YHA Festival of Walking

Our partners at the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) have launched the second  Festival of Walking which is taking place across England and Wales after a great success last year.

The festival aims to bring all walkers, regardless of age and ability – together at their beloved hostels across England and Wales, as well as introduce new people to the beautiful landscapes of the UK.

During the festival, YHA is offering 20% off stays at 60 hostels across England and Wales, free self-guided walking route maps, and free-to-join social walks, including accessible walking routes. You can even enjoy a free cuppa and a cake at one of our beloved hostels taking part.

YHA has partnered with Ordnance Survey, The Ramblers, The BMC, and Cotswold Outdoor to deliver the festival.

We are pleased to be working with the Outdoor Citizens Community to break down barriers by funding four groups as part of the Festival of Walking, supporting diversity and inclusion in the outdoors.  

Find out more about how our funding helps these groups access the outdoors and what they will be getting up to during the Festival of Walking.

We are pleased to once again be working alongside side our partners to help everyone discover the outdoors.

The BMC is proud to once again work with YHA to get as many people as possible walking as part of the YHA Festival of Walking. BMC volunteer guides will lead a series of group walks, as well as providing advice and guidance to support new and aspiring hill walkers to get out into the hills.

They will also be rolling out additional BMC Hills 2 Oceans litter picking hubs to over 50 YHA hostels across the country so that even more visitors have the opportunity to help remove litter and plastic from our hills, mountains and crags so it doesn’t end up in our oceans!

The Ramblers are passionate about helping everyone enjoy the benefits of walking and will be leading social walks as part of the festival, offering a supported and safe space to get involved with walking, meet other walkers and build confidence.

Find out more about how you can join a social walk during the Festival of Walking.  

Ordnance Survey is proud to support the 2023 YHA Festival of Walking and help more people to get outside more often. Together, they are showcasing a selection of fantastic circular walking routes from YHA hostels across the country. Each hostel offers a beginner, intermediate and advanced route that can be easily followed using the OS Maps app. 

YHA are also offering the chance for you to win a whole hostel for the weekend on YHA Exclusive hire.

Up to value of £1500, reservations must be made by contact centre. Prize must be taken between November 2023 and March 2024 (excludes 21^st December 2023 – 3^rd January 2024)

•         Opening date: 09.00 on 18.03.2023
•         Closing date: 23.59 on 23.09.2023
•         Draw date: 25.09.2023 (winner will be notified by marketing@yha.org.uk within two weeks of the draw date)

To find out more visit YHA Festival of Walking.