YHA announces investment in popular Derbyshire Youth Hostel

YHA (England and Wales) has announced YHA Edale in Derbyshire's Hope Valley, as one of the recipients of the first round of investment in 2014.

The 157-bed Youth Hostel, which is hugely popular with schools and groups looking for adrenaline-fueled adventure breaks in the surrounding Peak District, is to undergo a £250,000 makeover to create a world class outdoor activity centre.

As part of the investmentmost bedrooms at YHA Edale will be refurbished, all washrooms upgraded, the reception, lounge and self-catering kitchen will be redecorated and refurbished. Additionally the dining room will undergo full refurbishment and be reconfigured to better accommodate customers.

The Youth Hostel, which comprises three separate buildings, will close in early January while the work is completed and will have a phasedre-opening commencing on 7th February 2014.

With Kinder Plateau, the highest gritstone peak in the Peak District, just behind the hostel, YHA Edale offers amazing views and great places for walking, climbing, mountain biking and cycling on its doorstep and is hugely popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

Caroline White, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales), said: "YHA Edale is one of our most popular locations for groups looking for a great activity break. The refurbishment of the Youth Hostel is part of our continuinginvestment in our hostels to ensure they offer the great welcome and friendly stay of which we YHA is rightly proud. We have world class hostels in fantastic locations and we want to make sure that as many people as possible know about what a great time they can have when they stay with us.
 

"YHA Edale is just one of more than 160 Youth Hostels that provide young people, whether coming in education groups, with their families or travelling independently, with excellent affordable accommodation in a wealth of stunning locations." 

In 2013, YHA invested more than £13 million in its network, refurbishing eight Youth Hostels and creating a new one - YHA South Downs - in East Sussex. YHA Edale is the first investment announcement in 2014 and more are set to follow aspart of the Youth Hosteling charity's capital investment plan to create a world-class network of Youth Hostels in England and Wales and change the outdated public perception of its accommodation.

YHA's continued investment in its network is helping YHA put further distance between the outdated public perception of Youth Hostels and the modern reality, which is proving particularly popular with young people and families looking for great value breaks in amazing locations.

For further information about YHA membership or to make a booking at a Youth Hostel in England and Wales visit www.yha.org.uk

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Photo captions

YHA Edale.jpg The 157-bed YHA Edale in Derbyshire's Hope Valley

YHA Edale - rock climbing.jpg The nearby Kinder Plateau makes YHA Edale popular with climbers

Notes to Editors

About YHA (England and Wales)

 YHA is a charity with a clear mission: to inspire all, especially young people, to broaden their horizons gaining knowledge and independence through new experiences of adventure and discovery.

YHA has a network of around 160 diverse hostels throughout England and Wales - often situated in exceptional locations. These welcoming and sociable spaces are open to everyone.

YHA helps young people take part in educational or recreational visits with their friends or classmates by providing financial support from YHA's bursary scheme, Breaks for Kids. In 2012, YHA awarded grants totalling £189,000, providing 5,722 funded trips for young people.

Caroline White, Chief Executive of YHA (England and Wales) is listed in the Women 1st Top 100 Club; a network of the most influential women in hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism, who act as ambassadors and role models for the female leaders of tomorrow.

In 2012, YHA welcomed 862,000 guests of all ages and backgrounds, who enjoyed 1,743,539 overnight stays.

In 2012 YHA (England and Wales) had 190,801 members.

Further information about YHA can be found atwww.yha.org.uk

For further information

Anna Melton

In the Works PR

Mob: 07837 108559

Email: anna@intheworkspr.co.uk