Sunday 15th November 2026 6:00am
Sutton Bank and the Hambleton Hills
Cost: Members £ 23 Non Members £ 25
Walk Organiser – Carol Gosling
Coach departs Mere Green at 6.00am
Sutton Bank is an impressive escarpment in the Hambleton Hills within the North York Moors National Park. It commands a great view over the Vale of York and Mowbray, declared as the “finest in England” by vet and author James Herriot. Our walks will use footpaths and bridleways to explore some of the features of the escarpment such as its white horse cut into the chalk, a ruined abbey, the only lake in the National Park and Kilburn, the home of “Mousey Thompson”
All walks are circular from the Sutton Bank National Park Centre
A Party: The A walk follows the Cleveland Way in a northerly direction along the escarpment with good views to the west over the Vale of York. They descend to Southwoods Hall and Midgeholm Gate, then turn southerly to Gormire Lake to cross the A170. They continue southwards to Hood Hill Plantation, then turn sharply north eastwards to climb up onto the escarpment. They follow the Cleveland Way in a southerly direction to reach the Kilburn White Horse. then descending steep steps and on to Kilburn village. “Mousey Thompson’s” is passed before turning eastwards to High Kilburn, eventually reaching the impressive Byland Abbey. They swing north westwards at Wass and climb through Abbey Bank Wood via Snever Scar to reach Mount Snever Observatory. A short downhill respite before the final steady climb up to Shaw’s Gate, via Scotch Corner and a final stretch of quiet road to the visitor centre.
Leaders: Paul Bishop-White and Carol Gosling
Distance: 24km Ascent: 870m
B1 Party: The B1 walk follows the Cleveland way in a southerly direction along the escarpment with good views to the west past Roulston Scar to the Kilburn White Horse They descend the steep steps and continue descending in a southerly direction before turning westwards to reach Spruce Bank Wood. They ascend Hood Hill and continue northwards to cross the A170 to Gormire Lake. They continue northwards along footpaths and bridleways to Boultby before zig zagging their way back onto the escarpment. They then follow the escarpment on the Cleveland Way in a southerly direction back to the visitor centre.
Leaders: Bob Price and Reg Banks
Distance: 21km Ascent: 780m
B2 Party: The B2 walk follow the Cleveland Way in a northerly direction along the escarpment with good views to the west over the Vale of York. They descend to Southwoods Hall and Midgeholm Gate, then turn southerly to Gormire Lake to cross the A170. They continue southwards to Hood Hill Plantation, then turn sharply north eastwards to climb up onto the escarpment. They follow the Cleveland Way in a southerly direction to reach the Kilburn White Horse. then descending steep steps and on to Kilburn village. “Mousey Thompson’s” is passed before turning east wards to High Kilburn and then northwards to Scawling Farm. They then head north for the steady climb up to Shaw’s Gate, via Scotch Corner and a final stretch of quiet road to the visitor centre.
Leaders: Anne Farmer and Tony Birch
Distance: 18km Ascent: 690m
C Party: The C walk follow the Cleveland way in a southerly direction along the escarpment with good views to the west past Roulston Scar to the Kilburn White Horse They descend the steep steps and continue descending in a southerly direction before turning westwards and northwards to reach Hood Grange. They cross the A170 and continue to Gormire Lake, then northwards to Greendale before climbing back up to the escarpment. They then follow the escarpment on the Cleveland Way in a southerly direction back to the visitor centre.
Leaders: Wendy Price and Tess Bishop White
Distance: 14km Ascent: 530m
Map: Explorer 026 North York Moors West
