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#LiveMoreYHA - Issue 01 - August 2015
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2
IT’S THE OPTIMAL MIX OFRESOLUTE DESIGN ANDFLAWLESS FUNCTIONALITYTHAT MAKES OUR PACKSTHE RIGHT CHOICE FORMOMENTS LIKE THIS
17:27PMGARACHICO
3
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
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18
22
30
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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
Illu
stra
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n: e
tsy.
com
/ad
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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!
20% OFFaccommodation at YHA Brighton 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
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
YHA Membership
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29
Claim your free copy of Country Walking, Trail or any other Bauer title
How to claim your benefits
To claim your YHA membership discounts, follow these steps:
1. Log in/Register on www.yha.org.uk with the email address you provided when you purchased your membership
2. Once you arrive at “My Profi le” click the “Member Benefi ts” tab
3. This will provide you with discount codes for our partners and a button to access over 350 discounts on high street brands
Call 0800 665 442 and quote YHAA to claim your free magazine delivered to your door. (Magazines to choose from include: Match, Grazia, Car, Country Walking, Bird Watching, Trail, Top Santé, Garden News, Heat, FHM)
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
be used by telephone when calling 0800 665 442. This off er cannot be used in conjunction with any other off er. Lines open 9.30am-8.30pm Mon-Fri and
10am-1.30pm on Sat. Calls are free from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles and other providers may vary. Off er available for UK addresses only and subject to
availability. You will receive the next issue of your chosen magazine, which could take up to 6 weeks to be delivered. Off er closes 31st Dec 2015 and is limited
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
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