LANDMARK youth hostels in the Lake District are to benefit from a new partnership with the UK's largest coach operator.

National Express coach tickets have gone on sale in four Lake District youth hostels making it easier for youngsters to explore the UK affordably.

Coach tickets can now be bought in the Ambleside, Grasmere, Windermere and Keswick, so hostellers have the option of hopping from hostel to hostel to see more of the country.

The development is the result of a ground-breaking partnership between the UK’s largest coach operator and the Youth Hostel Association (England and Wales).

Tom Kenney, manager of Ambleside YHA, said: “Many of the thousands of young people who stay in our hostel each year want to know how they can buy onward travel to other youth hostels, so this is a great way for them to be able to hop straight on the coach and continue their adventure.

The news comes as the number of young people travelling with National Express this month soared.

Young people have made five times as many passenger journeys in February using a National Express Young Persons Coachcard compared to the same period last year. That’s a year-on-year increase of more than 30,000 journeys.

For more information visit www.nationalexpress.com or call: 08717 818 181.