The Cleveland Way Long Distance Footpath - Sutton Bank to Kilburn White Horse section.

This is a walk that I went on the Cleveland Way on the afternoon of Wednesday, 16th January, 2013. The day was sunny and there was hardly any wind so it didn't feel too cold. It is a short section from the Sutton Bank car park and Visitors Centre to the Kilburn White Horse. It takes about one hour's total time walking there and back at a brisk pace. This is a very popular walk and is only about 10 minutes drive from Thirsk along the A170. There are spectacular views across the Vale of York to the Yorkshire Dales National Park to the west. 

This view is of Roulston Scar and Hood Hill. Hood Hill has neolithic defensive earth works round the top and is well worth a visit. There is also a crater near the top which was created by a Sabre jet aircraft from Linton-on-Ouse ( near York ) which crashed there in 1954. 

This view is looking north along The Cleveland Way Footpath towards the Sutton Bank car park and visitors centre which is only about 5 minutes walk away. Lake Gormire can be seen to the left. The memorial stone to the left of the footpath is in memory of airmen who died in two seperate air crashes nearby. 

This is a similar view to the one above but with the Whitestone Cliff visible. 

Another view of Roulston Scar and Hood Hill. The information board carries details of one of our greatest artists, William Turner. He travelled widely around Britain and the continent on horseback. He visited here and made numerous drawings for his paintings.

This view shows Lake Gormire, Whitestone Cliff and the A170 1 in 4 ( 25% ) Sutton Bank road.

View from Roulston Scar looking across to Whitestone Cliff.

View of the Yorkshire Gliding Club site adjacent to the Cleveland Way. There are many long distance flights made from this site when conditions are suitable and there have been many flights to great heights ( in excess of 30,000 feet ) using the mountain wave systems. Many gliders are equipped with oxygen systems to reach these great heights. The oxygen equipment is necessary above  12,000 feet above sea level. The gliding club welcomes the general public to visit it and trial flights are available. There is also viewing gallery in the club house and a cafe where food and drinks can be purchased. The club is open most days throughout the year. For those interested in archaeology the gliding club is situated on the site of the largest iron age hill fort in the country.  

Kilburn White Horse - 6 miles east of Thirsk.

Photographs taken late afternoon on Wednesday and Thursday looking across the White Horse towards Byland Abbey, 3 miles to the east.

If you look carefully in the upper middle, far distance you can just make out Byland Abbey. Lovely, autumn colours of the trees.

Glider being towed from the Yorkshire Gliding Club which is adjacent to the Kilburn White Horse.

Memorial stone and wreath remembering aircrew of a World War 2 bomber and a Sabre Jet who died close by to Sutton Bank. Roulston Scar and Hood Hill in the background.

Sunset looking at Roulston Scar and Hood Hill from Sutton Bank, 6 miles east of Thirsk.

Saturday 27th October 'Out and About' in the sunshine.

It snowed first thing this morning but as you can see it is rapidly thawing - thank goodness! If you look across the adjacent roof tops to Sutton Bank ( 6 miles to the east ) you will see it has a covering of snow.

Looking from one of the top floor windows, across St. James Green to the roof tops of the town centre - 2 minutes walk away.

This photograph is of the craft shop, 'Faerie Delights' - ( which is run by Mrs. Harding, a very friendly lady ), in Millgate. It has a very nicely set out window display and the shop is full of all manner of interesting greeting cards ( of which she makes many ) and a wide range of interesting items for all those who have an interest in a wide range of different crafts. Well worth a visit. Mrs. Harding will introduce you to her dog, Oberon, who is lying in the doorway of her shop ready to welcome all. 

Oberon at the entrance to 'Faerie Delights' ready to greet customers.

This is Millgate Bridge over the Cod Beck ( nothing to do with the fish of the same name ) just across the road from 'Faerie Delights'.

St. James House on St. James Green, framed by the Sycamore Tree on the left and the Copper Beech on the right, both in their lovely autumn colours.

St. James House once again.

During the afternoon I drove to the Kilburn Whitehorse Car Park, 6 miles to the east and on the south western corner of the Yorkshire Moors National Park.

This photograph was taken in the Springtime as you will probably notice with the Daffodils on the right of the sign - we don't get daffodils in the Autumn time - well not yet!

From the car park I climbed up the 153 steep steps to the hill top and walked along The Long Distance Cleveland Way Footpath, past the Yorkshire Gliding Club, and to Sutton Bank Visitors Centre and then back again. This takes half an hour in each direction.

From the two photographs you can see the snow has melted away. The photograph below shows a Pawnee  ex. crop spraying aircraft towing one of the gliders off along the long runway into a northerly direction.

A Pawnee ready to roll with the tow rope fixed to the glider behind. The gliding club has two Pawnee aircraft and a Piper Cub aircraft.

The Clevelend Way - Long Distance Footpath

Had fairly good weather last week so made time to go walking on the nearby Cleveland Way Long Distance Footpath which follows the boundary of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.
These photographs are of Old English Longhorn Cattle which are situated in a field belonging  to Garbutts Farm adjacent to the Cleveland Way about 5 minutes walk north of the Sutton Bank Visitors centre. 

Who are you looking at??!!!

The photograph of the Whitestone Cliff ( also known as White Mare Crag ) overlooks Lake Gormire and is adjacent to the Cleveland Way L.D.F/P and is about 10 minutes walk ( fast pace ) north of Sutton Bank.

Whitestonecliffe overlooking lake Gormire

This photograph is less than 5 minutes walk further North of the previous photograph and close to Thirlby Bank bridleway which in previous centuries was one of the many pack horse trails that criss cross the moors. Down below the hill is South Woods Hall which is where Donald Sinclair ( aka Siegfried Farnon, the senior veterinary partner in the world famous television series All Creatures Great and Small lived prior to his death ).  
Just a few miles to the north in the valley below is the village of Boltby.

Looking north

This photograph is taken close to the previous photograph above. To the left is Whitestone Cliff and below right is a glimpse of Lake Gormire.

looking south with Hood Hill in the background

This photograph of the memorial plaque below is dedicated to the memory of the airmen of 2 crashed aircraft close to Sutton Bank. It only a few minutes walk south of the Sutton Bank v/c. 

War Memorial

Both of these 2 photographs are taken about 5 minutes walk south of the Sutton Bank v/c and show Whitestone Cliff and Lake Gormire below. The vehicles are on the lower part of Sutton Bank road.

Called in at the Yorkshire Gliding Club at Sutton Bank last week. The glider is a K21 2 seater aircraft. Going through last minute checks prior to connecting the tow rope which is connected to the out of sight towing aircraft.  

Yorkshire Gliding Club