Sutton Bank Circular Walk

Tuesday 16th June 2026

A Sutton Bank circular, passing the Glider airfield, the White Horse and following the Cleveland Way to Sneck Yate Bank - with the return via a very direct and quiet country lane. A quite easy ten miles with many interesting sights along the way, the walk can be easily shortened by leaving the Cleveland Way path before Sneck Yate and following one of the many paths and cutting across to the country lane.

There was a purpose to this walk today though, - With my summer (2026) long distance walk coming up next week, I had to check out whether my foot would hold up during the many miles of walking planned. For the first time I have had an injury which has stopped my walking hobby in its tracks. I have developed Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot. I have been to see specialists and have been undertaking various exercises and using all sorts of insoles, bands etc.. to try and resolve this quickly, but time is running out.

So I went on a Fountains Abbey walk with Paul yesterday (8 miles) and the did this 10 mile one today at a faster pace. After 6 weeks without any walking at all, and then these two gentle outings, I soon realised that my foot had not recovered sufficiently to allow me to undertake a 7 day long distance walk. The pain was significant and there was the very strong possibility that I would end up having to abort and could do much more damage to my foot if I were to push through the pain. So the difficult decision was reached to postpone this summers big walk. A very sad and worrying time for me indeed.

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Distance: 9.8 miles

Duration: 3:30 hours

Ascent: 932 ft

Difficulty: Moderate/Easy

Accompanied By: On my Own

Weather: Fine & Dry

3D outline of route

Parking

I parked on the road to Kilburn which is just past the main Sutton Bank Car Park.

A file down the lane and you come to the entrance to the Glider Club.

I carried straight on past this.

Gliders can be seen on the old airfield to the right.

Leaving the road and picking up the path that skirts round the airfield.

The walking is very easy and the paths well defined.

Doesn't look like much from here - but this White Horse on the side of the escarpment can be seen for miles across the Vale of York

Hood Hill through the mist

Quiet today - but this is a popular path. I often enjoy a stroll around here with my wife.

Arriving at the A170 near the top of Sutton Bank.

Care needed when crossing as it's quite a busy place.

Not quite "The finest view in England" today, with all that mist

Skirting round Whitestone Cliff

Now approaching Boltby Scar.

Time to give my painful foot a rest and try and enjoy the views.

It was a bit depressing as I begin to accept that my troublesome right foot is not going to heal in time for my long summer walk.

Back moving again and approaching Sneck Yate

A right turn onto the little used road which heads back towards Sutton Bank

A very long and straight country lane with little or no traffic - easy walking alright, but plenty of wildlife to observe along the way.

The road passes Dialstone Farm

There is a protected route alongside the Gallops for walkers which runs parallel with the road.

For the last 10 minutes it was back into the woodland as I head back to my car.

The two easy walks over the last two days had confirmed my fears that I was not yet able to undertake the summer long distance walk that I had planned and looked forward to so much - the recovery period for my foot would have to go on throughout the summer of 2026 unfortunately.