The Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve loop from Ouse Valley Park

The Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve loop from Ouse Valley Park offers an enjoyable jogging experience, covering 5.7 miles (9.2 km) with a gentle elevation gain of 98 feet (30 metres). You can expect to complete this moderate route in about 57 minutes. As you jog, you will pass through diverse and tranquil scenery, including wetlands, lakes, scattered trees, and grasslands, feeling like you have escaped into the countryside. The trail features a hard, flat perimeter path, with some slight dips, making it suitable for a steady pace.

When planning your visit, be aware that the reserve is designed to manage floodwaters from the River Great Ouse. This means that after heavy rainfall, the area can become wet and occasionally inaccessible, though water typically drains within a couple of days. The perimeter path is generally considered easy and is even described as wheelchair and pushchair friendly. You will find surfaced footpaths and boardwalks throughout the reserve, ensuring accessible sections for your run.

The Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve is renowned for its exceptional birdwatching opportunities, attracting a wide variety of wildfowl, waders, and raptors throughout the year. Keep an eye out for bird hides strategically placed for observation. Beyond birds, the reserve is also home to damselflies, dragonflies, and occasionally larger mammals like otters, foxes, badgers, and even Konik ponies. This reserve, created from former pasture land and gravel quarries, opened to the public in 2016 and plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem.