OKEHAMPTON Youth Hostel has become the second busiest hostel in the South West in its first full season.

With over 10,000 overnight stays this year, the site is second only to the hostel at Pendennis Castle at Falmouth in Cornwall.

Manager John Elson is delighted but is keen to promote the message that the hostel is not just for tourists.

'We have a lot of activities here that are not just available to people who stay with us — I think people will be surprised to discover just what goes on here.

'From mountain biking to astronomy, gorge scrambling to dowsing for leylines (the earth's energies), there is something for everyone.'

The railway station building was developed into a youth hostel thanks to a £200,000 local fundraising campaign. It is one of only two activity centres in the country run by the Youth Hostel Association, which Mr Elson believes is one of the reasons for its success.

Limited activities have been run since 1997, but this year has been the first full season since the centre, which has 102 beds, was completed.

In two weeks time the hostel will welcome 56 children from a South African primary school rugby team and their families.

They are playing all over the south west and using Okehampton as a base.

Early next year a choir of 60 Canadian youngsters are staying at the hostel for three days while they tour the area performing.

Mr Elson said these were just two of the many varied bookings that the hostel had received.

'We have a large amount of accommodation which is relatively inexpensive and Okehampton is such a good base — I really do not know why there was not a youth hostel here before,' he said.

'In the summer we had 18 people working in the hostel which is a lot of employment. We do not have so many at this time of year but a lot of people choose winter as the best time to enjoy the moor.'

The manager is keen to get more local people involved in the youth hostel, both in running events and attending them.

'This year we launched a programme of Discovery Weekend Breaks with some interesting and unusual topics such as astronomy, astrology, geology, letterboxing, Tarka the Otter to name a few,' he said.

'These discovery breaks have really taken off and we are looking for some new ideas for next season.

'Most of the courses are run by local experts and enthusiasts so we are asking people with a special interest to get in touch.

'It is a way of earning some extra money and can be great fun and rewarding.

'The area has such a wealth of skills and interest — I am sure we can come up with another exciting programme.'

Anyone interested should call Mr Elson on 01837 53916.