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Ripon Basin, Ripon Canal

Accessible to all craft kept on the connected inland waterways

Silver Propeller Challenge

Location

Ripon

Visit Ripon Basin on the Ripon Canal by boat or canoe.

It has been chosen as a Silver Propeller Location to encourage visiting boats to what was the most northerly point of the connected waterways network, before the opening of the Ribble Link.  A picture of your boat in the basin will be a good proof of your visit.

Complete our challenge by visiting 20 locations from our list, you will receive our exclusive plaque and goody bag.

About the Ripon Canal

The Ripon Canal is an early navigation which opened in 1773, right at the beginning of the “Canal Age”. It facilitated trade by extending the River Ure Navigation into Ripon and allowed the passage of the local 58ft long Keels.

Traffic declined under ownership by the North Eastern Railway whose attempt to officially abandon the canal in 1894 failed.  The canal became unusable and was reported to be impassable in 1906.  Following nationalisation, the British Transport Commission offered to sell the canal to Ripon Corporation in 1952, but without success.  Closure of the canal was unpopular locally and this prevented it from being filled in.  From 1956, Ripon Motor Boat Club established moorings below Bell Furrows Lock, which kept Oxclose Lock open, while IWA engaged with North Yorkshire County Council to reopen the full canal, which led to the formation of Ripon Canal Society in 1983.  The canal was formally reopened in September 1996.

The Ripon Canal (2.3 miles [4 km] long with 3 locks) runs from its junction with the River Ure at Oxclose Lock to the Canal terminus in Ripon.  The River Ure Navigation (8 miles [12.8 km] long with  2 locks) then runs from the Ripon Canal at Oxclose Lock to Swale Nab, where it joins the River Swale (navigable for about 1 mile – 1.6 km – to Myton) and becomes the Yorkshire Ouse

[ The photo shows a narrowboat at Ripon Basin on the Ripon Canal  –  by John Lower]

Notes for visitors

Location

Postcode: HG4 1QN

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Ripon Canal Dimensions

The maximum size of boat that can navigate the Ripon Canal is:-

  • Length: 61′ 4″ (18.7m) – Rhodesfield Lock
  • Beam: 16′ 3″ (4.95m) – Rhodesfield Lock
  • Height: 9′ 2″ (2.8m) – Ripon By-pass Bridge (no 1)
  • Draught: 4′ 11″ (1.5m) – Rhodesfield Lock cill

A Canal & River Trust key is required to operate Rhodesfield Lock and Bell Furrows Lock.

Canoeing, Trip Boats and Boat Hire

Canoeing is encouraged on the Ripon Canal with a Canal & River Trust licence or British Canoeing membership.

Challenge Location

Ripon Basin

Ripon Canal

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