Youth Hostels in Great Britain.
Many people who like walking, cycling and climbing are the members of Youth Hostels Association.(Y.H.A.) Any member of this association can stay at any of special hostels that are situated round the country. They can sleep and eat at this hostels for very little money, but have to pay an annual subscription to the Association. They also have to help with some of the housework.
All sorts of building have being changed into Youth Hostels. Farm-houses, water-mills, cottages, large country houses and even castles are now used as hostels. It is rather exciting to spend your holiday in a castle. Sometimes members use one hostel as a base and stay for a week or more, making hiking or climbing expeditions every day and returning to the hostel in the evening. Others travel from hostel to hostel, staying a night or two at each place.
YHAs all over the world belong to the International Youth Hostel Federation. Members can visit foreign countries on hiking, cycling or climbing expeditions, and stay overnights in hostels, where in summer they meet members from many different countries.
Lots of members from Britain go abroad for their holidays, whilst members from abroad come to England. Members of YHAs in other countries who want to spend holidays in England, can use the same membership card, so that it is just as simple to travel abroad as it is to travel in your own country if you are a member of a YHA.