The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) is closing 10 hostels because of losses caused by last year's foot and mouth epidemic, it was announced today. The hostels, which will close after the summer season, include venues in popular hiking areas such as the Peak District and Cumbria.

The YHA lost about £4m last year, after vast areas of the countryside were closed off to ramblers as part of the government's effort to prevent the spread of foot and mouth, said chief executive Roger Clarke.

Mr Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It is sad for us. Closing and selling these 10 youth hostels is not something we welcome, but the losses we sustained last year, which amounted to £4m, aren't ones that we can carry. We decided it was better to take the hit now and close 10 hostels, so we could carry on investing in the other 220 hostels in the network."

The closures will allow the YHA to continue with its programme of improvements to remaining hostels, as well as the opening of nine new ones, he said.

John Riddle of the Ramblers Association told Today: "It is tragic, because the foot-and-mouth disease has shown that the countryside needs walkers. The whole rural economy is dependent on people coming out into the countryside. For this to happen runs counter to everything that government ministers such as Michael Meacher and Alun Michael have been saying about the importance of getting walkers back into the countryside.

"The very last thing the government should do is stand aside and watch hostels close."

The hostels which are due to close are Aysgarth and Linton in the Yorkshire Dales, Elton and Buxton in Derbyshire, Holmbury St Mary in Surrey, Copt Oak in Leicestershire, Dufton in Cumbria, Norwich, Thurlby in Lincolnshire and Windsor in Berkshire.