Sutton Bank walk

SUTTON Bank was the start for a simple snow walk that begins high and stays high. The National Park's centre was slumbering. There were a few cars, a plough clearing the parking areas and a sign reading "look around you and you can see all sorts of wild plants and animals". A child tobogganed.

The first couple of miles are along the top edge of the western escarpment of the Hambleton Hills. The views out west over the flatlands are terrific.

At first the path was icy, quick crunchy walking, sheltered from the wind by thorn trees, and warmed by a blue-sky sun. Below, 500 ft down the steep slopes, Lake Gormire looked natural, as it is, and cold, but beyond it the fields of the Vale of Mowbray were dull green. Twenty miles away the high fells of the Dales were white.

Then, after about a mile, we got to the distance from Sutton Bank where nearly everybody had turned back. Here the cliffs and crags had vegetation-supported cornices, there were two or three-foot deep drifts and there were slumps half way to being small avalanches. Victoria said, "Look there's a little mouse."

Now we could see across a wide curve in the escarpment and we followed a couple of pairs of boot tracks, one recent, one older. This was slow going and took ages.

With a glance to the rooftops of Southwoods Hall, once the home of Jim Wight, aka James Herriot, we turned away from the edge and headed across the treeless plateau that is Hambleton Down.

The sun still shone but the wind blew bitter from the north. Half a mile done, we snuck down behind a line of bales. Backs against the straw, we enjoyed the heat and the shelter from the gusts of spindrift, along with sandwiches and tea.

This set up the next huge flat field. I regret that I only have one word for snow, but here it was textured like imperfect plaster, smoother and shinier in some places. There were French partridges, a hare crossed the icy wastes leaving stretched-out tracks and we discussed the advantage of stiffer soled boots for snow and the necessity of shades.

A farm drive was packed with drifts and then there was some comfy road, lots of walkers were on it, promenading the mile from the park's centre. In Scott of the Antarctic mode we pressed on, aiming for horizon woods. There was a communications mast, a reservoir and a sign that read "extreme caution racehorses at exercise".

That left only the pleasant winding path through young woods back to the park's centre, by then quite busy.

Directions

When in doubt, look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1. From Park Centre, path across grounds and road to path at top of Sutton Bank (signed Cleveland Way).

2. Right across field, (three-way fingerpost, bridleway, Hambleton Road), gently uphill at first then after c200 yards keep by wall to your right.

3. About 150 yards before road, right to track across field (waymarked post, was beside bales).

4. Right at fence/wall remains, 150 yards, left at corner, left to track at trees.

5. Right to road at farm, cross junction to field-edge path on right of wall (signed) and keep straight on.

6. Just before house with high hedge, cross gallop, barrier, 75 yards on access road, right to path (signed Sutton Bank) through trees, 1 o'clock across track and continue on path, path bends east, right to track for 100 yards (sign), left to roadside path 150 yards (signed) and right over footbridge and cross road into car park.

Fact file:

Distance: Four miles.

Time: Two hours.

General location: The Hambleton Hills.

Start: The North York Moors National Park Centre at Sutton Bank.

Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.

Date walked: Friday, March 4 2005.

Road route: Via Thirsk or Helmsley.

Car parking: £1.50 all day.

Lavatories: Park Centre.

Refreshments: Park Centre.

Tourist & public transport information: Park Centre 01845 597426.

Map: Based on OS Explorer OL26 North York Moors Western Area.

Terrain: Edge of escarpment and plateau.

Points of interest: Info in the loos at Sutton Bank - disinfectant in groundwater six months after foot and mouth.

Difficulty: Moderate/easy.

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 08:54 Saturday, March 12, 2005