#LiveMoreYHA Issue 3 by YHA

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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

Meet the new YHA Ambassador Alex Staniforth

30 Gear: the best new kit for

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

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,

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

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

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

Stepping Out: YHA Cotswolds

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 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. 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

Photos: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

City sky capers

Stepping Out: GoApe

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 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. 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

Stepping Out: Celebrity

“

Summer camps

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

Stepping Out: Hostellers’ Q&A We spoke to three outdoor enthusiasts to get their thoughts on dorms, dinners and day-walks

Stuart Bowkett Housekeeping manager at YHA Manchester.

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?

A mixture of both coast and countryside, as I love the openness of the places I visit to unwind.

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. 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. Anyone who can make me laugh, enjoy a beer or three and does not snore gets my seal of approval. Steak and kidney pudding with creamy mash and mushy peas.

A map, as I have no sense of direction without one. The bible of Manchester United. As a massive United fan this is my book of dreams – current season exempted. It has to be a local one – Snake Pass in the Peak District. It does usually mean consuming a beer afterwards.

Stepping Out: Hostellers’ Q&A Jenna Brown

Judy Kneen

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Bamburgh Castle

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

Feature: Feature: Manchester

Pavement in the Northan Quarter

“

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 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.

Through the Ages Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill selects his quintessential Manchester albums. Book your own tour at manchestermusictours.com

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

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.”

Feature: Manchester 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.

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 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

Go with the flow 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

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.

Feature: MTB

The Dirty Dozen 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

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

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

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Feature: History Hostels

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!)

YHA St Briavels 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 Snowdon Pen-y-Pass 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.

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 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

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

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

H Wto...

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.

... 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. 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.

How to: Time walks

...time your walks 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. 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

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. Here’s a handy guide:

Pace guide - Naismith's rule

www.mudandroutes.com

Time in h:mm:ss for given distance at given speed

Dist (m)

Paces

5kph

4kph

3kph

2kph

1kph

00:00:36

00:00:45

00:01:00

00:01:30

00:03:00

100

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

Gear: Cool stuff

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

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Y HA S trat for d

Hostel guide

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Map Key YHA Youth Hostel * National Parks

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.

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

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

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 y urlb 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, Earlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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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 n Ke ilto 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

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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

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