The sun is starting to make an appearance in Norwich and I LOVE IT! As Spring starts to say hello it’s a lovely reminder of how beautiful our city is and the lovely walks it has on offer.
We all know that sport and being active is good for our bodies, but physical activity is also really beneficial for our mental health and wellbeing. Mental health charity Mind says that physical activity improves self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, as well as reducing stress, anxiety and fatigue.
Getting outside and having some fresh air is perfect for clearing your head, taking your mind off things and finding inspiration. Here’s my list of favourite walks from campus around the city – to fit into a lunch break or for a nice rest and change of scenery from the workshop or studio.
Cathedral grounds
The Cathedral grounds are a close walk from Uni via Boardman House and Princes Street. As well as a lovely walk through the cloisters and around Cathedral Close there are plenty of areas to sit and relax. The grounds are big enough for a short walk but they also lead onto the river footpaths which offer longer routes all along the river; depending which direction you want to follow it will either bring you out along Duke Street or near Riverside.
St Benedicts Street
Another nice route to walk is along St Giles, then into Willow Lane, Cow Hill, Ten Bell Lane, turning right onto St Benedict’s Street and back onto St Andrew’s Street. This is definitely a city walk (no green or gardens) but it is generally quieter than the main areas of the city and offers some interesting buildings and shops to look at.
A sit down in the sun
The Castle Gardens and Chapelfield Gardens are lovely places to take a stroll around and there are lots of sunny spots to rest as they are very open. The Castle Gardens are a very short walk from Uni, just up Opie Street and along Castle Meadow, so a great spot to go if you need some fresh air but you’ve not got much time.
Other ways to stay active:
If you’re struggling and want to talk to somebody about it, NUA have a team of Support Advisors who can listen, chat and offer support. You can email them at support@nua.ac.uk to book an appointment, or click here to see the times and locations of their daily drop in sessions.
All the best,
Hannah
Students' Union President
Check out this PDF for three longer walks around the city.
