Ripon Circular Walk | Exploring Historic Ripon and the Yorkshire Countryside

Ripon Circular Walk

Ripon is one of North Yorkshire’s most historic cities, and exploring it on foot gives you the chance to combine its historic streets and landmarks with the quieter countryside around the city. This Ripon Circular Walk was created as a way of exploring the area on foot, taking in the character of Ripon as well as the surrounding Yorkshire landscape.

At a Glance

Location: Ripon, North Yorkshire

Walk type: Circular route

Route information: The Komoot route below provides the mapped route and should be checked before setting out.

Terrain: City streets, paths and countryside

Navigation: Follow the mapped route below and take appropriate care on roads, paths and public rights of way.

About the Ripon Circular Walk

The walk begins with the history and character of Ripon before heading out towards the countryside surrounding the city. Ripon’s compact centre makes it particularly interesting for walkers because historic buildings, market streets and open spaces are all close together.

Ripon’s heritage is a major part of the experience. The city has a long history and is home to Ripon Cathedral, one of its most recognisable landmarks. The wider area also provides opportunities to enjoy the landscape around the city rather than spending the whole walk in an urban environment.

What You’ll See

One of the pleasures of walking around Ripon is the contrast between the historic city and the countryside beyond it. You can expect a mixture of streets, paths, open views and greener areas around the city.

The route also gives you an opportunity to appreciate Ripon itself rather than simply treating the city as a starting point. Its historic architecture, market area and cathedral all add interest to a walk that combines town and country.

Ripon Circular Walk Route

The route map is provided below through Komoot. Use the interactive map for the current route, navigation information and any available route statistics before setting off.

Walking in and Around Ripon

Ripon has a particularly good choice of walking opportunities. Visit Ripon lists several routes ranging from short city-centre trails to longer walks taking in the River Skell, Ripon Canal, surrounding countryside and Studley Royal. This makes the city a useful base for anyone looking for walks in North Yorkshire.

Before You Set Off

Check the Komoot route before leaving, wear suitable footwear for the conditions and take extra care where the route uses roads or shared paths. Weather can change quickly, so clothing and footwear should be appropriate for the day.

As with all walks, please follow the Countryside Code, respect local residents and landowners, keep dogs under control where required and leave no trace behind.

Explore More Yorkshire Walks

If you enjoy exploring Yorkshire on foot, take a look through our Yorkshire Walks collection for more routes across North, South, East and West Yorkshire.