An HF Holidays volunteer leader in Malhamdale in the Yorkshire Dales

A holiday movement founded with the aim of encouraging the love of the open air celebrates its centenary next year.

The Holiday Fellowship began in 1913, the idea of former Congregational minister Thomas Arthur Leonard as a ‘less middle-class’ extension of his Co-operative Holidays Association.

From the beginning, the fellowship had a strong internationalist intent, and within a year of its formation had organised an overseas trip to Kelkheim in Germany though with the outbreak of the First World War two early HF guests ended up interned in the country for the duration of the war.

The fellowship shared many of the ideals of kindred movements such as the Ramblers and Youth Hostels Association with which Leonard was also involved.

But the organisation, now known as HF Holidays, has come a long way and now offers rural holidays with creature comforts demanded by today’s visitors.

Chief executive Brian Smith said: “We’ve come a million miles since our founder, TA Leonard, and a conference of friends registered the organisation under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act in 1913.

“We were first known as the Holiday Fellowship and TA Leonard’s original vision was ‘to provide for healthy enjoyment of leisure, to encourage the love of the open air and to promote social and international fellowship.

“And that remains our ethos today, with around 50,000 people enjoying one of our walking holidays every year, although our strapline is shorter: better walking altogether.”

The organisation, a cooperative owned by its members, has hosted three million holidays and now has comfortable en-suite rooms instead of single sex dormitories, and a bar at every one of their 19 country houses instead of the teetotal evenings typical of 1913.

Mr Smith added: “And while we still follow in TA Leonard’s footsteps across the Cumbrian fells, you can also walk with us in the French Alps or trek in the Tasmanian wilderness – just two of our walking holidays overseas.”

Newfield Hall will be the site of a small museum

HF Holidays plans to open a small museum at its Malhamdale walking base, Newfield Hall, and publishing an updated history of HF Holidays to mark the centenary.

It said it will continue to support mountain rescue, air ambulance and other organisations under its responsible tourism policy.

HF Holidays is also appealing to its 33,000 members to help it buy outright the Longmynd Hotel in Shropshire it currently leases.

It will also be supporting the Britain on Foot campaign launched by the Outdoor Industries Association, of which it is a member.