2

IT’S THE OPTIMAL MIX OFRESOLUTE DESIGN ANDFLAWLESS FUNCTIONALITYTHAT MAKES OUR PACKSTHE RIGHT CHOICE FORMOMENTS LIKE THIS

17:27PMGARACHICO

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I’m delighted to welcome you to the first edition of Live More YHA, a new quarterly publication aimed at

showcasing the best of England and Wales across coast,

countryside and city.

We hope it also gives you a greater insight into the work

we do as a charitable organisation. It’s our 85th anniversary

year, and here at YHA we remain firm believers in the fact

that adventure, activity and fresh experience have the

potential to enhance lives.

In this first issue we hike the full length of the fabled

Snowdon Horseshoe, visit the Royal Pavilion and skim

pebbles on a family trip to Brighton, plus hear from Ben

Fogle on his love of the outdoors.

We also speak to Alan Hinkes, YHA Ambassador and the

first Brit to climb all the world’s mountains over 8,000m, to

hear his take on exploring the UK. Elsewhere you’ll also find

how-to tips on map reading, cookery and stargazing.

We live in a truly special part of the world, full of adventure-

rich landscapes and culturally unique towns and cities. So

whether you’re a valued member, a long-term supporter

or just a friend of the organisation, we hope the following

pages give you the desire and motivation to get out and

explore even more of England and Wales – no matter what

your age.

WelcomeWelcome

Caroline White, Chief Executive

*Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount. Only valid on production of your YHA membership card in store or use of discount code online. Offer expires 31.12.15.

STORES NATIONWIDE | COTSWOLDOUTDOOR.COM

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15% DISCOUNT* FOR MEMBERSOF YHA

Contents

06

18

22

30

34

Stepping Out: your latest news and events, plus trip ideas

The Snowdon Horseshoe - the UK’s most epic one-day walk?

Brighton with the family - sun, sealife and sand (well, pebbles)

London for £10 - ten creative options for enjoying the capital

Alan Hinkes - the mountaineer shares his favourite UK places

East of England

South East

East Midlands

Heart of England

Wales

Yorkshire

South West

North East

London

The Island of Jersey

Over 150

places to stay,

limitless

possibilities

38

40

42

44

45

How To... spot planets, cook a quick paella and navigate a map

Gear: essential kit for outdoor exploration

Ben Fogle on his love of the British wilderness

Pictures from your adventures and #LiveMoreYHA tweets

COMPETITION: Win a pair of Hanwag walking boots

North West

6

The date was December 1930, the

place Pennant Hall in North Wales.

It’s now 85 years since the first YHA

property opened its doors, but

our overall mission as a charitable

organisation has stayed clear: to

inspire all, especially young people,

to broaden their horizons, gaining

knowledge and independence

through new experiences of

adventure and discovery.

To help them appreciate the life-

enhancing rewards of the coast and

the countryside. To allow them to

enjoy and understand the cultural

value of our towns and cities.

It’s been a remarkable eight and a

half decades. We live in a diff erent

world today, but our core values

– adventure, inclusivity, freedom,

experience and discovery – remain

as relevant and important as ever.

We’re delighted that last year we

worked with more than 515,000

young people, something that

simply wouldn’t have been

possible without the support of our

members and partners.

We pride ourselves on providing

unique opportunities to grow,

explore, relax and learn, and we’re

still fully committed to reaching and

inspiring the lives of one million

young people a year by 2017.

Here’s to the next 85 years.

In 1952 the first YHA Songbook was

produced, to encourage common

room singalongs.

In 1930, a group of volunteers set up an association to provide young working people with an aff ordable escape. YHA was born.

85 years in the making

DID YOU KNOW?

Stepping Out: 85th Anniversary

77

1930: The first YHA Hostel is inaugurated.

1931: A further 75 hostels open across England & Wales.

1945: Membership numbers double by the close of WWII.

1950: A peak year, with a total of 303 hostels open.

1980s: National framework fully established.

2002: YHA head off ice moves from St Albans to Matlock.

2013: The Queen off icially unveils YHA South Downs.

2015: YHA celebrates its 85th anniversary.

Stepping Out: 85th Anniversary

Englishwoman Amy Johnson

flies solo from London to

Australia… Uruguay win first

FIFA World Cup…

Arthur Ransome

publishes Swallows

and Amazons… Sean Connery is born

Also in 1930...Timeline

Left -right from top: John (Jack) Catchpool at the opening of YHA Black Sail. 14th April 1933. An early off icial photograph of young members. Self catering at YHA Arundel in 1951. YHA Members walking. c. 1945. Country dancing, 1939-style, Llangollen. The opening of YHA Ilam Hall, 1935. The road to YHA Nant-y-Dernol, mid Wales, 1972.

8

Stepping Out: Cycling

The future is two-wheeled. Here at

YHA we’ve always worked hard to

make our hostels the perfect fit for

active travellers, and we’re delighted

to announce that we’re investing a

total of £270,000 in creating new and

improved cycling facilities at dozens

of our most bike-friendly properties.

The money – of which £161,500

came from the Peak District National Park Authority – is going

directly towards providing cyclists

of all ages with even more reasons

to get out and explore the UK.

Among other things, guests will be

able to benefit from cycle repair and maintenance stations, new and

expanded secure storage areas, bike

washing and bike spares.

So whether you need a replacement

inner tube, somewhere to clean off

muddy tyres or just the peace of mind

that comes from overnight security,

we’re here to oblige.

Britain has a world-class network

of cycle routes, and many of our

hostels sit in glorious locations widely

renowned for their bike trails.

The first swathe of properties to benefit

from the initiative are prime examples.

And excitingly, this is just the first

phase in the initiative – more cycling

developments will be announced

later in the year.

The 25 hostels receiving investment this year are:

YHA invests £270,000 in cycling facilities

Changing gear

YHA Berwick

YHA Bristol

YHA Castleton

YHA Conwy

YHA Dartmoor

YHA Eastbourne

YHA Edale

YHA Eden Project

YHA Eyam

YHA Hartington Hall

YHA Hathersage

YHA Hawkshead

YHA Helmsley

YHA Holmbury St Marys

YHA Ilam Hall

YHA Keswick

YHA London Lee Valley

YHA Malham

YHA National Forest

YHA Ravenstor

YHA South Downs

YHA Swanage

YHA Truleigh Hill

YHA Wye Valley

YHA Youlgreave

9

Stepping Out: Cycling / News

YHA news

• Cyclists pedal on their stomachs, so the

2015 opening of our new YHA Cafes gives

good reason to be cheerful. Now up and

running in 18 hostels around the country, they

off er everything from baguettes and paninis

to coff ees and cream teas – there’s even a

delicious kids’ menu.

• YHA Llywn y Celyn is no longer – but in name

only. The 41-bed Welsh farmhouse’s title has

been replaced by the more straightforward

YHA Brecon Beacons. After all, when you’ve got

a region as stunning as the Beacons on your

doorstep, it’s best to shout about it.

• YHA Once Brewed will close in September

2015, to re-emerge in summer 2017 as the

innovative 86-bed YHA Hadrian’s Wall at the Sill.

We’re delighted to share that it received £7.8m of

Heritage Lottery Funding earlier this year. To find

out more about this hugely exciting project – or

even to donate – visit yha.org.uk/thesill

• Lonely Planet has named Kent as one of

Europe’s top family destinations, highlighting

attractions such as the White Cliff s, Leeds Castle,

Canterbury and Margate. We have two hostels

in the county, both well placed for further

exploration: YHA Medway and YHA Canterbury.

1. YHA South Downs > YHA Eastbourne Pedal across the Downs for fine rolling views

2. YHA Hartington > YHA Ravenstor Join the trails and cycle through the White Peak

3. YHA Alnwick > YHA Berwick upon Tweed Enjoy the sweeping scenery of the North East coastline

3 of the best... hostel-to-hostel bike rides

1010

Mountain, 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

It has to be mountains where I feel most at home, but being by the

coast is a close second.

YHA Kington. It’s in a market town along Off a’s Dyke

Path. It’s not very big but you usually find some

interesting characters because it’s a bit out of the way.

You get dedicated walkers with some stories to tell.

The first hostel I stayed in as a kid with my family

was YHA Newport in Pembrokeshire. There are

great walks along both Pembrokeshire coasts

and lots of beaches.

Someone that when we both get in from a big day

out we can share stories about our walk, preferably

over some ales.

You can get some really good meals in hostels these

days. They understand you need big portions after

a long day on the hills. I recently had a really good

chicken curry at YHA Keswick.

I try to bring a book that I’m about to

finish so I can leave it the dorm and, if

I’m lucky, exchange it with another one.

It would probably be something about

the local area, local walks, and maybe

poems from a local writer.

It would have to be in the

Brecon Beacons, along the

waterfalls in the Neath Valley

from Pontneddfechan. You can

walk behind some of them.

Will RenwickYoungest ever person to walk

around Wales continuously

We spoke to two members and a hostel manager to get their thoughts on dorms, dinners and day-walksWant to appear here in the next issue? Email

your interest to livemoreyha@yha.org.uk

Stepping Out: Q&A

1111

Coast, no question. I was brought up in the

North East and I love the sea – it clears the

cobwebs away.

I prefer the mountains for hostelling. After a

long day on the fells it’s always good to share

stories with other walkers and cyclists.

Am I allowed two? From a city point of view,

YHA York. It’s been refurbed in the last two

years and it’s amazing. My other would be YHA

Boggle Hole. It’s like another world.

My favourite YHA property is

Longthwaite at Borrowdale. It’s in a

great location, surrounded by hills, so

you can walk in all four directions.

I youth hostelled at school on

geography field trips. We went across

to the Lake District and stayed at YHA

Hawkshead and YHA Windermere.

My earliest memory of hostelling was in Bath

in 1969 when I was on a school trip. Lots of

walking, writing notes and looking for the

signs of spring!

Ideally no snorers! For me it would be like-minded

people who want to appreciate the area they’re

in. And I like people who are up for talking too.

Other than my wife, it would be

someone who doesn’t snore and

has excellent personal hygiene!

Home-made food with everyone chipping in.

YHA runs something called Supper Club, which

is just that – a time for everyone to eat together.

Something filling – cottage pie’s always good.

Something tasty like

fish or pasta, washed

down with at least two

glasses of wine.

A towel. Although shamefully, working

for YHA for four and a half years, it’s

the one thing I always forget!

There are a number of things I always pack

but I’ll always have the appropriate maps and

Wainwright with me.....on the fells and also in the

evening at the pub to plan the next day’s walk.

Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

by Mark Haddon. It appreciates how diff erent

people think and feel.

I still walk on rainy days. There’s no such thing

as bad weather.......just wrong clothes!

That’s hard! Anywhere on

the coast really. The Coast

& Castles route in the

North East would be a big

favourite.

In the Lakes, start at The Old Dungeon Ghyll

Hotel, walk up The Band, across The Climbers

Traverse, up The Great Slab to Bowfell, onwards

to Esk Pike and Great End and then back to

Langdale via Angle Tarn and into the Climbers

Bar....perfect!

Rachel CassManager at YHA

London Lee Valley

Ian WolstencroftLeader of local walking

group since 1981

o

I alw

Stepping Out: Q&A

1212

Stepping Out: YHA Day

Get the dates in your diary. YHA

Day is back! Taking place for a third

consecutive year, the weekend

showcase returns for 2015 on

Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September

at hostels across the country. We

like to see it as our chance to show

people what we’re all about – with tea

and cake into the bargain – and more

than 100 of our properties will be

staging one-off special events.

We’ll be highlighting just how much

England and Wales have to off er

by turning a dozen of these hostels

into action-packed “Regional Hubs”

for the weekend. YHA Ambleside,

for example, will be highlighting

the adventure potential of the Lake

District, while YHA South Downs will

be inspiring visitors to explore more

of the glorious South East.

Elsewhere, a further ten hostels will

be running pop-up shops selling vintage and recycled goods: a nod to our green ethos, as well as a chance to raise valuable money for our Breaks for Kids bursary fund.

The remaining properties will be

holding fun “open-door” events, giving

all-comers the chance to relax, meet

new people and find out more about

the work we do. You’ll find a list of

hostels participating in YHA Day at

yha.org.uk/yhaday.

• If you’re interested in volunteering

on YHA Day, call 01629 592562, email

volunteers@yha.org.uk or visit yha.org.

uk/volunteering. You can also sign up

to receive our volunteering newsletter.

YHA Day returns for 2015 with more events than ever

Open doors and pop-up shops

13

5th & 6th September

Live musicOutdoor activitiesFamily funPop-up charity shops

BBQsBake offs

Local beersand much, much more

www.yha.org.uk/yhaday

musicoor activities Bak

All over the country we are flinging our doors open

14

Stepping Out: New Hostels

The state-of-the-art YHA Cardiff Central

was unveiled in March, off ering 320

beds in a brilliant central location and

occupying what was once a four-star

hotel. Well suited to everyone from

independent travellers and school

parties to nightlife-lovers and conference

groups, it’s a property that we’re hugely

proud of. Look out for the fantastic hand-

painted murals in the bar area.

Cardiff

Three other new properties to try

The rave reviews being

generated by the new YHA Eden

Project are unsurprising – open

since October, our “snoozebox”

hostel accommodates 234

people in 60 modern en-suite

bedrooms made from old

shipping containers.

Following eight months of

refurbishment, YHA Boggle

Hole reopened in May. The

uniquely located hostel, sitting

in Robin Hood’s Bay within the

North York Moors National Park,

has benefitted from a whopping

£1.2m investment and has an

array of new features.

YHA Brighton, our spectacular

new “luxury hostel” in the

seaside city, was opened in

November last year. With 180

beds across 51 rooms, and a

setting in a gorgeous Regency

building, it’s superbly placed for

the main attractions.

Welcome to YHA Cardiff !

Boggle Hole

Brighton

15

Discovering your inner

Time Lord: Head to the Doctor Who Experience – a large-scale

attraction full of interactive

features – or take a guided

visit of local filming locations.

doctorwho.tv/events/doctor-

who-experience

Don’t leave Cardiff without... Stepping Out: New Hostels

Touring the Millennium Stadium: A cauldron of

atmosphere on match

days, the 74,500-seat rugby

and football stadium can

be toured year-round. It’s

widely seen as Britain’s best.

millenniumstadium.com

Taking to the water:

Head out from Cardiff

Bay on a one-hour RIB ride around the South

Wales coast, taking

in Flat Holm Island.

bayislandvoyages.co.uk

Catching a show at the Millennium Centre: You’ll

find comedy, theatre,

dance and more at this

groundbreaking arts

venue. Check the website

for free performances.

wmc.org.uk

• Downton Abbey: YHA Streatley is a 30-minute drive from Highclere Castle.

• Sherlock: YHA London Central and YHA London Oxford Street cater for Holmes fans.

• Broadchurch: YHA Litton Cheney sits close to West Bay.

• Wolf Hall: Visit Montacute House from YHA Street.

Daleks and Dowagers. Four other shows fi lmed near YHAs

Visiting the past:

The St Fagans National History Museum is

unquestionably one of

Europe’s top open-air

museums, celebrating

Welsh history and

culture across 100 acres.

museumwales.ac.uk

Exploring on two

wheels: The acclaimed

Cardiff Cycle Tours

takes you to the

parts of the city

you’d otherwise miss.

cardiff cycletours.com

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1616

There’s a very simple reason why we’re

so passionate about our Breaks for

Kids charitable fund. We believe that

every young person should have the

opportunity to travel to new places

and discover new environments away

from home with their friends. We know

from long involvement how valuable,

how eye-opening – and in some cases,

how life-changing – these experiences

can be. They help children to grow in

confidence, to increase self-awareness

and to achieve a sense of belonging.

We make a real eff ort to price our

residential adventure breaks for

schools and other youth groups as

generously as possible, but sadly not

all families are in a position to be able

to send their children away. That’s

where Breaks for Kids come in. The

bursary fund contributes up to 50% of

the cost of accommodation and meals

for young people from lower-income

households. In doing so, it helps give

more children the chance to see more

of the country, and more of life.

Generously supported by many of you

reading this, the fund provides financial

support to thousands of young people

every year. Thank you for enabling

Breaks for Kids to support so many

children. It makes a real diff erence.

Last year 518,565 young people had a YHA experience.

Of these, 387,180 stayed with us. 7,500 young people from

disadvantaged backgrounds benefited from our Breaks for Kids

bursary grant. In 2014 YHA awarded grants totalling £278,000.

YHA supports adventure breaks for children. It relies on the backing of its members. A big thank you — you’ve helped more than half a million youngsters

Breaks for Kids

Stepping Out: Breaks for Kids

DID YOU KNOW?

• Looking to apply for funding? Please

visit yha.org.uk/school-trips/funding

• You can visit justgiving.com/yha to donate,

or to speak to the Fundraising Team please

call 01629 592 700.

You can give £3 right now by texting ‘YHAK15£3’ to ‘70070’ and make a diff erence today.

Stepping Out: Breaks for Kids

Alistair Boyd, manager, YHA Castleton

“To put it simply, it lets us give kids access to

a world they wouldn’t otherwise experience.

So many parents in our catchment area

simply can’t aff ord the full price of a school

trip, so having that extra funding is such a

vital thing. A lot of the time we’re welcoming

inner-city kids who have never spent a night

away from home – some have never even

seen sheep – so the whole adventure is a

really important step in terms of growing up

and gaining independence. It can be hugely

rewarding seeing their reactions. Bursary

funds like this really are why YHA exists.”

What makes Breaks for Kids so special?

18

I’m glad I didn’t opt for the lie-in. It’s

never a chore to greet a clear day by

pulling on a pair of boots and yomping

up a Welsh mountain, but an early

start always seems to heighten the

experience. It’s nudging 7.00am – a

time, by rights, when sensible folk

should be rolling over in bed and

turning their thoughts to tea and toast

– and I’m striding steadily up the Pyg

Track. Deep-green valleys are spilling away to the northwest, and up ahead are the silent crags and cols of the tallest peak in England and Wales. That extra hour in bed can wait.

I’m walking the Snowdon Horseshoe,

the looped, six-hour hike that lays

strong claim to being the best one-

day walk in the country. The mountain

itself means diff erent things to diff erent

people, partly because there are so

many ways of getting to and from the

summit. From the less-than-exerting

trundle of the Mountain Railway to

the upper-reach scree-scramble of

the Watkin Path, it lays on options for

walkers, and indeed non-walkers, of

all abilities. It’s best seen as a world to

itself, an ageless, 360-degree spread

of rocky clefts, gnarled precipices

and long spurs of sheep-roamed land

fanning out into the wider range.

The classic route of the Horseshoe makes

its ascent initially via the Pyg Track, then

across the infamous Crib Goch ridge. This

is resolutely never an option to be taken

lightly – serious accidents can, and do,

happen – but this morning’s conditions

are benign and, once I’ve hoiked myself

up to the buttress, crossing the knife-edge

arête is a moment of thrilling aloneness.

(Sticking to the scenic Pyg Track

throughout is a fine alternative ascent for

those who wish to avoid Crib Goch, and it

still allows the Horseshoe to be walked.)

After negotiating the airy and

jagged ridgeback across to the top

of Garnedd Ugain – where the trig

point marks the second highest peak

in Wales – my trail then converges

with the Llanberis Path, generally the

busiest of the mountain’s trails, for

the final stretch to the top. When I run

out of uphill, I look down and see the

country outspread. It’s taken me about

three hours, all of them hard on the

legs but deeply enjoyable, and the

Tackling the Horseshoe

Feature: Snowdonia

Is this Britain’s best mountain day out? James Ottery crosses the knife-edge ridge to Snowdon

19

Feature: Snowdonia

• Never underestimate

the mountain. Stick

to paths that match

your experience

and ability, know

where you’re going

and always carry

adequate clothing, a

water-proofed map

and a compass.

• Check the weather.

Wind, rain and cloud

can make things

very dicey very

quickly. MWIS (www.

mwis.org.uk) gives

detailed Snowdonia

forecasts, and the

Met Off ice has

summit updates.

TheEssentials

Looking towards the Snowdon summit over Crib Goch

choughs and wheatears that have

kept me company have put a lie to

the claim that Snowdon is always

over-crowded in summer.

Yr Wyddfa, as the peak is known in

Welsh, is a hill rich in stories, a strong

and immoveable alp with countless

diff erent paths and countless diff erent

moods. Legendary mountaineering

names like Sir Edmund Hillary and

George Mallory both trained here

for their Everest expeditions. Lots

of hillwalkers have an issue with the

fact that there’s now a visitor centre

and café at the summit. I have some

sympathy with this, but would also

be lying if I said I disliked the novelty

of being able to order a slice of cake

after hacking up a mountain. I settle

at a table and tuck in, fortifying myself

for the descent.

Over the previous hour or so, low white

clouds have been threatening to draw

in. Now they settle in for good, cloaking

the kilometre-high top of Snowdon in

a familiar fug of white. It means a slow

clamber just to reach my downward

route, the handsome fin-like outcrop

of Y Lliwedd (another stretch not to

be walked with overconfidence if the

weather’s iff y). When I’ve arrived low

enough for good visibility to return,

20

however, it makes the clarity and scale

of the landscape all the more raw and

imposing.

From here, the trail curls its way down and round to the east, granting a yawning, falcon-flown view not just of the region but of the first half of the route. After snaking down to

the banks of the brooding blue Llyn

Llydaw – a lake bound up in Arthurian

legends – it leads easily to Pen y Pass,

where ales and armchairs await. At

only around seven miles in duration,

the Snowdon Horseshoe is more of a

work-out than its modest length might

suggest. It’s also an unforgettable

walk. There are countless ways up

and down the mountain, but I know of

none more exhilarating.

• The historic YHA Pen y Pass, which has benefited from a recent refurbishment, sits at the start and end point of the Snowdon Horseshoe. There are also four other YHA hostels in direct proximity to the mountain. yha.org.uk/hostel/snowdon-pen-y-pass

Feature: Snowdonia

Visitors’ book found

at YHA Pen-y-Pass

featuring some

rather famous

names. Now on

display at the

YHA Historical

Archive.

Zip World Velocity

Soar high above the Penrhyn Quarry on the

longest zipline in Europe, and the fastest in

the world. You’ll reach speeds of more than

100mph.

Bounce Below

Like the idea of walkways, slides and giant

trampolines in a slate cavern? Head to the

subterranean grown-ups’ playground at

Bounce Below. There’s also a kids’ area.

Biking at Coed-y-Brenin

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Coed-

y-Brenin has some of the most pulse-raising

loops and trails in the country.

Rafting at Bala

The National White Water Centre makes use of

the wild River Tryweryn – and a dam-controlled

system means the rapids are strong even in

summer.

Horse-riding

Snowdonia’s not just for hikers and bikers

– it’s also beautiful terrain for slow days on

horseback. Various operators off er trips.

Rock-climbing

There’s good reason why Sir Edmund Hillary

and his team trained in Snowdonia for their

1953 Everest ascent. It’s a superb place to

(literally) learn the ropes.

6 other great Snowdonia adventures

21

Feature: Snowdonia

A large number of YHAs are available

for exclusive hire, including 21 in Wales,

six of them in and around Snowdonia:

YHA Llanberis:

On hillside close to town. Sleeps 30.

YHA Snowdon Ranger:

One-time inn on the western edge of the

park. Sleeps 30.

YHA Idwal Cottage:

Our longest-running Welsh hostel.

Sleeps 36

YHA Conwy:

This modern property has diff erent bed

options. Sleeps 40, 60 or 80.

YHA Rowen:

A characterful old hill farmstead. Sleeps 20.

YHA Bryn Gwynant:

A beautifully located former coach

house. Sleeps 30.

Exclusive hire in Snowdonia

READEROFFER!20% off accommodation at YHA Snowdon

Pen-y-Pass for families and

individuals. Book between 11 Aug -

31 Oct 2015 for stay between

1 Sep - 18 Dec 2015

Quote EXPLORE-100

when booking at

yha.org.uk

Y Lliwedd and Llyn Llydaw as seen from Crib Goch

22

Feature: Brighton

Sharks and Chandeliers

Daniel Neilson fi nds that Brighton is one huge, brightly lit playground for all ages

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Sometimes headlines take forever to write, sometimes they write themselves, and on some occasions – well, this one – a four-year-old does. In response to Mummy’s enquiry about the best things about her Daddy-and-daughter weekend in Brighton, she replies: “the sharks and the chandeliers.”

The chandelier in question is suspended in

the Banqueting Hall of the mesmerisingly

OTT Royal Pavilion. It’s 30 feet tall, weighs

one ton and hangs from the claws of a

colossal dragon. Below, six smaller dragons

breathe through glass shades, and lustrous

chains hang down above a banqueting

table (where no less than 130 dishes were

served when the Russian Tsar’s brother

visited the Prince Regent).

It’s impossible not to be impressed by

the ostentatiousness of the Prince’s

seaside holiday home. For a four-year-

old it’s overwhelming, and evidently

makes quite an impression. Over the

next few days she tells everyone she

meets about it – before explaining the

frankly bizarre sex life of seahorses.

We’ve come for the weekend, partly

to give Mum and a new-born a bit

of a break, partly for a bit of quality

23

Feature: Brighton

time together, and partly because

Daddy has his eyes on a rather good

record shop. And that is the beauty

of Brighton: whether it’s a swanky

weekend full of cocktails and dancing,

a seaside break with the kids, all fish-

and-chips and skimming stones, or a

day scoping out some of the country’s

best independent shops, Brighton has

it all in, ahem, spades.

Arriving at the train station, it soon

becomes apparent the attractions for

the little ones are more diverse than I’d

imagined. It’s about a 20-minute walk

from the station to YHA Brighton, a new

addition to the YHA portfolio, but to get

there requires navigating the city’s most

colourful quarter: North Laine (not to

be confused with the nearby shopping

labyrinth of The Lanes).

In North Laine this hot Saturday,

bunting hangs from the narrow

streets and market stalls crowd the

roads. Murals light up the façades and

street performers blast out music.

It’s like being momentarily dipped in

a weekend at Glastonbury, with less

mud. There are bead shops, old toy

shops and bakeries selling Portuguese

custard tarts – we visit all of them.

We check in to the YHA, which inhabits

an old Regency building. One of the

most stylish hostels in the country?

Without doubt. It’s probably best

described as ‘quite Brighton’. Local

artists have decorated the walls of

the dining room and café-bar, and its

location couldn’t be more central. All

of our planned activities, including

fish and chips on the seafront, are,

remarkably, less than a five-minute

walk away.

Now, trying to explain the Prince

Regent to children, the edited version,

is tricky. Fortunately, more talented

people than I have thought about this

and there’s a superb audio guide for

youngsters at the Royal Pavilion. Her

eyes shine at the indulgent, almost

unbelievably flamboyant, Chinese-

inspired decoration and she relates the

stories back to me through the guide.

From there, it’s back past the hostel to

Sea Life Brighton. Aquariums always

seem to be winners with children,

especially when they involve getting

up close with sharks and seeing giant

Feature: Brighton

Four more ideas for family fun close to Brighton

• Get back to nature at Devil’s

Dyke on the top of the

South Downs

• Explore the quaint town of

Lewes with a revolutionary past

• Get up close to camels and

meerkats at Drusillas Park zoo

• Go crabbing off Littlehampton

Waterfront

Four other great family options

YHA Hartington Hall: A Peak District manor house

with pets’ area, games room and

a playground.

YHA Tanners Hatch: An eco-friendly getaway in

the Surrey Hills. Outdoor

barbecues welcome.

YHA Stratford-upon-Avon: A great base for an educational

break in Shakespeare Country.

YHA St Briavels Castle: How often do kids get the chance

to sleep in an 800-year-old castle?

sea turtles with heads bigger than

mine. It’s dark, loud and fun, but

there’s also an educational message.

From the aquarium we spend the

afternoon wandering around the pier

and trundling along the Volk’s Electric

Railway with ice creams. And of course

Brighton’s biggest attraction is the

beach. It’s what attracted the Prince

Regent to the town in the late 1700s,

and it’s what attracts millions of visitors

every year.

There are plenty more sights to take

children to, but wandering back through

North Laine the next day, it’s the life

on the streets that we remember

most. Puppet shows and giant bubble

blowers, musicians, hawkers and

artists, restaurants spilling out onto the

pavements and lively market stalls.

Brighton is one of the most vibrant and

colourful towns in the country – and that

appeals to kids of all ages. My daughter

now has a favourite YHA – it’s the perfect

base to explore the city, and we’ll be back

soon to tick off what we missed.

READER OFFER!

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between 11 Aug - 31 Oct 2015 for stay between 1 Sep - 18 Dec 2015.

Quote EXPLORE-100 when booking at yha.org.uk

www.sprayway.com

26

Feature: Ben Spurway

If you’ve stayed at YHA Keswick or

YHA Eskdale recently and crossed

paths with a particularly steely-eyed

group of outdoor-lovers, it could well

be that you came face to face with Ben

Spurway and his friends. The 43-year-

old military reservist is one of a group

of four who have been using our Lake

District properties as training bases, in

preparation for a decidedly extreme

adventure race next year.

Billed as the world’s toughest, wildest

event, the Patagonian Expedition

Race is returning in February 2016

and will see Ben and his team take

on a savagely diff icult ten-day trail

through the remotest parts of Chilean

Patagonia. By the time they cross

the finish line, they will have travelled

800 kilometres by trekking, climbing,

kayaking and mountain biking.

“The weather down there is fairly

extreme,” says Ben, sounding

remarkably chipper for someone a few

months away from the start. “The next

stop south is Antarctica. We’ve seen

accounts of previous races and some of

the videos are quite horrific. We’ve got a friend down there who’s advised us to train in gales – the wind can often be strong enough to blow you off your mountain bike.”

If this all seems at the more intense

end of the outdoor spectrum, then

Ben does at least have the necessary

Running the worldIn preparation for an epic 800km race, adventurer Ben Spurway and his teammates are using YHAs as bases for their training

27

Feature: Ben Spurway

experience. He became involved in the

Scout movement from a young age

before becoming an Outward Bound

TrustTM instructor in his twenties. He’s led

mountain expeditions on four continents,

as well as working in humanitarian

response for ShelterBox in countries

like Haiti, Kenya and El Salvador. He’s

also completed an operational tour of

Afghanistan as a reservist.

And there is, of course, a higher purpose

behind the team’s adventures. They’re

raising money for Green Sentinels, an

organisation that works to help injured

service personnel, particularly those with

post-traumatic stress disorder. All team

members will be raising funds for their

preferred charities, namely ShelterBox,

the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the

Royal Marsden and Help for Heroes.

Back in the UK, Ben remains a

committed lover of the British outdoors.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work in

both Wales and the Lake District,” he

says. “I’m always keen to get up to

the Lakes – it’s such a beautiful part

of the world. I like ridges too, so I love

Snowdonia. I recently did an early-

morning ascent via Crib Goch at 4am.

I enjoy staying at YHA Llanberis and

YHA Bryn Gwynant, and I’ve got plans

to get back to YHA Pen y Pass – I can’t

wait to see how it’s been redone.”

If you’d like to support the team’s eff orts,

visit greensentinels.uk to find out more.

“““““IIIIIIIIIIII eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnjjjjjjjjjjjooooooooooyyyyyyyy sssssssttttttttttaaaaaaayyyyyyyyiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg aaaaaaaattttttttt YYYYYYYYYYYHHHHHHHAAAAAA LLLLLLLlllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrriiiiiiiissss aaaaannnnnnnddddd YYYYYHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA BBBBBBBBrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyynnnnnnn GGGGGGGGwwwwwwwyyyyyyyyyyynnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnttttt,,,,,, aaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddddd IIIIIIIIIII’’’’vvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee ggggggggooooooootttttt ppppppppplllllllaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnsssssssssssssss ttttttttttoooooooooooo ggggggggeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttttt bbbbbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccckkkk tttooooo YYYYYYYHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA PPPPPPPPPPPeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnn yyyyyyyyyy PPPPPPPaaaaaassssssssssss –– IIIIIIIII ccccccccccccccaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnn’’’’’’’’ttttttt wwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiittttttttt tttttttttttooooooooooooo ssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee hhhhhhhhhhoooooooooowwwwwwwwww iiiiiiiiiiitttttttttt’’’’’’’’’sssssss bbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnn rrrrrrrreeeeeeddddddoooooooonnnnnnnnneeeeeeeee....”””” BBBBBBBeeennnnnn SSSSSSSpppppppppppuuuurrrrrwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy

“I enjoy staying at YHA Llanberis and YHA Bryn Gwynant, and I’ve got plans to get back to YHA Pen y Pass – I can’t wait to see how it’s been redone.” Ben Spurway

28

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29

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2. Once you arrive at “My Profi le” click the “Member Benefi ts” tab

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Terms & Conditions: This code entitles the holder to one free issue including postage of a selection of magazines promoted in this off er. This code can only

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to one copy per UK household. This off er is provided by Bauer Media and the promoter is YHA.

Bringing you great benefits from the likes of:gr a

30

Visit a Hindu temple Once the biggest Hindu temple outside

India, the extraordinary BAPS Shri

Swaminarayan Temple dominates the

Neasden skyline. Time Out has called it

one of London’s Seven Wonders – it’s a

fascinating place to visit and off ers free

guided tours. londonmandir.baps.org

Swim in the Olympic poolHas it really been three years since

London 2012? Revisit the occasion

by clocking up a few lengths at

the London Aquatic Centre, where

everyone from Michael Phelps to Ellie

Simmonds performed to capacity

crowds. An adult swim starts at just

£3.50. londonaquaticscentre.org

Find cheap live musicAway from the mega-venues, you’ll find

some excellent options for quality live

music without the painful ticket prices.

Our top two picks? Ain’t Nothin’ But, a

tiny Soho blues bar with free nightly

acts, and St-Martins-in-the-Field, which

has regular free lunchtime recitals.

aintnothinbut.co.uk

stmartin-in-the-fields.org

Learn to bell-ring London has more than 100 churches

and buildings with bells hung for

group-ringing. If you’d like to be part

of the city-wide chorus that breaks out

each Sunday – and it’s a good keep-fit

workout too! – register at mcaldg.org.uk

10 things to do in London for under a tenner

Feature: London < £10

London is one of the most exciting cities on the planet, but enjoying it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Here’s our list of ten things to do for under £10 – and you’ll steer clear of tourist crowds too...

31

Go to a non-league football matchStruggling to get a ticket for Arsenal or

Chelsea? Enjoy 90 minutes at a non-

league club instead, and experience a

more authentic local atmosphere in a

city that loves its football. Try Enfield

Town FC, Bromley FC or the 125-year-

old Corinthian-Casuals FC.

Check out old originalsThe British Library is home to one of

London’s least-known cultural gems.

The St John Ritblat Treasures Gallery,

open seven days a week and free to

enter, holds everything from Leonardo

da Vinci’s notebook and John Lennon’s

handwritten lyrics to a note penned by

Henry VIII. bl.uk

Eat Pie and MashLondon’s dining scene is hugely

cosmopolitan, but there’s no more

traditional meal than pie and mash, a

tasty and aff ordable dish still served at

a handful of atmospheric old outlets.

The most famous, M. Manze, has three

London restaurants. manze.co.uk

Feature: London < £10

Where to stay? YHA has seven hostels in and around London with beds from £15. Find out more at: yha.org.uk/places-to-stay/london

32

Three timeless London album covers, and where to go to recreate them

Oasis – (What’s the Story)

Morning Glory?

This familiar cover image was

shot in Berwick Street, Soho,

down which you’ll still find some

great music stores.

The Beatles – Abbey Road

Follow the Fab Four by visiting

St John’s Wood, where you’ll find

the famous crossing steps away

from the Abbey Road recording

studio itself.

The Clash – The Clash

Mimic Joe Strummer and friends

by heading to the Proud Gallery

in Camden (although note: the

ramp on the iconic cover is now

a set of steps!).

Walk the Thames PathSt Paul’s, Big Ben, Tower Bridge – see

it all on a walk along the Thames

Path. Enjoy short stretches, or try

the full 36 miles from the Thames

Barrier to Hampton Court Palace.

nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path

Laugh it upAngel Comedy has gratis stand-up

comedy seven nights a week, within

a reasonable walk of YHA St Pancras.

Expect a mix of big names and new

talent. Its motto? “Always Free,

Always Funny”.

angelcomedy.co.uk

Wander Columbia Road fl ower marketOpen on Sundays from 8 until 3, this

weekly flower market transforms

Columbia Road into a world of

foliage and flowers. There’s plenty

in the way of music, food and drink.

columbiaroad.info

Feature: London < £10

33

Making adventures real. yha.org.uk/adventure

34

Feature: Great Adventres

“Picking nine hostels for an adventure

is easy – but which nine? I could easily

pick 20! My adventures are mostly in

the hills, fells, mountains, dales, becks,

lakes, caves, forests and beaches of the

north: they’re spread across Yorkshire,

The Lake District and North Wales.

1. Go fell-walking and climbing in Borrowdale, Lake District “YHA Borrowdale is a delightful,

purpose-built wooden building

hidden away in the secluded hamlet

of Longthwaite. Fell-walking on the

surrounding hills can be done straight

from the door. There’s plenty of rock-

climbing in the Borrowdale valley

too, from extreme options to easier

beginners’ climbs on cliff s such as

Shepherd’s Crag. There’s the annual

Borrowdale Fell Race too - Chris the

manager is an avid fell runner. And

Keswick and Derwentwater are only

seven miles away if you fancy an

easier stroll or lake cruise.”

2. Discover the marvels of Malham

“YHA Malham is ideally situated for

gentle strolls and exciting, dramatic

walks. You can wander along beside

a gentle beck, passing the delightful

Janet’s Foss waterfall, or you can

scramble through the vertical-sided

gash in the limestone landscape that is

Goredale Scar. It’s essentially a giant cave

system where the roof has collapsed.

Great adventures with... Alan HinkesAlan Hinkes was the fi rst Briton to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000m peaks. He was awarded the OBE in 2006 and is the fi rst YHA Ambassador – he’s also a past recipient of the coveted Yorkshireman of the Year title. Here he chooses his nine greatest adventures in England and Wales.

35

YHA Black Sail

“Nearby, Malham Cove is Yorkshire’s

answer to Niagara Falls – without the

water. It’s an 80-metre amphitheatre

of sheer white limestone. Walk up the

stepped track at the side to experience

the limestone pavement with its clints

and grykes, and the breathtaking view

over Malhamdale. You might recognise

the scene from a Harry Potter film. If

you feel adventurous and don’t suff er

from claustrophobia, try a show cave

and experience the underground sights

of stalagmite and stalactites.”

3. Get wild at England’s most remote hostel“YHA Black Sail is the archetypal remote

mountain hut, a hideaway in the

mountains of Cumbria. It can only be

reached by walking or mountain-biking

and it’s surrounded by the wild fells of

Upper Ennerdale and the impressive

Pillar Rock. Stay here if you want a wild,

‘off -the-grid’ getaway experience. It is

one of my favourite locations.”

4. Scramble along an airy Lake District ridge“YHA Helvellyn is another mountain

retreat, situated above Ullswater

and the village of Glenridding. It’s

ideally situated for fell-walking and

climbing Helvellyn, one of my favourite

mountains — it’s among the first that

I climbed as a teenager. It’s a gnarly

scramble along Striding Edge or Swirral

READER OFFER!

£100 off Exclusive Hire of YHA Black

Sail. Book between 11 Aug - 31

Oct 2015 for arrivals between

1 Nov - 13 Feb 2016

Quote EXPLORE-300

when booking at

http://exclusive-hire.

yha.org.uk

36

Feature: Great Adventres

Edge to the summit, and both of

these are airy and exposed ridges

with big drops.

“They’re not to be underestimated.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team is

often called out to rescue people and,

sadly, to recover bodies. An easier

stroll can be taken as far as Red Tarn,

or you can descend to Ullswater

to ride the steamer, visit Aira Force

waterfall and stroll round the lake. In

winter there’s a ski slope and tow on

Raise – it’s 45 minutes or an hour’s

walk with skis to get there.”

5. Take to two wheels on the Yorkshire Moors“YHA Grinton Lodge is a majestic old

shooting lodge on the Moors above

Swaledale near Reeth. Kids love the

camping pods and it’s a great location

for walking, mountain-biking and road-

biking – the Tour de France went up

the hill right past the hostel when I was

last there.

“Try the Dales Bike Centre in

Fremington for bike bits, as well as

coff ee and cake. Nearby, Richmond

has an imposing Norman castle and

Reeth is very picturesque with lots of

lead-mining history.”

6. Be beside the seaside in Yorkshire “YHA Boggle Hole has a fantastic

seaside location tucked away in a

smugglers’ cove. It’s a great place for

children, with sea, sand and fossil-

hunting on the Yorkshire coast. The

North Yorkshire Moors Railway is

nearby and the town of Whitby – with

its cliff top abbey, harbour, fish and chips

and Dracula connections – is close by

too. For a bigger seaside experience try

Scarborough, a short distance south

along the coast. And if you want a break

from the sea, nip inland and experience

the vast expanse of the North York

Moors National Park.”

7. Explore the Peak District from Castleton YHA“YHA Castleton Losehill Hall in the

Peak District is a grand modernised

Victorian Gothic mansion in extensive

grounds, another superb location for

families. There are plenty of easy valley strolls or pleasant walks on the surrounding hills, such as Mam Tor. They call it ‘The Shivering Mountain’ because of the landslips on its slopes.

Swaledale near YHA Grinton Lodge

37

Striding Edge, Helvellyn Swaledale near YHA Grinton Lodge

Feature: Great Adventres

Camping pod at YHA Grinton Lodge, Yorkshire Dales

“Castleton is also well placed to explore

the rest of the Peak District. Try the

show caves such as Blue John Cavern,

or even a trip to Sheff ield if you need

a city fix. And as a bonus, the Hope

Valley microbrewery is run by the

hostel manager.”

8. A city break in God’s Own County“YHA York has a great city location

in God’s Own County, with plenty of

attractions for children and adults. York

Minster: say no more. You’ll also find

the York National Railway Museum, the

Jorvik Viking Centre, as well as a whole

range of dungeons, castles, river trips,

shops and great little cafés – try Bettys

Café Tea Rooms. And as well as being

close to the North York Moors National

Park, it’s also well placed for James

Herriot country, as well as the gentle

rolling Yorkshire Wolds.”

9. Walk in the footsteps of mountaineering greats in Snowdonia“YHA Pen y Pass in North Wales is

a superlative hostel in an extremely

dramatic location, with lots of history.

When it was a hotel in the late 18th

century to early 20th century it was

used by mountaineers and rock

climbers such as George Mallory, who

disappeared on Everest in 1924. It is

situated at the top of the Llanberis Pass

ready for the serious Crib Goch scramble

up Snowdon, or the gentler Pyg or

Miners Track (see p18 for details of the

Snowdon Horseshoe). It has a great bar

with bottle-conditioned local beer and

views of the rocky ridges.”

38

How to: Read a map

In the first of a series looking at Ordnance Survey grid squares, we focus

on the wildly diverse square kilometre around YHA Black Sail, a hostel only

accessible by foot in Ennerdale, Lake District. There are two commonly used

map scales by Ordnance Survey: 1:25,000 Explorer and 1:50,000 Landranger.

In this issue we’ll look at the 1:50,000 Landranger.

1. The pink triangle is the youth hostel symbol. That’ll be YHA Black Sail

6. Scree slope. Steeply rises towards Hay Stacks. Usually too precipitous to climb

2. Long pink dashes represent bridleways, which allow for cyclists and horse riders

7. District boundary

3. The parallel black dashes represent a track (not necessarily a public right of way)

4. Coniferous forest

8. Tightly packed contours at ten-metre vertical intervals show steep mountainside

9. Short pink dashes are footpaths, literally only for those on

5. Footbridge10. Narrowing river or stream

... Decipher a map

H W to...Skills for outdoor living

Staying at one of our 11 hostels in

Cornwall and keen to speak the local

lingo? Here are a few basic pointers

to help you fit in.

hello = dydh da

please = mar plek

thank you = merasta

how are you? = fatla genes?

this is a proper lovely paella =

paella hweg yw hemma

... Speak a bit of Cornish

©Crown copyright 2015 Ordnance Survey. Media 072/15

39

How to: Stargaze

1. Look along the ecliptic, the name given to

the path the sun follows across the sky. Most

planets have orbits that diff er only slightly from

that of the sun, so can be seen at night very

close to the path the sun traces during the day.

2. Search for objects that don’t twinkle.

With the exception of Mercury, which is

aff ected by its proximity to the sun, the planets

don’t twinkle as stars do. Why? Because

they’re far closer to us, meaning there’s less

atmospheric distance to distort their light.

3. Mercury and Venus are only ever spotted

close to the horizon. What’s more, Venus is

generally only seen in the two hours after

sunset – or, at other times of year, the two

hours before sunrise.

4. Identify the colour. The diff erent hues of

the planets aren’t always easy to spot, but as

well as Mars’ famous reddish glow, Jupiter

has a bright, brilliant white light and Saturn

has a smaller yellower appearance (with a

telescope, you can often see its rings).

Thinking a Spanish seafood dish sounds

too tricky for a hostel kitchen? Think

again. This recipe may not be for the

paella purists, but it’s cheap and easy.

• Ingredients (for four people): an

onion, a red pepper, 300g uncooked

long grain rice, 100-120g chorizo

sausage, 900 ml chicken stock,

turmeric, paprika, 200g of frozen peas,

400g frozen supermarket seafood

mix, a lemon.

• Heat oil in a pan, add chopped

onion to brown, then diced pepper,

then chopped chorizo. Fry for a few

minutes then add a teaspoon each of

turmeric and paprika, along with the

rice. Stir well, then add the stock. Boil,

then simmer for 15 mins.

• Add the peas and cook for 5 more

minutes, then tip in the seafood for

a final 2-minute stir. Cut the lemon

into wedges and give each portion a

generous squeeze before serving up.

... Spot the planets at night

... Cook the Pronto Penzance Paella

READER OFFER!20% off accommodation at YHA Pen-

zance for families and individu-

als. Book between 11 Aug - 31

Oct 2015 for stay between 1 Sep

- 18 Dec 2015

Quote EXPLORE-100

when booking at

yha.org.uk

40

Gear: Day walk

Lowe Alpine Eclipse 25 Rucksack This is an award-winning 25-litre rucksack, and it’s clear why. There are plenty of pockets and features, and we’re impressed by the side-zip entry and the walking pole “tip grippers”. Fantastic for serious day-walkers. lowealpine.com/uk

Sprayway Grendel Jacket Summer in the UK isn’t always sun and skittles, so this is a top option for blustery days. Using Gore Windstopper technology and stretch side panels, it keeps the chill out while still being light and easily packable. sprayway.com

Water-to-Go Using technology developed for NASA, this 75cl bottle filters out 99.9% of all bacteria and viruses from water sources. We’ve tried it in a country stream, and watched

as brown silty water became clear H20. Each filter lasts for 200 litres. watertogo.eu

Aeropress For hillwalkers who find it hard to go without decent coff ee (hello to you), this is a godsend: a quick, lightweight, no-fuss coff ee maker that produces genuinely

good results. We can recommend using it with Percol Guatemala. aeropress.co.uk

41

Gear: Day walk

Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4 This is not a large camera, but it’s an excellent one. It’s waterproof down to 15m, freezeproof, crushproof and wifi-compatible, although best for us are the quality and ruggedness it off ers for its 225g size. You’ll get manual and auto settings and a 25-100mm zoom – we took the pics shown here with it. olympus.co.uk

Brunton TruArc 20 Compass Brunton’s TruArc series are now the off icial compasses of the Scouts, and this model shows why. Its needle never loses polarity over time, and the compass itself has a sighting mirror, bubble level and triple clinometer system. A hugely

reliable companion for off -grid walkers. bruntoneurope.com

Bluetooth Splash Speaker. We’ve used this to listen to 6 Music in the shower, a podcast in a tent and the Ashes in the garden. It’s a sturdy, well-priced bit of Bluetooth kit. The sound

quality’s strong and the range is up to 10 metres - we can also vouch that it works in the rain. From gizoo.co.uk

42

Drying Room: Celebrity Q&A

room...Celebrity interview and reader pictures

It’s now 15 years since Ben Fogle first found fame on the BBC reality show Castaway. He’s since become one of Britain’s highest-profile adventurers, rarely straying far from an ocean, desert or mountain. We caught up with him for an exclusive chat about the places and people that have left him with the most enduring impressions.

Growing up, what do you remember about your first great outdoor experience?I grew up in central London without

a garden, but spent my long summer

holidays in rural Canada at my late

grandfather’s hand-built wooden

cottage on a lake. My memories were

of bears, canoes, beavers, fishing

and camping.

Closer to home, what makes the UK an exciting place to explore?The UK has it all. I love the British Isles.

We have so much in such a relatively

small area. Exmoor is hauntingly

beautiful, as are the Yorkshire Dales.

And in Scotland, the Outer Hebrides is

still one of my favourite places in the

world – it’s great for diving too.

You’ve raced across Antarctica, the Sahara and the Atlantic Ocean. Which was hardest? I’d have to say the Atlantic - the ocean

can be an unforgiving place. I’ve spent

a great deal of my life on the ocean

and I have learnt to respect it as much

as I love it.

New Lives In The Wild is on screens at the moment. What was the highlight?I loved filming with Swisswoman

Ben Fogle

43

Drying Room: Celebrity Q&A

Barbara in the Australian outback.

She was undoubtedly the toughest

wildman or wildwoman I have

encountered. She lives alone in one of

the least hospitable places on Earth.

Do the people you encounter in these remote locations have much in common?They have all followed their dream. They

have all gone in search of a simpler life,

often severing their ties to the grid. They

all share a universal happiness.

You’ve also been working on a fishing series. What advice would you give to people who have never tried it?Fishing is so simple. You don’t need all

the high-tech gear we see advertised.

All you need is a rod, a line and some

ingenuity. I have been amazed at the

simple rig it takes to catch mighty fish.

What’s been your most memorable wildlife experience? Worldwide, I’d say diving with wild Nile

Crocodiles in Botswana, but closer

to home it would have to be aboard

a fishing trawler on the North Sea.

(In 2014 Ben spent a full week on a

24-metre trawler, hauling thousands of

haddock and cod from the ocean.)

Finally, who would be your ideal walking mate for a summer hiking expedition?Someone who brings a combination of

good company and practicality. Ideally

my wife but she’s not the biggest fan

of hiking and camping. Can I take Sir

Ranulph Fiennes?

• Catch New Lives In The Wild on

Channel 5 now. See Channel5.com

for details.

44

Drying Room: Readers’ pics

Reader tweets: Share your adventure #livemoreYHA

We’ll print the best

reader photos every

edition. Share them on

Twitter #LiveMoreYHA

or email us on:

livemoreyha@yhaorg.uk

Reader photos

@laura_yha YHA Bryn Gwynant,

what a gem! Perfect

hostel for exploring

Snowdonia by bike

#LiveMoreYHA #YHA

#cycletouring

@joshlbs I’m sleeping in a castle tonight.

How cool is that? #LiveMoreYHA

@triathlon_x Really pleased

we can help

Breaks for Kids

charity through

partnership

with @

YHAOff icial

@JodieCJUK Brilliant stay @YHAOff icial with

@clitheroe_bc lots of cycling and

great scenery #LIVEMOREYHA

@nicolacranham In proper holiday mode now. Looking forward to long weekend at @

YHAWhitby & @YHAOff icial Boggle Hole with @thomascranham!

@PilgrimChris .@YHAOff icial

Thanks folks :)

Am hiking the

#PennineWay

and booked

a couple of

YHAs to break

up my wild

camping

along the way.

#LiveMoreYHA

Red Pike Selfie: Here’s one I took up on Red Pike while walking from YHA Buttermere over to YHA Ennerdale. Kevan Brewer.

Singing in YHA Brighton’s karaoke room. Don’t break these records! Kwok Leung.

Kids taking in the view from YHA Rowen on an exclusive hire. Mike Butler.

45

Drying Room: Celebrity Q&AThroughthe hostel

window Identify the view

competition

WIN! A pair of Hanwag Banks GTX worth £160!We have one pair of men’s or women’s Gore-Tex lined boots from German manufacturer Hanwag to give away to the winner of our competition. All you have to do is identify which YHA this photo was taken from. One lucky winner will be drawn at random. Answers to: livemoreyha@yha.org.uk by October 15.

ed boots from

Where will your next

adventure take you?

Share your adventures on social media:

facebook.com/WeAreYHA

twitter.com/yhaoffi cial

For all enquiries please contactlivemoreyha@yha.org.uk

Produced on behalf of YHA by Don’t Look Down Media. dontlookdownmedia.com

YHA Boggle Hole

YHA London Lee Valley YHA Stratford Upon Avon

YHA Wasdale Hall