Discovering the Peak District
Despite being a keen walker I explored very little of the Peak District in my younger days. A few trips climbing at Stanage and Froggatt, but for walking I tended to bypass this area in favour of Snowdonia, the Lakes…
Find your YHA Walk
The YHA Festival of Walking 2023 is well under way. Have you chosen your route yet? With 170 routes available there is something for everyone. But how do you choose a route? Where do you want to go? How far…
Walking inspiration
Walking books and printed route guides do more than tell you where to walk. They are inspirations and may even be works of art. Reading them, even with no intention of undertaking a walk – at least before you started…
Country Parks, Commons and Nature Reserves
Are local country parks, commons and nature reserves the unsung heroes of the outdoor world? Often run by local authorities or town councils these stunning spaces are relatively small. Many nestle happily beside built up areas and provide a brief…
Reflections from creating routes for YHA Walks
What I learnt from producing 180+ walking routes for the YHA Festival of Walking. Including a new approach to route grading and route cards which provide walkers with essential information to help decide which route is for them.