Once contained within the River Ure’s largest meander, this reserve changed dramatically in 2019 when the river made a permanent break-through, following its straightest course. With the new position of the river, much of the reserve is now completely inaccessible, a truly wild reserve where nature is in charge! 

Ripon Loop is a 41 hectare nature reserve forming part of the Ripon Parks Site of Special Scientific Interest, notified for the endemic Thistle Broomrape.

Kingfishers dart past and in winter large fish-eating goosander are frequently seen. Numbers increase if cold weather freezes over lakes and gravel pits in the area, forcing them to use the open water of the river. In summer, sand martin feed on insects overhead, breeding nearby in the soft riverbanks. They are one of the earliest summer migrant birds to arrive and their buzzing calls can be heard from March. The site is rich in plant life with marsh cinquefoil and narrow buckler fern in the wetlands, and bluebell and primrose in the woodlands.

• Spring: Plants - Bluebell; Birds - Sandmartin
• Summer: Plants - Thistle broomrape; Common knapweed; Common figwort; Invertebrates - Banded demoiselle
• Autumn: Birds - Kingfisher; Inverterbrates - Southern hawker
• Winter: Birds - Goosander; Green woodpecker; Bullfinch

Public transport
Ripon to Masham buses stop on the A6108 at Ripon City Golf Club.

By car
Turn right at Ripon City Golf Club, drive past the tennis club and driving range, past a right turn to a farm and take the next right (just after a no unauthorised entry sign) and drive to the end. A small parking area is available on the left before the gate. A surfaced track leads towards the river but due to the continuing erosion, the riverbank should be avoided.