 | The Barnet YHA Group is affiliated to the YHA. Our members are in their 20s to 40+ and come from Barnet, Enfield, Potters Bar and the North London area. We have a common interest in outdoor activities, mainly walking and normally use YHA accommodation on our weekend trips. |
| The YHA is the Youth Hostels Association (England and Wales). It provides inexpensive accommodation for anyone, not only young people, in the countryside and in places of interest. |
| Weekends away and day walks are the major part of the Group's activities. We encourage you to participate in some of these events soon, to get to know people and find out what the Group does.
Roughly twice a month we organise walking weekends away. We also have day walks at weekends about once a month. During the summer months we usually have a programme of weekday evening walks. From time to time we also organise cycling weekends, canoeing or skiing trips and other weekends of an outdoor nature. This is all co-ordinated by the Outdoor Organiser (who is part of the Committee). A monthly newsletter provides details of events. |
| The committee is elected at the annual general meeting in October. All members are eligible to vote and any member can stand for election. |
| How are weekends arranged? |
| Weekend organisers encourage members to join their particular weekend and collect deposits for the hostel accommodation and transport expenses. Youth hostels require money for accommodation in advance.
The weekend organiser also co-ordinates transport. Usually we share cars or hire a minibus.
If we share cars then the drivers who take at least two other passengers are paid a standard rate to compensate them for petrol and reasonable wear and tear to their vehicle.
On a Friday evening, we normally meet outside the Barnet 'Odeon' Cinema around 6.00pm although it could be earlier in some cases (check with the weekend organiser before you book). We usually return to the Odeon by 10.00pm Sunday evening (or Monday on a Bank Holiday weekend). Of course this can't be guaranteed if there are traffic jams or we are driving back from a place (such as in the Lake District) that is very far from Barnet. Members make their own arrangements for travel to and from Barnet Odeon.
On Saturday, the people on the weekend organise one or two walks depending on the size of the group and what people want to do. Of course, we like to try and stop at a pub and/or tea shop if there is one along the way.
On the Saturday evening we can either cook our own meal in the youth hostel, (possibly a communal meal), take a meal provided at the youth hostel or eat out.
On Sunday a shorter walk is organised. We try to be finished by 3.00 or 4.00pm. |
| What's a Youth Hostel like? |
| The building could be a cottage, a large house or even a castle. Some are situated in remote places. They vary in standard from simple to almost hotel like.
Typically, a youth hostel has separate dormitory style rooms for men and women with bunk beds. Each dormitory may accommodate from 4 to 12 or more. A sheet sleeping bag, pillow and duvet are provided. It usually has a small but usable members kitchen, a common room with books and magazines and a drying room. Many youth hostels serve breakfast and dinner for an additional fee. |
| What do I need to bring on a weekend? |
| The short answer is food and clothing! Full details are in the Barnet YHA Members' Guide.
You need to bring food for dinner on Saturday unless a communal meal is planned, or there is a pub in the vicinity of the hostel or you plan to buy a meal from the hostel (not all hostels provide meals). You also need food for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday unless you plan to buy a hostel breakfast.
You also need food for lunches while we are walking on Saturday and Sunday. This isn't necessary if we are stopping at a pub which is known to serve food and you don't mind paying for a pub lunch. |
| How are weekend day walks organised? |
| Typically we meet at 9.00 - 9.30am outside the Barnet 'Odeon' cinema and transport is arranged by the organiser to the start of the walk. A pub lunch is normally an option but bringing a packed lunch usually works out cheaper.
Depending on the time of year, we walk until about 4.00pm then travel back to Barnet to arrive by 6.00pm. |
| We allow you to join us for up to four Tuesday evenings and one weekend away to 'Try the group out'. After this time, if you wish to join the group, you need to take out membership. This is currently £30 for a whole year up to 31st October or pro-rata if you join part way through the Group's year. (If you join in April you will pay £15, July £7.50 etc.) For all Barnet YHA Group weekend trips that use YHA accommodation in England and Wales, you will be covered by Barnet YHA Group's Group membership Card so you do not need to be a member of YHA (England & Wales) Limited or of any other country's youth hostel association that is affiliated to IYHF. For all Barnet YHA Group trips that use YHA accommodation other than in England and Wales then you need to be a member of YHA (England & Wales) Limited or another country's YHA that is affiliated to IYHF. When st\ying independantly in Youth Hostels in England and Wales you can either be a member of YHA (England & Wales) Limited or another country's YHA that is affiliated to IYHF or pay the extra fee, (£3 per person per night in 2008), which YHA (England & Wales) Limited charges. |
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