The Top Five things to do if you fancy stepping out of the student bubble
Leeds. Being home to over seven universities and college, a social scene that caters to all and a population with over 250,000 students this makes it one of the largest and most vibrant student populations in the country. In a city where you are constantly surrounded by the ‘student life’ it’s hard not to be swamped into the student bubble and forget the ‘outside’ world. As fun and exciting as life at University is, having a break and leaving the busy and hectic demands of essay writing, deadlines and exams is sometimes a necessity.
Yorkshire is a great county and some of us say goodbye to it for good on the day we graduate. So for those who want to make the most of being here, fancy having a change of scenery, want to discover something different by doing some fun-loving outside activities or simply just want to experience something new and step-out of that student bubble, here are five fun things to do.
1. Wild Swimming
If you’ve done it before – do it again. If you haven’t – try something new. Wild swimming’s popularity has truly soared over the years. Not only is it something that is fun and different but there are great psychological and health benefits from taking a natural dip. Regular outdoor swimming strengthens the immune system and mental constitution and physical state by relieving depression and elevating mood. It has been proven to be great for reviving tired muscles because of its ability to soothe muscle aches. It’s also one of the most effective ways to burn calories.
Living in Leeds we are essentially spoilt for choice on where to go for wild swimming. A few great well-known places that are not too far from Leeds include ‘Loup Scar’ in Burnsall, North Yorkshire and ‘Thomason Foss’ in Goathland, North Yorkshire. It’s important that if you are going for the first time to go to a well-known place and to never go alone. As with anything safety is really important so if you decide to go wild swimming make sure that you take the time to visit www.wildswimming.co.uk and take necessary safety precautions.
2. Folky Village Pubs
Fancy seeing something different other than the Otley Road pubs or pubs in the city centre? Why not try venturing to a folky village pub? The White Hart Inn is a popular one not too far from Whitby. With a friendly and traditional atmosphere this pub is a great place to go to if you fancy making a trip up to Whitby to visit the town and beach. Another folky village pub that has great reviews is ‘The General Tarleton Inn’ in Knaresborough.
3. Yorkshire Three Peaks
The Yorkshire Three Peaks is an ideal challenge for anyone who loves to hike or just feels like doing something challenging and stimulating. The Yorkshire Three Peaks includes the mountains of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent. These three mountains cover 24.5 miles and usually it can be done in less than 12 hours. You can do this as part of an organised event or get a few mates together and make it a self-organised thing. It’s a great achievement, especially if you’ve never done anything like it before.
4. Small Towns and Villages
Yorkshire is filled with great small towns that are rich in history and have natural beauty. About a month ago I visited Saltaire, a village just 30 minutes outside of Leeds. The Victorian Model Village is a designated World Heritage Site with its perfectly rowed houses and its ancient cobbled streets, being in Saltaire feels like stepping back in time. The village’s textile mill tradition would appeal to anybody interested in history; with an insightful and informative museum (that has a pretty epic arts store) that tells you all that you need to know about its past function. On top of all this, Saltaire has beautiful open and large parks with rivers and lakes and a great selection of antique-like old English Cafes. The calm ambience of the village and friendly locals allow these cafes to be the perfect place to study- in addition to there being a highly unlikely chance of getting distracted by bumping into someone you know! But Saltaire isn’t the only great place out there. Knaresborough, Otley and Malton are other great, small towns.
5. Caving in the Yorkshire Dales
With the largest caving area in the UK being in Yorkshire, caving is a great activity to make the most of whilst being here in Leeds. The Yorkshire Dales are famous for their rich caving opportunities with 2000 caves and potholes and more than 400km of surveyed passages. Extensive and well-known systems in the Dales include ‘The Three Counties’ and ‘Kingsdale Master Cave.’ If you’re up for an exciting adventure and don’t mind getting dirty, caving is perfect for you. You can organise to go as a group or as an individual. There’s no need to be experienced as there are qualified instructors available to help you.
So… what are you waiting for?! Ditch the books and dig out your walking boots for a day or two in the great Yorkshire outdoors. You’re bound to come back feeling refreshed, and ready to conquer whatever University has in store for you!
Image Credit:
First Picture – Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/jul/22/urban-wild-swimming-switzerland-zurich-geneva
Second Picture. Available From: http://lichfieldlore.co.uk/category/pub/
Third Picture. Available From: http://www.vacationhomes.net/blog/2012/03/12/top-10-picturesque-villages-in-england/