THIS year marks a landmark in the ever-evolving history of one of Britain's best-loved institutions.

It is 80 years since the Youth Hostel Association opened its first extremely affordable, if somewhat spartan, accommodation to cater for the country's young ramblers and cyclists.

The YHA movement in the UK was officially formed in April 1930 after organisers realised how popular the idea had proved in various parts of Europe.

Its stated aim was to "help all, (but) especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them (in order to) promote their health, rest and education".

Within nine years, membership of the YHA had rocketed, rising from a modest 6,439 people during its first year of operation to a phenomenal 83,418 by 1939.

Plus, the number of hostels springing up all over the country also expanded rapidly, as more and more suitable buildings and cash was acquired.

The first hostel to open, in December 1930, was Pennant Hall, near Llanrwst in North Wales.

By the following Easter, 11 more centres had opened including Street, in Somerset and Idwal Cottage, in Wales – both still fully-functioning hostels today.

The original 11 also included the first Peak District-based youth hostel, Errwood, in the Goyt Valley, near Buxton, which unfortunately had to be closed when the reservoir was created.

By the time the Second World War broke out in 1939, there were a total of 297 hostels in Britain, ranging from basic wooden cabins and former mills to gracious old mansion houses such as Hardwick Hall, in Derbyshire.

This rapid growth was partly due to charitable donations from various trusts and wealthy patrons.

Primarily though, it was the incredibly enthusiastic response from members of the public, who quickly discovered that – even on the tightest budget – it was possible to visit and tour some of the country's most spectacular and scenic surroundings.

"By today's standards, the facilities at most of the hostels were extremely basic," recalled Lindsey Porter, of Ashbourne, a lifelong YHA member who has recently produced a book called Eighty Years of Youth Hostelling, with co-author Helen Maurice-Jones.

"Even in the 1960s when I first became a member, the washing facilities at some hostels were no more sophisticated than a nearby stream or pond. It would certainly wake you up on colder mornings!"

Included among the 700 or so photographs in the book is a drawing of the bathing facilities at Winchester Mill YH, in the 1930s, where members were required to dive into the mill race to bathe, then hold firmly onto ropes to ensure they didn't get swept away.

Most young visitors in the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and even 60s, were untroubled by the lack of comfort available and enjoyed the new levels of freedom and friendship that the YHA experience delivered.

"The idea behind the YHA was to encourage youngsters to develop a love and care of the countryside, by enabling them to spend more time in it," said Lindsey.

"In an era when it would cost at least half-a-crown (25p) to stay in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, youth hostels were charging just a shilling (5p), supplying visitors with cooking facilities and a bed for the night. This suddenly opened up rural holidays and tourism to many more individuals and it proved very popular."

The organisation strongly resisted allowing motorists to stay in their hostels until the late 1960s.

Only walkers and cyclists were welcome and, as more and more hostels opened, it became possible to plan routes which allowed youngsters to journey cross-country, from one hostel to another.

"When they arrived at a hostel, it was possible to either buy a meal or cook your own, depending on budget, and most of the larger hostels still offer this catering choice to visitors today," said Lindsey.

Another big appeal of youth hostelling is that it is possible to stay in the most amazing buildings and locations where the atmosphere always tends to be friendly and informal.

"In the early days, the rules and regulations were quite strict in some respects," said Lindsey. "It was single-sex dormitories only, plus visitors were expected to be inside, with doors locked, for a certain time – with no exceptions."

Despite restraints and encounters with occasional officious YHA wardens, hostels proved a great place for young people to meet and socialise.

"You would be amazed how many friendships started through the YHA and later blossomed into marriages," said Lindsey.

"At one point in the 1950s and 60s, there was an in-joke that the movement's initials stood for "Your Husband Assured", because marriages became such a common occurrence."

Some couples who met through youth hostelling have chosen to run hostels, as did the parents of Helen Maurice-Jones, who co-wrote the new book.

Helen grew up in Colwyn Bay Youth Hostel, which was run by her parents, and she has been a YHA member ever since – now serving the movement as a trustee and a national officer.

As a child, Lindsey couldn't wait to reach the minimum age of 14 so he could make his first trip to stay at Ilam Youth Hostel, in Staffordshire.

Now a regional officer for the movement and a trustee, he revealed that he still stays in Youth Hostels for about 50-60 nights of the year and is proud of the fact that the organisation now appeals to all age groups.

"I have to say that the standards of comfort are very much above what they used to be, which helps," he said.

"Membership has peaked and dipped over the years but the YHA has constantly listened to what members want and adapted to suit the demands of new generations."

Security, comfort and privacy are three areas which have been constantly improved, with many hostels now offering family rooms and rooms with en-suite facilities – luxuries only dreamt about during the early days.

Pricing of rooms and beds remains competitive and constant throughout peak and low seasons.

So the original desire to offer good value accommodation and encourage the public to get to visit and embrace their country is still a priority.

Were you a YHA member in your younger days? Why not share your memories and photographs of the movement and your experiences of rambling and staying in hostels with Bygones.

Write to Bygones, Derby Telegraph, Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2BH or e-mail bygones@derbytelegraph.co.uk.