Introduction
Explore our countryside breaks
Looking for a countryside break? With 13 National Parks and 38 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, England and Wales are lucky to be blessed with some of Europe’s most beautiful countryside. And with breaks from the Peaks to Yorkshire and Brecon Beacons, you can stay at the heart of some of the best rural landscapes with YHA.
Our historic and unique properties are perfectly positioned in the best locations for a countryside break, where you will meet friendly people and come back to comfy accommodation, practical facilities and tasty food. We'll always make sure you have a visit you remember.
Popular countryside blogs
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Four hostels near National Nature Reserves
England and Wales collectively have close to 300 National Nature Reserves (NNRs), places that were set up to conserve our landscapes, seascapes and wildlife.
Places to stay in the countryside
Stay with YHA and discover hidden gems dotted along the English and Welsh countryside.
Absorb wonderful views and explore the rolling fells within easy reach of your doorstep. Our hostels are located close to some of the very rural landscapes in England and Wales, so take your pick and make your countryside break one to remember.
Areas to stay
Cornwall
With beautiful countryside, rolling hills and thick forests and everything in between, there's nowhere in the world quite like Cornwall.
Somerset
With three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the iconic Exmoor National Park, Somerset is a walker’s paradise.
Devon
Devon is the perfect place to get away from it all, with five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the rugged wilderness of Dartmoor and the rustic villages to explore.
Dorset
Dorset has the best of both worlds; from calming coastline to breath-taking rural landscapes to explore, this place has it all.
Yorkshire
Explore God’s Own Country, Yorkshire and get lost in the two magical national parks on a walking or cycling holiday with loved ones.
Lake District
Comprised of 885 square miles of mountains, woodland, lakes and vast open spaces, the Lake District is the perfect rural escape.
Peak District
Explore the splendid countryside of Britain's oldest national park, which boasts some of the best walking, climbing and cycling terrain.
Yorkshire Dales
Book a break in this beautiful part of England and discover the moors, valleys and hills of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Northumberland
Holiday in England’s most northerly county and discover Hadrian’s Wall or visit the pretty towns of Alnwick and Berwick.
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is known to be one of the most rural counties in England, and it's clear why, with miles of peaceful countryside and rambling opportunities.
Wales
With miles of breath-taking countryside, beautiful coastline, great nightlife, and an iconic national park. Wales boasts plenty to see and do on a rural getaway.
Eryri (Snowdonia)
Home to Yr Wydffa (Snowdon), endless rambling trails and over 100 lakes, Eryri (Snowdonia) is the perfect spot for a walking or mountain biking holiday.
Sussex
With miles of beautiful coastline and acres of stunning countryside, there are plenty of things to see and do when visiting Sussex.
Brecon
Discover the magical Brecon Beacons National Park with a stay with YHA. Including Pen Y Fan, the area boasts great walking and climbing opportunities.
Dartmoor
Dartmoor National Park is full of appealing geographical features like forests, rivers, wetlands and tors - perfect for a getaway exploring the area.
Kent
This iconic county is best known for its famous chalk clifftops, its quirky towns and villages and its pretty countryside and coastline.
Properties to hire in the countryside
Hire the whole property to yourself and explore miles of rolling fells, enchanted woodlands and stunning landscapes close by.
Make sure to capture the beautiful scenery and views in your memory whilst you discover everything these beautiful parts of the UK have to offer. Our hostels are at the heart of it all, so take your pick and make your countryside break one to remember.
Areas to stay
Cornwall
Whether it’s a remote cliff-top getaway or a rural retreat in the countryside you’re looking for, discover our unique and properties available for your getaway.
Somerset
If you’re looking for the perfect countryside spot with plenty to see and do within the area, discover our perfectly positioned, rural properties.
Devon
Take your pick from our properties on rural coastline, as well as in the heart of Dartmoor and rambling countryside.
Dorset
If you’re looking for a rural escape with plenty to see and do in the area, take a pick from our well-positioned properties.
Yorkshire
We have plenty of unique properties at the heart of the Yorkshire countryside. See for yourself.
Lake District
If you’re looking for the perfect countryside getaway, we have plenty of properties at the heart of the Lake District National Park.
Peak District
From grand houses to a Victorian folly, take your pick from our range of Peak District properties available to hire.
Yorkshire Dales
Take your pick from our unique properties, located at the heart of some of the country’s best countryside spots.
Northumberland
Choose from a range of unique properties which offer the great access to some of the best rural landscapes in the country.
Herefordshire
We have some amazing properties available to hire for those looking to enjoy a peaceful, slow-paced rural escape.
Wales
Take your pick from a range of unique properties located at the heart of some of the best rural landscapes the country has to offer.
Eryri (Snowdonia)
We have some great properties available to hire situated in the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. A walkers’ paradise.
Sussex
Hire a YHA property in Sussex and have easy access to some of the best countryside landscapes in the area.
Brecon
Hire one of our unique properties situated at the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Dartmoor
Choose from our range of properties in the Dartmoor National Park and discover the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Kent
Take your pick from our two properties which are perfectly positioned to discover all the great things Kent has to offer.
View self-guided walking maps
Explore the area
Looking for inspiration on where to explore for your next countryside break? You can download maps and route guides for walks from many of our hostels — picking your difficulty level from easy to more challenging. All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel. What could be more convenient!
Exploring Snowdonia
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