The YHA has 300,000 members

But member donations and government aid have helped soften the blow, as did the temporary shutting down of some hostels during the outbreak.

Andy and Niki Reynolds run the Malvern Hills Youth Hostel.

They were badly affected by foot and mouth, but luckily their hostel isn't facing closure.

"We lost a lot of business," says Andy. "In March last year we had 350 cancellations. But we survived.

Bookings up

"And even though the footpaths on the hills here were closed for a few months we managed to stay open."

Since then walkers have returned. And now, a year on, bookings are up on previous years.

HOSTEL FACTS

Annual membership is �13 for adults, �6.50 for children Overnight costs vary depending on location, size and facilities A night at Malvern Hills will cost �10.25 for adults and �7 for children

Andy and Niki started running the Malvern hostel just before the outbreak. It's been a hard first year, but Andy is glad they took the job.

"My wife and I worked in the money markets of the City for 11 years. Eventually we'd just had enough. So we packed it in and went back-packing for a year.

"Friends of ours ran a hostel and it looked like a great life. And when we came home that's what we decided to do."

Quality of life

Running the hostel allows them more time to spend with their baby daughter.

"We live in a beautiful part of the country, in a fantastic Edwardian manor house. We have a much better quality of life than we had before."

But it isn't all a rural idyll.

The Youth Hostels Association is a registered charity. But it is also a big employer - it has 1,350 staff and has to run itself like a business.

Andy and Niki are a bit like pub managers. They decide how to run their hostel, dealing with suppliers and catering for members.

Increase

But they have to keep within the YHA's rules, which means, for example, they don't set the overnight charges.

The YHA has 300,000 members, which it's hoping to increase to 500,000 in the next five years.

To do that, it recognises it can't stand alone. It's already working with local authorities and the National Trust, and this year will open nine new hostels in the likes of Portland, Leominster and the Lizard.

The partnership arrangement means the YHA won't own the actual premises, and start-up costs for the new hostels will be comparatively low.

It is also keen to point out that the Youth Hostel Association isn't just for young people. All are welcome.