OKEHAMPTON'S youth hostel is one of 72 throughout England and Wales that will be opening its doors to the local community on Sunday, September 8 to celebrate YHA Day 2013.

The hostel will be offering a range of activities, such as a climbing wall, archery, low ropes challenge, and bike skills. Visitors are invited to take a look around the hostel and discover all that it has to offer. There will be refreshments available.

As well as showcasing the facilities available at the youth hostel, the free event is a 'thank you' to people who live in the area. Last year volunteers across England and Wales gave 120,000 hours of help so that the youth hosteling charity could continue to provide outstanding accommodation, learning experiences and facilities for young people and their families.

In the last six years more than £20-million has been invested in youth hostels throughout England and Wales and YHA was awarded a top five ranking in the Best UK Hotels category in a national newspaper.