YHA Dalby Forest YHA

The cosiest hostel in the North York Moors is the old converted primary school in the village of Lockton – it's only a mile or so from Levisham station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and makes a good budget base for the eastern side of the region, including nearby Dalby Forest. Four rooms sleep just 21 people – the smallest, for three, has an en-suite bathroom, otherwise you share facilities. Eco-credentials are spot-on: it was one of the YHA's first 'green' hostels, so you've got solar-heated showers, a wood-burner in the lounge and a partly grass-covered roof. For pubs, there's the Horsehoe at nearby Levisham (good for Sunday lunch) or the Fox & Rabbit out on the main Whitby road, both about a mile's walk away. It's also one of the better YHA hostels for walkers – not just for the homely facilities but also for its proximity to the magnificent Hole of Horcum walk, one of the best days out in Yorkshire.