Walks
Sutton Bank to the White Horse of Kilburn
By Jon Cosson · Updated 6 October 2026
The finest view in England is the reason most people stop at Sutton Bank, and the walk along the top of the escarpment to the White Horse of Kilburn is the best way to earn it. A moderate circuit of around three miles from the National Park Centre, with the whole Vale of Mowbray falling away on one side and England's largest hill figure cut into the slope at the far end.
The view west from the Sutton Bank escarpment, which the walk follows for most of its length.
The walk at a glance
- Distance
- 3 miles; Visit North Yorkshire describes a 1¾-mile (2.7 km) there-and-back along the escarpment top; ThinkAdventure describes a 3-mile (5 km) circular that takes in both the top and the foot of the horse
- Ascent
- No published ascent figure. Visit North Yorkshire describes the escarpment path as rising gently, with a gradient of no more than 1 in 12 on a hard, compacted surface
- Time
- About 1.5 hours, per Visit North Yorkshire
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Start & parking
- Sutton Bank National Park Centre car park; Sutton Bank National Park Centre, on the A170 between Thirsk and Helmsley; £3.90 up to 2 hours; £6.20 over 2 hours (non-transferable); coaches £7.50 (National Park tariff); admission to the centre itself is free; grid ref SE 516 831 (National Park accessible viewpoints page); nearest postcode YO7 2EH
- Waymarking
- The Cleveland Way National Trail runs along the top of the bank
- Dogs
- Our Sutton Bank notes say only that the cliff edge is unfenced in places, so keep children and dogs close.
- Wheelchairs
- The circuit is not described as accessible. A short wheelchair-accessible path does run from the visitor centre to the main viewpoint, where a view indicator names the landmarks
- Toilets
- Accessible toilets and Changing Places at the National Park Centre
- Public transport
- Moorsbus, April to September at weekends and bank holidays. Nearest station Thirsk, 7.5 miles. Check times before you travel.
- Hazards
- The cliff edge is unfenced in places
- The White Horse
- Around 97 metres long, cut in 1857 by the local schoolmaster John Hodgson and his pupils, and kept painted white because the rock here is grey
Opens the walk finder with this walk’s length and effort already set.
About this route
Route compiled from Ordnance Survey mapping and the published sources below. Parking, grid reference and transport details checked on 6 October 2026. If you walk it and find a change, use the contact page.
- Visit North Yorkshire
- ThinkAdventure
- North York Moors National Park Authority
- https://northyorkmoors.org.uk/suttonbank
- https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/access-for-all/accessible-viewpoints
- https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/plan-your-visit/car-parks-and-toilets/car-park-list
Distance notes: Visit North Yorkshire describes a 1¾-mile (2.7 km) there-and-back along the escarpment top; ThinkAdventure describes a 3-mile (5 km) circular that takes in both the top and the foot of the horse.
Ascent: No published ascent figure. Visit North Yorkshire describes the escarpment path as rising gently, with a gradient of no more than 1 in 12 on a hard, compacted surface.
Area map
Sutton Bank National Park Centre area. This map shows the area, not a verified route line.
The route in outline
The walk starts at the Sutton Bank National Park Centre at the top of the bank and follows the escarpment south along the line of the Cleveland Way, which runs right along the top here, out to the White Horse on Roulston Scar and back. It is a moderate circuit of around three miles. Carry the OS sheet, follow the waymarking on the ground, and give yourself daylight on this exposed escarpment.
What you see along the way
The ground drops away almost immediately and the Vale of Mowbray and the Vale of York spread out below, with the Yorkshire Dales on the horizon on a clear day. It is the view James Herriot called the finest in England. The cliff edge is unfenced in places, so keep children and dogs close, and watch for the gliders of the Yorkshire Gliding Club riding the up-currents off the cliff face.
The White Horse itself
The horse is cut into the hillside on Roulston Scar, around 97 metres long, the largest and most northerly hill figure in England. 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. One honest warning: it is easier to make out from a distance than from right on top of it.
The short option, if three miles is too far
A short wheelchair-accessible path runs from the visitor centre to the main viewpoint, where a view indicator names the landmarks and benches line the ridge. That alone gives you the view, with no gradient and no distance, and the centre has a tearoom, toilets, a shop and a natural play area for children. Admission is free and parking is pay and display.
The longer loop, if three miles is not enough
Three miles along the top, or eight taking in the lake below. The classic longer circuit drops off the escarpment into the woods to Lake Gormire, one of the very few natural lakes in the North York Moors, and climbs back. It is a steeper and considerably longer day.
Sutton Bank to the White Horse: FAQs
How long is the walk to the White Horse of Kilburn?
From the Sutton Bank National Park Centre it is a moderate circuit of around three miles. There is also a longer loop of roughly eight miles that drops off the escarpment to take in Lake Gormire.
Where do you park for the White Horse walk?
At the Sutton Bank National Park Centre on the A170 between Thirsk and Helmsley, postcode YO7 2EH. Parking is pay and display; admission to the centre itself is free.
How big is the White Horse of Kilburn?
Around 97 metres long. It was cut in 1857 by the local schoolmaster John Hodgson and his pupils, and because the rock here is grey rather than chalk it has to be kept painted white.
Is there an easier option than the full circuit?
Yes. A short wheelchair-accessible path runs from the visitor centre to the main viewpoint, where a view indicator names the landmarks, and benches line the ridge. That alone gives you the view the walk is famous for.
Is the cliff edge fenced?
No, the edge is unfenced in places, so keep children and dogs close.
Stay near the western moors
Helmsley, Rievaulx and the Hambleton Hills all put Sutton Bank within a short drive.
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