{"id":1195,"date":"2016-06-18T02:24:16","date_gmt":"2016-06-18T01:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=1195"},"modified":"2016-06-14T21:00:04","modified_gmt":"2016-06-14T20:00:04","slug":"sutton-bank-and-the-hambleton-hills-n-yorks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=1195","title":{"rendered":"Sutton Bank and the Hambleton Hills, N. Yorks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">function popwalk(walk) {var url = \"\/Walks\/amap.php?f=\"+walk; varwalkwindow=window.open(url,\"walkwin\",\"height=840,width=1230,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes\"); if (window.focus) {walkwindow.focus()}}<\/script><br \/>\nFirst published in: The Times <a href=\"javascript:popwalk('SuttonBank.gpx');\" rel=\"nozoom\" title=\"Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window\">Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1698\/26089775745_b11c813b11.jpg\" title='umbellifer feast for a bee'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1698\/26089775745_b11c813b11_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1636\/26023427661_0c8d45813b.jpg\" title='Southwoods Hall'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1636\/26023427661_0c8d45813b_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1660\/25997246832_ec1fc5ecca.jpg\" title='Tang Hall farm'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1660\/25997246832_ec1fc5ecca_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1445\/26023422401_d3e17b2546.jpg\" title='in Garbutt Wood'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1445\/26023422401_d3e17b2546_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1712\/25816914630_109cd3d0e2.jpg\" title='farm on the hill'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1712\/25816914630_109cd3d0e2_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1521\/25997239332_a0553a179b.jpg\" title='escarpment overlooking the Vale of York 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1521\/25997239332_a0553a179b_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1615\/26023413701_632faf6bab.jpg\" title='escarpment overlooking the Vale of York 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1615\/26023413701_632faf6bab_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1470\/25816905470_cfc7614211.jpg\" title='looking west from the escarpment 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1470\/25816905470_cfc7614211_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1471\/25997229172_cdc24038c4.jpg\" title='looking north from the escarpment 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1471\/25997229172_cdc24038c4_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1552\/25997225642_a69d04bedf.jpg\" title='looking west from the escarpment 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1552\/25997225642_a69d04bedf_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1547\/26063815896_97a88cdb24.jpg\" title='Gormire Lake and Vale of York 3'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1547\/26063815896_97a88cdb24_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1449\/26089744365_f352dc9c4a.jpg\" title='looking north from the escarpment 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1449\/26089744365_f352dc9c4a_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1692\/25997216102_b79cb4e927.jpg\" title='Gormire Lake and Vale of York 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1692\/25997216102_b79cb4e927_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1528\/26089738545_baff6394ee.jpg\" title='Gormire Lake and Vale of York 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1528\/26089738545_baff6394ee_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1462\/25487147843_15f7f46450.jpg\" title='in Garbutt Wood'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm2.static.flickr.com\/1462\/25487147843_15f7f46450_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nFacebook Link: <script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=1195\" layout=\"button_count\" show_faces=\"true\" width=\"200\" colorscheme=\"dark\"><\/fb:like><br \/>\n<a href=\"javascript:pwindow=window.open('\/Walks\/prn.php?f=1195','pwin','height=700,width=1000,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes');\" title=\"Click for printable version\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Walks\/print.gif\" align=\"right\"><\/a><br \/>\nA glider was circling perilously near the cliffs on Sutton Bank, but no-one on the Cleveland Way had eyes for it &#8211; not with the signposts proclaiming &#8216;The Finest View in England &#8211; 50 metres&#8217;. That might be a bit of an eyebrow raiser as a claim, but the prospect over the Vale of York from the sharply-cut crags of Sutton Brow is certainly a stunning one. I looked out south and west over a giant plain, patched with cloud and sun, green and pale gold, rolling away to splendid blue hills on the edge of sight.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;The Yorkshire Dales, them are,&#8217; said a man at my side. &#8216;See Great Whernside there?&#8217; He pointed out a diminutive hump on the skyline. &#8216;Thirty mile off, that is. Entrance to Wensleydale&#8217;s that great dark cliff you see there. Damned if it isn&#8217;t a hundred mile or more, this view.&#8217; He inhaled as though he were drawing the scene inside to hold it deep down.<\/p>\n<p>The Cleveland Way National Trail shadows Sutton Brow and the long south-north escarpment of the Hambleton Hills, so walkers get the full effect of the sensational view for mile after mile. I chose a side turning, and plunged down a path edged with pale pink dog roses through the ancient woodland of Garbutt Wood. Bluebell pods as fat as peas stood among the star-like flowers of yellow pimpernel. Gaps in the silver birch and oaks gave snatches of the view over the plain.<\/p>\n<p>Young coots and moorhens were squeaking in the reeds of Gormire Lake when I got down to it at the foot of the bluff. At the pretty cottage of Southwoods Lodge I found a north-running bridleway between hedges thick with lacy umbellifers. A bee landed on one of the flat plant heads and slid its hair-thin proboscis into each tiny white flower in turn, drawing out sweetness and carrying pollen away to fertilize the next host in its round of feeding.<\/p>\n<p>At Midge Holm I walked fields of coarse grass round a lake, remnants of a landscaped park now subsiding back into the landscape. On through uncut hayfields, the ripe grass heads hazing the meadows with a wash of pale purple as they released steamy warmth I could feel on my cheeks and arms.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;m 82 tomorrow,&#8217; said a slim and upright gentleman in walking boots whom I met on the homeward track to Sutton Bank, &#8216;and I&#8217;m lucky. Nothing ever ails me.&#8217; He indicated the wonderful view to the distant hills. &#8216;Take a hold of this and put it away in the memory banks for a dark winter day. You can&#8217;t beat it, eh? Summer with its best coat on.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Start: Sutton Bank car park, YO7 2EH (OS ref SE 517831)<\/p>\n<p>Getting there: Car park is at top of Sutton Bank on A170 (Thirsk-Helmsley)<\/p>\n<p>Walk (6 miles, moderate, OS Explorer OL26): Follow tarmac path up left side of Sutton Bank Bikes shop. At &#8216;White Horse 1\u00bc\u201d fingerpost, ahead through car park; follow gravel path on right of A170 to cross side road (515830); ahead along Cleveland Way\/CW (&#8216;Sneck Yate&#8217;). In 400m, left off CW (511833; &#8216;Footpath, Nature Trail\u2019) steeply down through Garbutt Wood, passing numbered posts. At Post 9 (505833) ignore &#8216;Southwoods&#8217; sign to right; bear left downhill to Gormire Lake. Right (504833, &#8216;Bridleway, Southwoods&#8217;). At Southwoods Lodge cottage (502838), right along bridleway (blue arrow\/BA).<\/p>\n<p>At Midge Holm Gate (502843), cross road; through gate to left of Southwoods Hall gates (&#8216;Tang Hall, Southwoods&#8217; fingerpost); curve anti-clockwise round field edge and on (bridleway fingerposts, BAs) to road at Tang Hall (496851). Right over cattle grid; track to Greendale farm. Through gate to left of farmyard (499854, BA); up field, through gate; left (&#8216;bridleway&#8217;) through skirts of wood. In 350m, at 3-finger post, right (499857; &#8216;Bridleway, Little Moor&#8217;) up woodland track, across Little Moor, up forestry track (BAs) for \u2154 mile. At top (507853), right along CW (&#8216;Sutton Bank&#8217;) for 2 miles to car park.<\/p>\n<p>Refreshments: Sutton Bank visitor centre caf\u00e9 (01845-597962)<\/p>\n<p>Info: North York Moors Visitor Centre, Sutton Bank (01845-597426; <a href=\"http:\/\/northyorkmoors.org.uk\">northyorkmoors.org.uk<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Yorkshire Wolds Walking &#038; Outdoor Festival 2016 (10-18 September) \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/theyorkshirewolds.com\">theyorkshirewolds.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/visitengland.com\">visitengland.com<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/satmap.com\">satmap.com<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/ramblers.org.uk\">ramblers.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A glider was circling perilously near the cliffs on Sutton Bank, but no-one on the Cleveland Way had eyes for it &#8211; not with the signposts proclaiming &#8216;The Finest View in England &#8211; 50 metres&#8217;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-walks","category-3-id","post-seq-1","post-parity-odd","meta-position-corners","fix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1195"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1195\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}