We’ve all been there. Sat on a squeaky chair in a cold office as a supervisor laments the weak arguments of your essay or the inaccuracies in your problem sheet. You make a hasty attempt to correct your mistakes, to no avail. The supervisor has tried to be supportive, but you are inadvertently left feeling ridiculed and disparaged. It is a supervision from hell.

Needing to clear your thoughts and move on, a walk can provide a cure. Here, I outline a suggested 20-minute walk (with few stops) to escape the assertive architecture of the city centre, and to reinvigorate feelings of validation. It is a walk to move on.

Free as a bird:

As indicated on the map, the walk starts at Great St Mary’s church (marked on the map as GSM). Head towards Queen’s Road via Orgasm Bridge. Then follow the uneven paved path along the backs.

The passing students ostentatiously discuss their recent essays, or — worse still — the intricacies of Hegelianism. Try to ignore them. Instead, consider taking time to admire the view of King’s Chapel. The escape from the town centre and the University may not be entirely fulfilled just yet, but at least you are looking at the buildings, rather than being immersed in them. Listen out for the cry of Peregrines from the turrets of the Chapel and surrounding buildings. Like the birds, you are free to come and go.

A visit to the ducks:

Proceed along the Backs and then along the pavement of Queen’s Road towards Darwin College. Shortly after passing the Granta Pub, take the path to the left. Here the small outlet from the former mill provides the fresh fragrance of petrichor, while on sunnier days the stony riverbed can be seen. Continue along the path running parallel to the channelised section of the Cam. There are fewer people here; despite the ambient urban sounds, it feels distinct from the hustle and bustle of the town centre, providing an opportunity to reflect and vindicate yourself after the terrible supervision-turned-interrogation.

“Like the birds, you are free to come and go”

At the staggered pedestrian crossing intersecting the Fen Causeway, take the smaller path on the left, and not the cycle way heading diagonally to the right. At the end of the path, where it meets a junction next to a footbridge, it is worth admiring the crowd of ducks which always seem to be present here enjoying the easy life. At the junction take the first left.

A musical interlude:

After a few metres on the new path, take the right fork, leading to the other section of the Cam. Continue along the footpath on the riverbank, before crossing the Fen Causeway again. This next section contains steps and a path which can be muddy. Take the first right, towards the footbridge. Here some entertainment can be found: each slat of the steps produces a slightly different tone (although unfortunately in no discernible order of pitch) — it is a musical bridge! Take time to observe the wildfowl sat preening their feathers on the bank or leisurely paddling in the river. Meanwhile, the Cam will continue to flow slowly beneath your feet (unless something catastrophic has prevented this …), washing away your ridicule and woes. For the moment, let time pass. Try to forget, just briefly, about the next supo and your forthcoming social commitments.

The return:

Time to move on. Play the discordant notes as you take the steps down from the bridge, before following the well-trodden path across the grassy meadow. On your left, the persevering spires of the city offer a vista of hope and worthiness. Head towards the city centre along the paved path, continuing on the road past the (bizarrely named) ‘Graduate Cambridge’ Hotel entrance, before taking the lane to the right. If you desire more solitude or escape, the neatly overgrown churchyard of Little St Mary’s is worth an explore (look out for the friendly cat!).

At the end of the lane, Pembroke is on the other side of Trumpington Street. This should be familiar territory. You can weave your way up Botolph Lane (I hadn’t a clue how to pronounce it) and Free School Lane to escape the crowds and students discussing their lectures, before returning to Great St Mary’s via King’s Parade.

I hope that by this point you have had an opportunity to escape the immediate physical and mental confines of the town centre, reconnected with nature, and reminded yourself that you are worthy of this University, for all that may be exhausting or demoralising about it. Perhaps you will be prepared for your next supervision. But if that doesn’t go according to plan, then maybe try this route again.