The Journey: autumn 2025

Hello... and welcome to the latest issue of The Journey.

Autumn is a wonderful season. Spring gets the flowers and summer the crowds, but there’s a huge amount to be said for autumn's potential for travel and discovery, when things are quieter and cosier and when hats, gloves and jackets start coming into their own again.

Various themes run through this issue of the magazine, but the two most prominent are history and outdoor adventure. Both, of course, are central to the year-round appeal of England and Wales as visitor destinations — two neighbouring nations with endless stories to tell and endless corners to explore. In the case of this issue, when we say history, we mean proper, mists of time history. You’ll find an overview of some of the most stirring prehistoric sites on the map, from Stonehenge to Castlerigg, looking at what makes these longstanding monuments so special. If you enjoy running, meanwhile, we interview the incredible Jasmin Paris about her ultrarunning inspiration, delve into the pleasures of hostel-to-hostel jogging and — for anyone thinking of taking up running more seriously — give an overview of how best to get into this ever-popular pastime. And as ever, you’ll also find the usual news, reviews and features, including Let’s Go!, our pull-out section for young hostellers.

Happy autumn — and happy reading!