Historic
YHA St Briavels Castle, Gloucestershire
There aren’t many moated Norman castles that you can stay in for less than £20 a night – but you can here. St Briavels was built as a hunting lodge for King John in 1205: explore it on a 45-minute guided tour, get into character with the help of the dressing-up box in the chapel or attend a medieval banquet. The most atmospheric rooms are at the top of the towers, up a steep, winding staircase. The castle is in the middle of the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, eight miles north of Chepstow, and Offa’s Dyke path runs right past.
• Beds from £19, private rooms from £59, sleeps 71
City
This brand-new boutique hostel opened this week in the former Royal York hotel, a grand building dating from 1819. The decor is more bohemian kitsch than your average wipe-clean style hostel, the bar serves stone-baked pizzas and the location, right in the centre of Brighton, couldn’t be better. All 51 rooms are en suite, including 18 doubles – the premium doubles have king-size beds, sea views and rolltop baths.
• Beds from £14.50, private rooms from £25, sleeps 151
Country
A converted mountain hut at the head of the Ennerdale Valley is the YHA’s most remote retreat, accessible only by foot or bike (the nearest road is 2½ miles away). Last year’s £260,000 renovation means it is also one of the most eco-friendly properties, with thermal insulation, sun pipes, photovoltaic and solar panels, a wood-burning stove and LED lights. Walkers have easy access to nearby peaks including Great Gable, Pillar, Red Pike and Steeple.
• Beds from £18, private rooms from £43.50, sleeps 16
Beach
YHA Poppit Sands, Pembrokeshire
This cottage is set in five acres of grounds stretching down to the sea, at the start/end of the Pembrokeshire coastal path. The communal areas were refurbished in 2011 and the kitchen, in particular, is impressively high-spec. Large picture windows look out over the beach – if you’re lucky, you might spot a seal or a pod of dolphins.
• Beds from £17.50, private rooms from £47, sleeps 34
Romantic
YHA Grinton Lodge, North Yorkshire
This recently restored shooting lodge, built in 1817, dominates the southern slopes of Swaledale and has fantastic views across the valley. The lodge is built around a central courtyard and has a honeymoon suite on the top floor. There are five cosy, heated wooden camping pods in the grounds, each with their own veranda. It is a 10-minute walk to the nearest pub, the Bridge Inn in Grinton, which has log fires and serves local game shot by the landlord and puddings made by his mum.
• Beds from £13, private rooms from £29, sleeps 81
For further information and to book all YHA properties, visit yha.org.uk
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