TRIPS AWAY
We organise trips to destinations all over the UK and Europe. Most involve walking or cycling, and often sightseeing. Group sizes range from 8 to 10 members, on a cycle tour for example, to 25 or more when we hire an entire youth hostel. Trips are organised by members and run at cost. Participants arrange their own travel.
Youth hostels are ideal for large groups and we arrange spring, summer, autumn and New Year hostel trips in scenic areas of the UK with good walking options. There are also two or more trips a year to the Lake District, for mountain walkers. Often we book a whole hostel for exclusive use. Sometimes members may also reserve rooms in hotels or b&bs, although overall numbers on trips are normally limited.
For most European and cycling trips, members book their own accommodation. Cycle-touring and backpacking holidays usually mean staying in a different place every night and following a route navigated by the leader. We also do city breaks abroad, which are more loosely organised, allowing participants to explore in small groups. Camping has recently become popular too, with tent owners getting together via a WhatsApp group to arrange stays at UK sites.
TRIPS FOR 2024
This year our programme has featured more than 20 trips away, including these autumn and winter breaks:
East Sussex, 14-17 September: camping with walks on the South Downs
Ballater, 21-28 September: mountain walking in Scotland
Aberystwyth, 17-22 October: walking and sightseeing on the Welsh coast, staying in university accommodation
Rhodes, 28 October-3 November: a week of sightseeing on a Greek island
Portland Bill, 14-18 November: Dorset hostel trip including coastal walking
Llandudno, 28 December-2 January 2025: New Year trip with hostel accommodation in this North Wales seaside town
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025
These are the trips currently scheduled for next year. Most are hostel breaks as these must be confirmed well in advance, but there are many more trips in the process of being planned.
Seville, 7-12 March: sightseeing in the capital of Andalusia, southern Spain
Chester, 1-6 May: walking trip based at a hostel just outside the city centre
Isles of Scilly, 11-16 July: camping at a site on the island of St Martin's
Whitby, 18-23 July: hostel trip in this historic town on the Yorkshire coast
The Lizard, 18-23 September: Cornish coastal walks, based at a YHA hostel
Haworth, 29 December-3 January 2026: New Year trip staying at the YHA hostel in this Pennines village
