When you’re from a small town in the midlands, you end up taking the countryside a little bit for granted. Where I live, in the sleepy village-like town of Market Harborough, just a few minutes of walking takes me well into ‘fields and sheep’ territory. To get anywhere worth mentioning, I inevitably travel through some sort of greenery. Having never really given that much thought to how close my home town is to an unlimited resource of farms, walks and picnic opportunities, it was quite a change when I upped sticks and moved to Leeds last year.
Leeds might not be the biggest city in the world, and I was well aware of things like The Peak District and The Yorkshire Moors, but in the first few terms of uni life I was swept along with living in a big city. I’ve never been the most enthusiastic hiker; getting to the pub at the end of the walk had always been a highlight for me (even as a child, when an Apple and Mango J20 was the only major treat at the end of the tunnel). But after a while, I began to miss fresh air! Leeds’ vast array of bars, clubs, brick, tarmac and overall greyness was taking a toll – a girl needs green!
My first explorations into the great world of the country weren’t too far afield – and with Leeds, they don’t have to be. Jumping on the X84 bus from central Leeds takes you through Headingley and into the slightly sleepy market town of Otley. Having been in student-overridden Leeds for so many months, it was a breath of fresh air (no pun intended) to see actual families again: parents with buggies and children – things which I’d almost forgotten existed. A day spent in Otley and I was well in touch with my childhood. I had failed to remember how much pleasure can be gained from feeding a few somewhat bedraggled ducks my somewhat stale bread. And as I relaxed into this newfound grass-ridden, tree-lined land, I realised what student life was missing. Doing things like this is so often regarded as ‘uncool’ or just overlooked entirely, we forget that good clean fun is actually just what it says on the tin.
Next stop on the bus is Ilkley, a spa town about sixteen miles out of Leeds and home to the (kind of) famous Ilkley Moor. The views are gorgeous – something my thirteen year old self would be shocked and horrified to hear me say… but having recently discovered the joys of a good old-fashioned panoramic vista, Ilkley is the perfect place to be. It makes for great relaxation and a fab break from the horrible work stress we all suffer from at times. There are so many good walks in the surrounding area as well, which I’ve always found good stress-busters. A good stomp around a field or up a hill can do wonders to dispel the stresses and strains of university life.
My last little nugget of countryside-based anecdote is of last weekend, when, armed with waterproof coats and perhaps not-quite-waterproof-enough shoes, my friends and I took part in a birthday outing to the peak district. My friend Kirstie had been raving for almost a year about a really, really tiny village on the edge of Yorkshire called Ribblehead. I was up for the trip just because of its fantastic name, but once we learnt about the 24-arch Victorian viaduct, we were all sold. Climbing off the train on a rather bleak Saturday morning, we hastily scrambled to the pub – apparently the village’s (if you can call it that) main attraction. After an incredibly hearty pub lunch, we toddled out into the great outdoors and headed for the viaduct. What followed was several hours’ worth of getting in touch with nature, student style. We played ‘poo-sticks’ on a tiny bridge; we took photos of the sheep and made disgusting overuse of the joke ‘hello ewe!’; we got lost in the middle of a field and ended up trapped in by barbed wire; and we got very, very wet feet. Back in the pub at the end of the day and feeling ten years younger already (sounding like a L’Oreal advert I know!) we celebrated our initiative in doing something so distinctly un-studenty. And it was right on our doorstep.
All this rural gallivanting has made me realise that up here in Yorkshire we are a very long way from being trapped in the city. Getting out of Leeds is brilliant for your health – walking means exercise, and research has shown that being in ‘natural surroundings’ does wonders to reduce tension. New studies have also found a link between looking at lovely views and ability to cope with pain; so, no excuses – wake up, smell the flowers, and get walking!