We had passed countless hikers along Offa’s Dyke Path, and always exchanging greetings. Yet after so many miles, faces, and places to stay, our first genuine connection was made at Kington Accommodation—formerly YHA Kington. Anywhere else, it might have felt out of place; at a hostel, it felt entirely natural.
Over the past year, a few friends and I have been walking Offa’s Dyke in three-day sections. It’s a wonderful experience—stepping onto the trail we instantly leave the day-to-day behind and become completely engulfed in the natural world. Just today, on our fourth trip, we reached the official halfway point!
When planning our accommodation, location is everything. We’ve stayed in pubs, B&B, holiday flats and on this trip, for the first time, a hostel. Kington Accommodation (formerly YHA Kington) was perfectly placed at the end of Haye-Kington section and the beginning of Kington-Knighton section.
That’s where we met Emily, a solo hiker near the end of a week-long hike. Sitting together at the hostel, we chatted about why we walk, what the trail means to us, past adventures, and future trips we hope to take.
Emily set off at the crack of dawn the next morning, and we followed an hour or two behind.
We stayed in touch throughout the day – Emily sent us helpful information about water top-up locations and left us secret messages mapped out in stones and twigs, while we sent her photos from our wild swim and invited her to join us for tea. Reconnecting with her in Knighton that evening felt like catching up with a long-lost friend.
Even after she headed home, our connection with Emily continued. She sent updates from her train journey while we shared notes about our day, which will be the starting leg of her next adventure.
Emily starts that adventure next week – and I can’t wait to see her photos popping up on our WattsApp group.
The true value of hostels
We have passed countless people along the trail, always exchanging a few words. But on this trip, for the very first time, we forged a genuine, lasting bond.
It struck me that after so many miles, people and places to stay, this connection happened during our only hostel stay.
That speaks to the true value of hostels: they foster a unique, welcoming atmosphere where a group of women can naturally click with a solo walker. Anywhere else, it might have felt out of place. At the hostel, it felt completely natural.
Kington Accommodation is one of the recently sold youth hostels, previously known at YHA Kington, this independently owned property is no longer part of the YHA network.
The accommodation is run by a couple of keen walkers who in their own words “provide comfortable and affordable private rooms while still keeping the communal aspect of the old hostel”. Guests get shared use of the large kitchen dining area and TV lounge and the hosts are happy to advise on local walking and running routes.