing me around the
bend (known, understandably, as the Roller
Coaster). My cranks barely turn.
It is for moments like this we go mountain
biking: when you’re working well with the bike
and the expertly designed trail gives space
for you to keep the flow. Then I hit Deer Skull,
Original Monkey and Absinthe and, improbably,
the trail gets even better. There is, I’m happy
to admit, plenty more whooping, and through
20
the woods of Cannock Chase I can hear many
more joyous shouts from unseen riders. We’ve
found somewhere special.
As road trips go, the A513 into Staffordshire is no
Route 66. As two keen mountain bikers thrilled
to hit a trail we’ve never ridden, however, our car
is nonetheless full of loud music and excitement.
Our basecamp is YHA National Forest, only
20 miles east of Cannock Chase’s famous (in
cycling circles at least) bike trails.
The hostel is a thoroughly modern affair,
built with green credentials in mind. I get up
early to stretch my legs around the bird-rich
paths of nearby parkland, then join my mate
for breakfast, poring over a map of Cannock
Chase, itching to get out on the bike.
Less than an hour later we’re trying out bikes
for size at Run and Ride, before speeding
down to jump on The Monkey Trail: seven
kilometres of the toughest trails Cannock has
to offer. Cannock Chase is a trail of two halves
– the original Follow the Dog, which is where
the trail strictly starts, leads to The Monkey
Trail, serving up 14 miles in total.
For various reasons, mostly involving timings
around having a cuppa at one of the two
cafés, we start big on the Monkey Trail. And
what a ride. Different sections have been given
names by the trail-builders: some abstract
(Over The Rainbow and Pot of Gold), others
more self-explanatory (Tight Squeeze, Lung
Buster and What Goes Up). This last one is
the most technical section, and pushes my
• Coed-y-Brenin Forest Park
The first purpose-built mountain bike centre in the
UK – and the largest.
Nearest hostels: YHA Kings (6 miles), YHA
Snowdon Bryn Gwynant (28 miles)
• Gwydir Forest Park
A long-established trail centre with amazing scenery.
Nearest hostels: YHA Betws-y-Coed (8 miles), YHA
Snowdon Pen-y-Pass (17 miles).
• Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest
The Mid Wales location means big views, big
climbs and big descents.
Nearest hostel: YHA Borth (13 miles)
• Afan Forest Park
This South Wales venue is home to more than
80 miles of trails.
Nearest hostels: YHA Cardiff Central (36 miles),
YHA Brecon Beacons (35 miles)
York Minster
21
Feature: MTB
limits. There are rock gardens, jumps, drops and
some gorgeous boardwalk sections through
thick woodland. Lower Cliff is a grand finale
to the Monkey Trail, a sweeping single-track
designed to flow and flow.
Across the road there’s a sharp introduction to
the Follow the Dog Trail with a slog up Kitbag
Hill, so named by new recruits at the RAF
camps that used to be based here. On a bike it’s
a killer, despite the beauty of the sun-dappled
broadleaf forest it roams through. But the thrills
keep coming. Follow The Dog is largely less
challenging than The Monkey Trail, although it’s
no less enjoyable – in fact it’s probably faster.
At the Birches Valley Forest Centre we stop
for tea and scones. Here, kids are following a
Stick Man trail and less experienced cyclists
meander along green and blue trails. Back
in the saddle, the challenges (Twist & Shout,
Stegosaurus, Watch Out Trolls) continue
until, four hours after setting out, we’re back,
reluctantly handing over our bikes. It’s been an
intoxicating day.
Over recent years, I’ve found myself plotting
bridleway routes from hostel-to-hostel on
multiday trips. I enjoy long days in the saddle,
taking my time over the routes – but now I
realise I’ve been missing these dedicated trail
centres. Places that allow for a hell-for-leather
ride without having to think too much about
navigation. No matter what your age, they
get you whooping into your cycling helmet –
whether you intend to or not.
• Run and Ride, right next to the trails, offer bike
and helmet hire as well as every conceivable need
for a cyclist (01543 877745, runandride.co.uk).
Continued from previous page
ENGLAND
• Whinlatter
Famous for having the longest trails in the Lakes.
Nearest hostels: YHA Keswick (3 miles), YHA
Cockermouth (6 miles)
• Grizedale
Has plenty of Green and Blue trails, as well as 24
miles of Red routes.
Nearest hostels: YHA Hawkshead (3 miles), YHA
Coniston Coppermines (8 miles)
• Kielder
The jewel in the north-east for mountain biking.
Nearest hostel: YHA Bellingham (20 miles)
• Dalby Forest
Takes in some of the best of the North York
Moors National Park.
Nearest hostels: YHA Dalby Forest (6 miles),
YHA Helmsley (18 miles)
• Cannock Chase
A brilliant Red trail that offers a great day out in
the West Midlands.
Nearest hostel: YHA National Forest (22 miles)
• Thetford Forest
This Norfolk woodland has some long and fast trails.
Nearest hostel: YHA Cambridge (34 miles)
• Bedgebury
Attracts people from all over the south, with
good routes for kids too.
Nearest hostels: YHA Medway (23 miles),
YHA Eastbourne (30 miles)
• Haldon Forest Park
One of the biggest trail centres in the south west.
Nearest hostels: YHA Dartmoor (22 miles),
YHA Beer (27 miles)
Resources: forestry.gov.uk, mbwales.com,
naturalresources.wales
22
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Páramo use the Nikwax Analogy waterproof
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membrane based systems. In addition,
Páramo waterproofs are directional and
push condensation away from your body.
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The result is unrivalled comfort when you’re working hard
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So it’s not surprising that outdoor people choose Páramo.
6QƂPFQWVOQTGXKUKVRCTCOQEQWM
Feature: History Hostels
YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass
Hostels
with history
YHA has a hugely diverse range of hostels, some imbued with incredible
histories. We look around eight properties with fascinating tales to tell.
It’s now more than 85 years since we opened
the first YHA hostel, although the history of
the organisation is relatively brief compared
to the history of some of the extraordinary
buildings that house our properties. Here we
take a look at some of the most heritage-rich
hostels in our network, from 12th-century
castles to Jacobean manor houses. (And
a word of reassurance: these days, cosy
bedding, wi-fi and freshly cooked meals
come as standard!)
The history: Set on a mountain pass and
offering a peerless location for Snowdon
hikes, this one-time coaching inn enjoys
near-legendary status in outdoor circles.
After opening in the late 1800s as the
Gorphwysfa Hotel, it went on to host regular
climbing parties, drawing everyone from
mountaineer George Mallory to writer
Aldous Huxley.
Today: The hostel benefited from a £1.3 million
renovation in 2014, leaving it
as a state-of-the-art base
for outdoor-lovers. Don’t
miss the daily threecourse menu in the
evenings – perfect for
enjoying over a posthike beer or two.
YHA St Briavels
Feature: History Hostels
YHA Port Eynon
The history: The sea-ramp still standing
outside the hostel is evidence of the building’s
original purpose as part of a lifeboat station,
and it’s easy to see why its location at the
southernmost tip of the glorious Gower
Peninsula would have made it an obvious
choice as a sea-rescue boathouse. The
building dates back to the 1880s, and
still bears various original features.
Today: Sitting on a stunning
stretch of Welsh coastline, today’s
hostel serves up a ready array of water
sports, running loops and beach walks. The
sea views from the lounge windows are
fantastic, while the coastal hike from the
hostel to Rhossili Beach is an excellent one.
YHA Ironbridge Coalport
The history: The hostel occupies one of the
original factories of the Coalport Porcelain
Works, an enterprise founded in the 18th
century. The company produced ceramics
here for more than 120 years, setting up a retail
warehouse in London to cope with demand,
before uprooting to Stoke in the 1920s.
Today: The property’s location within the
Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site makes
it a piece of living history, and anyone with an
interest in the Industrial Revolution has
ten award-winning museums
to visit. It offers a rewarding
circular walk along the
banks of the Severn
– and the hostel’s
Coalport Café does
great meals.
24
The history: No other hostel can hold a
candle to YHA St Briavels when it comes to
heritage. Previously both a hunting lodge
(King John visited several times) and a
prison (look out for the inmates’ graffiti), the
ancient moated fortress has more than 800
years of stories to tell, making it a superb
educational residential for school groups
and an unforgettable stay for history buffs.
Building work began on the castle in 1075.
Today: The castle was originally designed
as a royal administrative centre for the
Forest of Dean, and still has the
woods on its doorstep – these
days designated an Area
of Outstanding Natural
Beauty. It’s also regularly
described as the most
haunted castle in Britain.
YHA Street
The history: As the oldest YHA hostel still
in operation, this chalet-style property has
looked out over Glastonbury Tor and the
Somerset Levels since 1931. It’s a relative
pup when compared to some of the local
attractions, such as the 2,000-year-old
sacred Chalice Well, but it’s easy to see why
it’s spent so many decades as a magnet for
peace-seeking hikers and cyclists.
Today: The 28-bed hostel still makes a
hugely convenient base for seeing the
region, with Wells, Glastonbury, the Wookey
Hole Caves and the Clarks Village Shopping
Centre all close by. And larger groups take
note – the property can be hired exclusively
at certain times of the year.
25
Our lightest
waterproof yet
Feature:St
Lakeland
London
Pauls
The history: Back in the 19th century, this
unique base in the capital acted as a school
for choirboys at St Paul’s Cathedral (which
stands little more than a hymnbook’s throw
away). The building’s historic features are
still very much in evidence, from spiral
staircases and Latin murals to wood-panelled
classrooms complete with schoolboy graffiti.
Today: As well as providing an obvious base
for visits to the cathedral itself, the hostel
is also a short walk from the Millennium
Bridge – the gateway to the arty rewards
of the South Bank. Back in the hostel,
the licensed restaurant serves tasty,
well-priced meals.
YHA Idwal
26
YHA Hartington Hall
The history: A hostel since 1931, Idwal
Cottage was our first property in Wales. Its
location close to Tryfan, Llyn Ogwen and
the Idwal Slabs has helped it draw climbers
and hikers for more than eight decades
– there’s even a traditional wooden dorm
hut still on site, now restored to offer
accommodation for groups of up to seven.
In its former life, the homely cottage
belonged to a local quarry manager.
The history: This handsome Peak District
manor house was built in the early 1600s
by the Bateman family, wealthy baronets
who – so it’s claimed – went on to welcome
Bonnie Prince Charlie here as a house-guest.
The Batemans remained in situ until the 20th
century, making substantial alterations over
the years. The hall reopened as a YHA hostel
in 1936, and still boasts oak panelling, log fires
and three gabled bays.
Today: Fast forward to 2016 and the
four-star hostel is still a comfortable,
friendly base for Snowdonia
adventurers. For campers,
meanwhile, its wooded
campsite gives the
chance to nod off to
the sound of Ogwen
Waterfall.
Today: As well as the activities on offer
in the Peak District itself – everything
from hang-gliding to bouldering
– modern-day visitors to
Hartington Hall have easy
access to Chatsworth
House and Alton Towers. It
even has its own annual
beer and music festival.
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How to: Upcycle maps
How to: Time walks
...time your walks
H Wto...
If you don’t want to be caught out as night
descends, knowing how long a planned
walking route will take is essential. There’s
a simple formula called Naismith’s Rule
(devised by William Naismith in 1892), which
states that you should allow one hour for
every 5km (3.1 miles) on the flat and add 10
minutes for every 100 metres of ascent.
Skills for outdoor living
... make use of old OS Maps
Mountains, to be fair, don’t move too
often, but roads and buildings can
appear – and, indeed, disappear. So if
you’re reading this, chances are you’ve
a few Ordnance Survey maps on the
shelf that are looking a bit dog-eared
and out of date. But they’re also objects
of beauty, so we’ve looked at a few
ways of using old maps: covering a
notebook, perhaps, or a glasses case.
Decorated craft letters can make a
great gift, as can a photo frame for your
favourite mountain. Redundant maps?
Don’t leave them hidden on a shelf.
But it’s important to remember that many
other factors come into to play. You’ll slow
down if you’re carrying a big pack, if the
Time in h:mm:ss for given distance at given speed
www.mudandroutes.com
Viewranger
Free, maps paid-for
This is one of the best map and
GPS apps (also check out OS MapFinder). The
maps need to be bought by the area or the tile
(the GB National Parks 1:50,000 bundle, for
example, is £9.99). Features include more than
90,000 downloadable walks, route tracking
and plotting and real-time location sharing.
First Aid by British Red Cross
Free
This is another indispensable
app. Although it’s not outdoor-focussed, it
covers the key problems encountered on the
mountain. It is very easy to use and broken
down into top-level symptoms. There are
also useful videos for common injuries – and
there’s a quiz to test yourself too.
Here’s a handy guide:
Pace guide - Naismith's rule
... make the most of your smartphone outdoors (for free)
OS Locate
Free
This is an essential app for
anyone who walks regularly. It’s a very simple
app that offers three main features. Most
importantly it gives a grid reference without
needing 3G access – essential for locating
yourself on a map. It also calculates the
altitude and there’s even a compass which,
using the camera, can be overlaid on a map.
terrain is rough, if you’re tired, if you’re in a
group, if the weather is bad, and so on. It
also doesn’t include time spent faffing with
backpacks or taking breaks. But Naismith’s
rule can be taken as an excellent starting
point for working out rough timings – it’s
a good idea to try it on some shorter
routes and, if needed, revise it to your pace.
Remember that every walk will be different,
and everyone goes at a different pace.
Dist (m)
Paces
5kph
4kph
3kph
2kph
1kph
50
35
00:00:36
00:00:45
00:01:00
00:01:30
00:03:00
100
70
00:01:12
00:01:30
00:02:00
00:03:00
00:06:00
200
140
00:02:24
00:03:00
00:04:00
00:06:00
00:12:00
300
210
00:03:36
00:04:30
00:06:00
00:09:00
00:18:00
400
280
00:04:48
00:06:00
00:08:00
00:12:00
00:24:00
500
350
00:06:00
00:07:30
00:10:00
00:15:00
00:30:00
600
420
00:07:12
00:09:00
00:12:00
00:18:00
00:36:00
700
490
00:08:24
00:10:30
00:14:00
00:21:00
00:42:00
800
560
00:09:36
00:12:00
00:16:00
00:24:00
00:48:00
900
630
00:10:48
00:13:30
00:18:00
00:27:00
00:54:00
1000
700
00:12:00
00:15:00
00:20:00
00:30:00
01:00:00
2000
1400
0:24:00
0:30:00
0:40:00
1:00:00
2:00:00
3000
2100
0:36:00
0:45:00
1:00:00
1:30:00
3:00:00
5000
3500
1:00:00
1:15:00
1:40:00
2:30:00
5:00:00
5 kph
Hard, Level Surface
4 kph
Variable, Rough Surface
3 kph
Soft Snow/Strong Head Wind
2 kph
Deep Snowdrift/Severe Head Wind
Time to add for ascent/descent
• 10 min per 100m ascent
• 5 min per 100m descent - only if it's very steep
Time to add for other conditions
• Night - 1/2 normal speed - dependent on terrain / ease of navigation
• Backpacking - 1 kph less
• Very heavy loads - 1/2 speed or worse
Speed and distance conversions: 1 mile = 1.6km, 1 km = 0.6mi | 1 mph = 0.4m/s, 1.5ft/s | 1,000ft = 305m, 1,000m = 3,281ft
S
%
5
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R DER
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F
OF A REA
T
UN REYH
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DISIVEM
Gear: Cool stuff
#L
R
FO
Walking just got better
A range of easy to use
wearable activity devices
which help you track your
health and wellbeing
30
Berghaus Hyper Jacket
Ultra-lightweight waterproof jackets aren’t
supposed to be this stylish. Weighing
barely 100 grams, this new bit of
Berghaus kit manages to be breathable
too. It’s ideal for trail challenges. Comes
with its own stuff sack. berghaus.com
Infinite Orbit
A canny idea, this. Generating power
through a hand-crank, the device acts as
a battery-free back-up for emergencies.
Two minutes’ cranking fires up a flat
iPhone. It weighs around 345 grams, and
the handle is detachable. texenergy.co.uk
Keen Wanderer WP Boots
Conceived in America, made in Europe
– and primed for boggy British walks.
These new Keen boots use waterproof
leather and suede and score highly
when it comes to grip and comfort too.
In a word? Versatile. keenfootwear.com
This Land by Joe Cornish & Roly Smith
A pleasingly hefty coffee-table book
showing how harsh and handsome the
British outdoors can be. Cornish’s wellcrafted landscape photos cover everywhere
from Dorset to the Dark Peak – we love the
Snowdonia shots. amzn.to/1Ue1enA
c
usi e
M
E azin n
E
R
F Mag iptio r
& bscr Ove
Su orth *
W
50
£
Activity Tracking
Monitor Sleep Patterns
Smartphone NotiÀcations
Connect With Friends
Long Battery Life
Splashproof
*When you register the device.
15% DISCOUNT OFFER for #LIVEMOREYHA READERS
Visit www.hi-tec.com/wearables and use code TREK116
Discount Code Terms: In order to claim your discount, you must enter the relevant promotional code when prompted online at www.hi-tec.co.uk.The offer cannot be redeemed with any other retailer.The offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offers,
and in relation to activity trackers, promotional codes may only be redeemed against a maximum of 4 trackers.Hi-Tec Sports Limited reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or discontinue the offer at any time.If you return any Hi-Tec products
purchased under the offer, you will receive a full refund of the offer amount paid by you.Nothing in these terms and conditions shall affect your statutory rights. The Offer shall be governed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
“Hi-Tec®, the Hi-Tec® symbol and Inspired by Life are trademarks of Hi-Tec Sports International Holdings BV used
under licence by The Mustard Concept (TMC) Ltd, Boston House, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 9FF, UK
n
-Avo
Map Key
YHA Youth Hostel
*
National Parks
ne
To book:
Visit yha.org.uk or call
01629 592 700
*Whilst YHA does not own or operate this facility, we are proud to be affiliated with it, endorsing the service standards and quality. Facilities do vary. Check yha.org.uk for further details.
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Meadow Green, Batch Valley, All Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6JW
34 to 38 Green Batt, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1TU
The Firs, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3RW
Gypsy Lane, Alstonefield, Derbyshire, DE6 2FZ
Waterhead, Ambleside, Cumbria, Lakes, LA22 0EU
Redhills Road, Arnside, Cumbria, LA5 0AT
Bathwick Hill, Bath, BA2 6JZ
Bovey Combe, Beer, Seaton, Devon, EX12 3LL
Demesne Farm, Bellingham, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 2BS
Dewars Lane, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, North East, TD15 1HJ
Swallow Falls Hotel, Nr Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, , LL24 0DW
Friar’s Lane, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 0DF
Black Sail Hut, Ennerdale, Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AX
The Old School House, Blaxhall, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 2EA
Mill Beck, Fylingthorpe, Whitby, North Yorkshire, North East, YO22 4UQ
Longthwaite, Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria, Lakes, CA12 5XE
Morlais, Borth, Ceredigion, SY24 5JS
Palace Stables, Boscastle, Cornwall, PL35 0HD
Boswinger, Gorran, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6LL
Libanus, Brecon, Powys, LD3 8NH
Ratlinghope, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, , SY5 0SP
Old Steine, Brighton, BN1 1NH
n
hto
14 Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA
rig
B
Broad Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA62 3JH
Village Farm, 24 Richmond Road, Brompton-on-Swale
Buttermere, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9XA
7 Otterburn Green, Byrness Village, Northumberland, NE19 1TS
Fellside Centre, Fellside, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 8HA
97 Tenison Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 2DN
54 New Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3DT
East Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BB
Old Brewery Residences, Bridge Lane, Caldewgate, CA2 5SR
Castleton, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 8WB
Hillfield, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3HN
The Mill, Clun, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 8NY
Clark House Farm, Chipping, Nr Preston, Lancashire
Beacon House, Amesbury Road, Cholderton, Wiltshire, SP4 0EW
Double Mills, Cockermouth, Cumbria, Lakes, CA13 0DS
Coppermines, Coppermines House, Coniston, Cumbria, Lakes, LA21 8HP
Holly How, Far End, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8DD
Larkhill, Sychnant Pass Road, Conwy, LL32 8AJ
New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1JH
Parc Behan, School Hill, Coverack, Helston, Cornwall, TR12 6SA
Old School, Lockton, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7PY
National Park Study Centre, Talybont-on-Usk, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7YS
Bellever, Postbridge, Devon, PL20 6TU
Oakamoor, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST10 3AS
Dufton, Appleby, Cumbria, CA16 6DB
St Chad’s College, 18 North Bailey, Durham, DH1 3RH
Le Noyers Residence, La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5BP
9-11 Birch Lane, Earby, Barnoldswick, Lancashire, BB18 6JX
1 East Dean Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 8ES
Rowland Cote, Nether Booth, Edale, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 7ZH
Cotefield Farm, Ollersbrook, Edale, Hope Valley
Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG
Low House, Edmundbyers, Consett, Co Durham, DH8 9NL
Elmscott, Hartland, Bideford, Devon, EX39 6ES
Cat Crag, Ennerdale, Cleator, Cumbria, Lakes, CA23 3AX
Boot, Holmrook, Cumbria, CA19 1TH
Exe Mead, Exford, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 7PU
Pinkery Centre, Simonsbath, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 7LL
Hawkhill Road, Eyam, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 5QP
Port Eynon, Swansea, SA3 1NN
YH
Y HA S
trat
for
d
Hostel
guide
All Stretton Bunkhouse
YHA Alnwick
YHA Alston
Alstonefield Barn
YHA Ambleside
YHA Arnside
YHA Bath
YHA Beer
YHA Bellingham
YHA Berwick
YHA Betws y Coed
YHA Beverley Friary
YHA Black Sail
YHA Blaxhall
YHA Boggle Hole
YHA Borrowdale
YHA Borth
YHA Boscastle Harbour
YHA Boswinger
YHA Brecon Beacons
YHA Bridges
YHA Brighton
YHA Bristol
YHA Broad Haven
Brompton Camping Barn
YHA Buttermere
Byrness
YHA Caldbeck
YHA Cambridge
YHA Canterbury
YHA Cardiff Central
Carlisle
YHA Castleton Losehill Hall
YHA Cheddar
Chipping Camping Barn
Cholderton
YHA Clun Mill
YHA Cockermouth
YHA Coniston Coppermines
YHA Coniston Holly How
YHA Conwy
YHA Cotswolds
YHA Coverack
YHA Dalby Forest
YHA Danywenallt
YHA Dartmoor
YHA Dimmingsdale
YHA Dufton
Durham
YHA Ea s
tbo YHA Durrell Wildlife Hostel
YHA Earby
ur
YHA Eastbourne
YHA Edale
Edale Camping Barn
YHA Eden Project
YHA Edmundbyers
YHA Elmscott
YHA Ennerdale
YHA Eskdale
YHA Exford
YHA Exmoor Pinkery
YHA Eyam
YHA Gower
Y
ch
Orchard House, Mohope, Ninebanks, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 8DQ
Northcombe Farm, Hollam, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9JH
Klondyke Road, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1EW
Bracken Tor, Saxongate, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1QW
Cote Ghyll, Osmotherley, Notherallerton, North Yorkshire, DL6 3AH
2a Botley Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 0AB
Patterdale, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0NW
Castle Horneck, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8TF
Droskyn Point, Perranporth, Cornwall, TR6 0GS
Sea View, Poppit, Cardigan, Pembroke, SA43 3LP
Old Lifeboat House, Port Eynon, Swansea, SA3 1NN
Hardy House, Castle Road, Castle Town, Portland, DT5 1AU
Nance Farm, Illogen, Redruth, Cornwall, TR16 4QX
The Street, Puttenham, near Guildford, Surrey GU3 1AR
Castell Mawr, Trefasser, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire, SA64 0LR
ynes
Millers Dale, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8SS
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Rhossili Middleton, Rhossili , Swansea, SA3 1PJ
M
Rhiw Farm, Rowen, Conwy, LL32 8YW
Burniston Rd, Scarborough, , North Yorkshire, YO13 0DA
Peakstones, Sheen, Derbyshire, , SK17 0ES
1 Cremer’s Drift, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8HX
Forest Corner, Edwinstowe, Notts, NG21 9RN
Bassenthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria, , CA12 4QX
King’s House, Slaidburn, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 3ER
The Wild Goose Lodge, Shepherds Patch, Slimbridge, GL2 7BP
Nantgwynant, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 4NP
Llwyn Celyn, Llanberis, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 4SR
Pen-y-Pass, Nantgwynant, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 4NY
Rhyd Ddu, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL54 7YS
Itford Farm, Beddingham, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 6JS
St Briavels, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 6RG
Llaethdy, Whitesands, St David’s, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6PR
Brantham Hall, Nr Manningtree, Suffolk, CO11 1PT
Hemmingford House, Alveston, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7RG
Reading Road, Streatley, Berkshire, RG8 9JJ
The Chalet, Ivythorn Hill, Street, Somerset, BA16 0TZ
Cluny, Cluny Crescent, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2BS
Huntington Close, West Cross, Swansea, SA3 5AL
Middle Beardshaw Farm, Burnley Road, Trawden, Lancashire
Off Ranmore Common Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6BE
16 High Street, Thurlby, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 0EE
Dunderhole Point, Tintagel, Cornwall, PL34 0DW
Hurst Hill, Totland Bay, Isle Of Wight, , PO39 0HD
Middle Beardshaw Farm, Burnley Road, Trawden, Lancashire
Tregonnan, Treyarnon, Padstow, Cornwall, PL28 8JR
Tottington Barn, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5FB
Llanddewi-Brefi, Tregaron, Ceredigion, SY25 6PH
Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough, Macclesfield, Cheshire
Wasdale Hall, Wasdale, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1ET
Wetton Road, Butterton, Nr. Leek, Staffordshire
Church Plain, Wells, Norfolk, NR23 1EQ
Abbey House, East Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JT
Manor, Longville in the Dale, Shropshire, TF13 6EG
Wetton Road, Butterton, Nr. Leek, Staffordshire
Bridge Lane, Troutbeck, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1LA
Ruckland, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8RQ
30 Cheviot Street, Wooler, Northumberland, NE71 6LW
Near Goodrich, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 6JJ
Water End, Clifton, York, North Yorkshire, YO30 6LP
Fountain Square, Youlgreave, near Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1UR
YH
A
YHA Ninebanks
Northcombe Camping Barn
YHA Okehampton
YHA Okehampton Bracken Tor
YHA
YHA Osmotherley
O
YHA Oxford
YHA Patterdale
YHA Penzance
YHA Perranporth
YHA Poppit Sands
YHA Port Eynon
YHA Portland
YHA Portreath
Puttenham Camping Barn
YHA Pwll Deri
YHA Ravenstor
YHA Rhossili
YHA Rowen
YHA Scarborough
YHA Sheen Bunkhouse
YHA Sheringham
YHA Sherwood Forest
YHA Skiddaw House
YHA Slaidburn
Slimbridge
YHA Snowdon Bryn Gwynant
YHA Snowdon Llanberis
YHA Snowdon Pen-y-Pass
YHA Snowdon Ranger
YHA South Downs
YHA St Briavels Castle
YHA St Davids
YHA Stour Valley
YHA Stratford
YHA Streatley
YHA Street
YHA Swanage
YHA Swansea
Taddington Camping Barn
YHA Tanners Hatch
YHA Thurlby
YHA Tintagel
YHA Totland Bay
Trawden Camping Barn
YHA Treyarnon Bay
YHA Truleigh Hill
Tyncornel Bunkhouse
Underbank
YHA Wasdale Hall
Waterslacks Camping Barn
YHA Wells Next The Sea
YHA Whitby
YHA Wilderhope Manor
Wills Camping Barn
YHA Tanners H
YHA Windermere
at
YHA Woody’s Top
YHA Wooler
YHA Wye Valley
YHA York
YHA Youlgreave
treet
Easedale Road, Grasmere, Cumbria, LA22 9QG
Great Hound Tor, Manaton, Newton Abbot, TQ13 9UW
Grinton, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL11 6HS
Hall Bank, Hartington, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0AT
Castleton Road, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 1EH
Lancaster Terrace, Hawes, North Yorkshire, DL8 3LQ
Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QD
Painswick Old Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 7QW
Longlands Drive, Haworth, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD22 8RT
Hawse End Cottage, Portinscale, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5UE
Carlton Lane, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5HB
Greenside, Glenridding, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0QR
Radnor Lane, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6NW
Seatoller, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5XN
15 Avenue Road, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 5BW
Nant Ffrancon, Bethesda, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 3LZ
Ilam Hall, Ilam, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 2AZ
Greta Tower, Sammy Lane, Ingleton, North Yorkshire, LA6 3EG
1 Paradise, Coalbrookdale, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 7NR
John Rose Building, High Street, Coalport, Shropshire, TF8 7HT
c/o YHA Totland Bay, Hurst Hill, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight
Arctic Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7PQ
Welders Lane, Jordans, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 2SN
Station Road, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5LH
Kettlewell, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 5QU
Kings, Penmaenpool, Dolgellau Gwynedd, Wales, LL40 1TB
Victoria Road, Kington, Herefordshire, HR5 3BX
Letcha Vean, St Just-in-Penwith, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 7NT
High Close, Loughrigg, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9HJ
Forest-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, Co Durham, DL12 0XN
Leeds Beckett University, Headingley Campus, Leeds, LS6 3GZ
Kirkstall Brewery, Leeds Beckett University, Broad Lane, Leeds, LS5 3RX
Marsden House, Leeds Beckett University 1-3 Burley Road, Leeds, LS3 1LS
The Old Priory, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 8EQ
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63 Surrey Street, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5AW
Th
Litton Cheney, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9AT
HA
25 Tabley Street, off Wapping, Liverpool, Mersyside, L1 8EE
The Polbrean, Lizard Point, Cornwall, TR12 7NT
The Old Red Lion, Llanddeusant, Camarthenshire, SA19 9UL
Wern Watkin, Hillside, Llangattock, Crickhowell, NP8 1LG
104 Bolsover Street, London, W1W 5NU
38 Bolton Gardens, Earl’s Court, London, SW5 0AQ
Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, EN8 9AJ
14 Noel Street, London, W1F 8GJ
79-81 Euston Road, London, NW1 2QE
36 Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5AB
20 Salter Road, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 5PR
School Lane, West Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5SA
Malham, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 4DB
Potato Wharf, Castlefield, Manchester, M3 4NB
Mankinholes, Todmorden, Lancashire, OL14 6HR
Manorbier, nr Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA70 7TT
351 Capstone Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 3JE
Vicarage Road, Bradwell Village, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK13 9AG
Alcombe Combe, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6EW
Mor Lodge, 83 - 87 Mount Wise, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 2BP
Mullacott Farm, Mullacott Cross, Ilfracombe, North Devon, EX34 8NA
Nab End Farm, Hollinsclough, Longnor, Buxton, SK17 0RJ
48 Bath Lane, Moira, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 6BD
Cott Lane, Burley Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 4BB
Lower St Mary Street, Newport, Pembrokeshire, SA42 0TS
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YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe
Great Hound Tor Camping Barn
YHA Grinton Lodge
YHA Hartington Hall
YHA Hathersage
YHA Hawes
YHA Hawkshead
Hawkwood College
YHA Haworth
YHA Hawse End
YHA Helmsley
YHA Helvellyn
YHA Holmbury
YHA Honister Hause
YHA Hunstanton
YHA Idwal Cottage
YHA Ilam Hall
YHA Ingleton
YHA Ironbridge Coalbrookdale
YHA Ironbridge Coalport
Isle of White Brighstone
Isle of White Cowes UKSA
YHA Jordans
YHA Keswick
YHA Kettlewell
YHA Kings
YHA Kington
YHA Lands End
YHA Langdale
YHA Langdon Beck
Leeds Carnegie Village
YHA
Leeds Kirkstall Brewery
Jo
Leeds Opal
YHA Leominster
YHA Littlehampton
YHA Litton Cheney
YHA Liverpool
YHA Lizard
YHA Llanddeusant
YHA Llangattock
YHA London Central
YHA London Earls Court
YHA London Lee Valley
YHA London Oxford Street
YHA London St Pancras
YHA London St Pauls
YHA London Thameside
YHA Lulworth Cove
YHA Malham
YHA Manchester
YHA Mankinholes
YHA Manorbier
YHA Medway
YHA Milton Keynes
YHA Minehead
MOR Lodge
Mullacott Camping Barn
Nab End Camping Barn
YHA National Forest
YHA New Forest
YHA Newport
YHA Membership
Save money every time
you stay with us
• Enjoy up to £3 off per night when you stay with us
How to claim
your benefits
To claim your YHA membership discounts, follow these steps:
1.
Log in/Register on www.yha.org.uk with the email address
you provided when you purchased your membership
• Get priority notification of special offers by email
2.
Once you arrive at “My Profile” click the “Member Benefits” tab
• Receive regular doses of inspiration and the latest news in our monthly newsletter,
The Wanderer
3.
This will provide you with discount codes for our partners and
a button to access over 350 discounts on high street brands
• Access to over 4,000 hostels worldwide
• Save £30 when you book a whole hostel through YHA Exclusive Hire
• Enjoy great savings with our travel, high street brand and tourist attraction partners
Bringing you great benefits from the likes of...
• Get kitted out for your next adventure with 15% off Cotswold Outdoor
• Go to www.yha.org.uk/membership for a full list of benefits
Member Price Information
BEST VALUE
Category
Direct
Debit
Credit/Debit
Card
Under 26
£5
£10
Individual
£15
£20
Household
£25
£30
WIN! Two insulated
jackets from Sprayway!
YHA has teamed up with Sprayway to give away
two jackets. The Grendel and Vela jackets have a
Gore Windstopper membrane and Sprayway's inso/
therm insulation technology in the body and sleeves.
To win one of these two Sprayway insulated jackets
– one men’s and one women’s – just answer the
question below. Winners will be picked at random.
How much is the best value YHA Annual
Membership for individuals?
Buy me
membership now
£15 / £25 / £30
Answers to: livemoreyha@yha.org.uk by
June 17. Please also include your membership
number. And feel free to share your thoughts
(positive or otherwise!) on this magazine at the
same time – is there anything you particularly
enjoy about it, or would like to see changed?
Name the hostel
Drying Room: Readers’ pics
A beach at Dolgellau, 15 minutes
from YHA Kings
Nadège Rutter
Drying Room: Celebrity Q&A
Two winners will receive
Lowe Alpine daypacks
Waking up at YHA Ennerdale
Amanda Kaim
Can you identify the hostel pictured
from the following clues?
• The hostel building dates back to the 19th
century and was once a lifeboat station.
• It sits on the breathtaking Gower Peninsula.
• It sleeps 28 and offers an exclusive-hire
option on the Wales Coastal Path.
• It has GreenLeaders accreditation for its
eco-friendly practices.
Love this colourful noticeboard at YHA
National Forest! Rob Philips
@ArcheryAlison
Enjoying the beautiful
harmonies of
@77BombayStreet in
Liverpool @YHAOfficial
@TIMFKendal
Great walk to #highforcewaterfall today from
@YHALangdonBeck & now
testing the drying room to
the max! @YHAOfficial
@LibbyClarkLeeds
High fives all round at @YHAStPancras Lovely youth
hostel with helpful, friendly staff @YHAOfficial
Reader photos
We’d love to see your
photos of hostels in
winter. Share them on
Twitter #LiveMoreYHA
or email us on:
livemoreyha@yhaorg.uk
@GritTrack_Trail
@YHAOfficial
Up in the North
York Moors
checking out
activities for a
Y4 residential at
OsmotherlyYHA.
Lovely day :)
@morwhenna
@YHAOfficial
yippee will be
staying #YHA
in Snowdon in
August! Another
40/40 project
tick in the box!
Climb Snowdon
and Bounce
Below!
How to enter competition
Lowe Alpine
AirZone Z 25
Lowe Alpine
AirZone Z ND14
To win one of two Lowe Alpine daypacks – we have one men’s and one women’s daypack to give
away – simply identify which YHA is described above. The lucky winners will be drawn at random.
Answers to: livemoreyha@yha.org.uk by June 15. Please feel free to share your thoughts
(positive or otherwise!) on this magazine at the same time. Is there anything you particularly
enjoy about it, or would like to see changed?
@wassock Morning run with mrsW from Hawkshead YHA. Kindaperfick.
Reader tweets: Share your adventure #livemoreYHA
38
Congratulations to the five readers who won Water-to-Go bottles in the last issue, after
correctly identifying YHA Hartington Hall. See livemore.yha.org.uk for details of winners.
10:02AM
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