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Original poster

Teens travelling

56 replies

MulberryP1e · 27/05/2014 17:05

My daughter is almost 15 and wants to go travelling (by bike) with a couple of friends and stay in youth hostels around the country. I think shes a bit young, not to mention the worry of traffic issues.
Anyone else with similar experiences?/emo/te/9.gif

OP posts:
Shakirasma · 27/05/2014 17:28

At 14?? Over my dead body would my DDs be allowed.

usualsuspectt · 27/05/2014 17:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wheresthelight · 27/05/2014 17:31

Not a chance!!!

Doinmummy · 27/05/2014 17:31

Yes too young at this age.

Shonajay · 27/05/2014 17:32

I was just 16 when I did it with a group of mates and it was one of the best holidays ever. Depends how sensible she is.

CoffeeTea103 · 27/05/2014 17:32

No ways!

usualsuspectt · 27/05/2014 17:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doinmummy · 27/05/2014 17:34

Minimum age is 16 for youth hostels

Doinmummy · 27/05/2014 17:35

have a look here

WorraLiberty · 27/05/2014 17:37

Far too young without adult supervision

ICanSeeTheSun · 27/05/2014 17:38

Too young in my book.

drinkingtea · 27/05/2014 17:40

I'm all for giving kids freedom and responsibility but think 16, not 14, nearly 15. Doin's link hopefully helps if its against "the rules" for YH, yhen its out of your hands.

exexpat · 27/05/2014 17:40

I went youth hosteling at 15 with a friend, but walking and taking buses rather than cycling. How old are the friends, how sensible are they, have they done big day trips by bike before?

I think I would probably get her to work up to it with day trips, then maybe one overnight/weekend somewhere not too far away, rather than launching straight into a big cross-country trip. That should probably wait until she's 16 or so.

exexpat · 27/05/2014 17:42

Ah - just saw Doin's link - they've obviously changed the rules on age since my day (this was 30+ years ago). If youth hostels won't allow it, then no.

BoomBoomsCousin · 27/05/2014 18:01

I did this with a group of friends in the year before O'levels (so, a long time ago and we were all 14/15). It was nothing beyond our capabilities. We had a great time and are all really good friends. We met a lot of new people from lots of different countries. Got plenty of exercise and developed our social and planning skills. We were all fairly sensible girls an already probably pretty independent compared to teenagers today. I think our parents were a bit concerned, but fortunately had the sense to step back from their panic and give us the space to grow.

However YHA no longer allow unaccompanied under 16 year olds. Which is a great shame I think.

Petrasmumma · 27/05/2014 18:26

14? It's tough, some are ready, some not. For my DD, I'd have said no, too many links. A point to point trip across the country, sure.

CQ · 27/05/2014 18:28

Friend of mine's son did this with 3 other lads in the Western Isles. Cycled from hostel to hostel on their own, dad did back up in a people carrier to get them all home again at the end. Presumably a parent could stay in the hostel each night with them to get over the under-16 rule.

I would pick the route very carefully - not much traffic in the Western Isles so perfect, but I'd be very nervous anywhere else.

Scholes34 · 27/05/2014 20:17

Can they mend a puncture?

Fathertedfan · 27/05/2014 20:19

No way. Camp Beaumont is about enough freedom for that age.

whois · 27/05/2014 21:02

Could they all go on a PGL holiday together or something simmolar?

drinkingtea · 28/05/2014 06:20

Duke of Edinburgh Award starts at 14, and has kids in groups walking maybe cycling is allowed these days, no idea) long distances "off road" and camping... there would be an adult on the camp site at bronze (from age 14) but not silver (for which you could be 15) where you have to wild camp... if its still the way it was 25 years ago that is!

I think teens who want to have this YHA adventure will feel roundly insulted by the suggestion of PGL :o

What about the idea of letting them do it more like a D of E expedition though - one of the parents will stay at each of the Youth Hostels (not in the same room - YHA hostels do singles suited to adults past the dorm stage of life) and they have to submit their route to the parents for approval (keeping off main roads etc) and whoever is doing the following night's youth hostel stay will catch up with them at some easily accessible part of the route around lunch time... Assuming at least one or two of them have phones these days, they can also promise to call in if they have to change their route for any reason, or need help.

Of course that requires quite an investment from parents - but that would make this trip OK for me as a parent I think... Done like that it really could be something they remember and learn a lot from, as well as have a lot of fun...

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 28/05/2014 07:22

There are adults at the campsite even with gold DofE. Well at least there were when I did it a couple of years ago (and we were all over 20, so really didn't need adult supervision).

14 is way too young.

Hakluyt · 28/05/2014 07:28

Such a shame about the 16+ age restriction- do they check?

Hakluyt · 28/05/2014 07:29

Sorry,-of course the fob would be on their membership details. [blusj]

Hakluyt · 28/05/2014 07:30

Blush even