Things to Do
Sutton Bank
Sutton Bank is the great western wall of the North York Moors, a dramatic escarpment in the Hambleton Hills where the land falls away to the patchwork vales below. The vet and author James Herriot called the view from the top 'the finest in England,' and few who stand at the edge would argue. With a National Park centre, the White Horse of Kilburn along the ridge, Lake Gormire in the woods below, gliders overhead and walking and cycling straight from the door, it's one of the moors' great days out.
The finest view in England
From the top of the escarpment the ground drops away and the whole of the Vale of Mowbray and the Vale of York spreads out below, with the Yorkshire Dales on the horizon on a clear day. It's the view James Herriot loved and called the finest in England. A wheelchair-accessible path runs a short way from the visitor centre to the main viewpoint, where a view indicator names the landmarks; benches line the ridge if you'd rather just sit and take it in. Note that the cliff edge is unfenced in places, so keep children and dogs close.
Sutton Bank National Park Centre
The National Park Centre at the top is the hub for everything here. Inside is a hi-tech exhibition on how the ice age shaped this landscape, a tearoom, a gift shop of local produce and crafts, toilets and a bird-feeding station, plus a natural adventure play area for children. Admission is free; there's pay-and-display parking, and the postcode for the centre is YO7 2EH. Parking charges and opening times change with the season, so check the National Park Centre's own site before you set off.
The White Horse of Kilburn
Cut into the hillside on Roulston Scar just south of the centre, the White Horse of Kilburn is the largest and most northerly hill figure in England, around 97 metres long. It was made in 1857 by the local schoolmaster John Hodgson and his pupils, and because the rock here is grey rather than the white chalk of the southern horses, it has to be kept painted white. It's a landmark for miles around; ironically it's easier to make out from a distance than from right on top of it. You can walk to it along the escarpment from the centre.
Lake Gormire
In the woods at the foot of the cliffs lies Lake Gormire, one of the very few natural lakes in the North York Moors. It was formed at the end of the last ice age when a landslip dammed the meltwater, and it has no stream flowing in or out. Which, along with its dark still water beneath Whitestone Cliff, has earned it a good stock of legends, from a supposedly bottomless bottom to a ghostly white mare and rider. It sits within the Garbutt Wood nature reserve and makes a fine (steep) loop down from the top and back.
Gliders and the Yorkshire Gliding Club
The flat plateau above the escarpment has been home to the Yorkshire Gliding Club since 1931, its aircraft riding the up-currents that sweep the cliff face. Watching the gliders launch and soar silently over the edge is part of the Sutton Bank experience; the clubhouse welcomes visitors for refreshments.
Walking at Sutton Bank
The Cleveland Way National Trail runs right along the top of the bank, giving some of the best ridge walking in the north. From the centre you can take the short accessible stroll to the viewpoint, a moderate circuit of around three miles to the White Horse, or the classic longer loop (roughly eight miles) that links the escarpment, the White Horse and Lake Gormire. A “Walks around Sutton Bank” booklet from the centre sets out five routes.
Cycling and mountain biking
Sutton Bank is also a cycling hub, with bike hire from Sutton Bank Bikes at the centre, a family-friendly “Cliff” route running along the escarpment top, a bike skills area and pump track, and a network of graded mountain-bike trails through the woods.
Dark skies
Well away from town lights, Sutton Bank holds Dark Sky Discovery status, and on a clear, moonless night the Milky Way arcs overhead, one of the best places in the park for stargazing.
Getting there and driving up Sutton Bank
Sutton Bank is on the A170 about six miles east of Thirsk and eight miles west of Helmsley. The road climbs the escarpment at a gradient of about 1 in 4 with a sharp bend, a memorable drive in a willing car, but caravans are not permitted up Sutton Bank and large vehicles should find another route. There's ample pay-and-display parking at the centre. Planning the rest of your trip? See our planning guides and more things to do.
Sutton Bank FAQs
Why is Sutton Bank called the finest view in England?
The vet and author James Herriot gave it the name, for the sweeping view west from the escarpment over the Vale of Mowbray and Vale of York to the Yorkshire Dales.
Can you drive a caravan up Sutton Bank?
No, caravans are banned from Sutton Bank; the A170 climbs at around 1 in 4 with a tight bend, so caravanners should use an alternative route.
Is Sutton Bank free?
Yes, the National Park Centre and the views are free to visit; parking is pay-and-display.
How long is the walk to the White Horse of Kilburn?
From the centre it's a moderate circuit of around three miles; you can also do a longer loop taking in Lake Gormire.
What is there to do at Sutton Bank?
Take in the view, visit the National Park Centre, walk the Cleveland Way to the White Horse or Lake Gormire, hire a bike, and watch the gliders.