Kilburn White Horse and Gormire Lake Walk

From the car park, cross the main road to join the Cleveland Way. Should you need to use the toilet, refreshments or get more information about the route, you can find that at the Information Centre here. There are no stop offs along the way, so stock up now! Begin the route by passing the signpost signaling ‘the finest view in England’ – you will be passing it later and it is worth the wait.

The Cleveland way is a well-marked gravel track. Shortly after the road the path forks, bear left and follow the higher route, which passes a gorgeous viewpoint. Follow the Cleveland Way along the cliff top, soon passing the airfield of Yorkshire Gliding Club above Roulston Scar on your left. After approximately 1.6mi you will find yourself above the White Horse of Kilburn. From here, there is not the best view so see top tips!

Continue along the top of Horse, bearing right, and take the steep steps down to the Horse of Kilburn car park, where you will have a slightly better view of the horse. Cross the small lane and follow the footpath downhill along the side of the road. The path finishes and joins the lane opposite a car park. Again, continue downhill on the road to pass the car park. Around the corner turn right onto a gated tarmac track signposted as a bridleway, go through the gate and follow! The track soon becomes a single-track gravel footpath; continue straight ahead on to this.

This path takes you uphill through a small woodland and then joins a larger forested track – veer left to join this track. After approximately 0.6mi you will come to a major fork, bear left here. Before the forest, the track turns sharply to the left, take a small footpath on your right signposted for Hood Grange/A170. This footpath will bring you out onto open farmland. An obvious footpath now leads you straight across a field towards farm buildings and before reaching these buildings, the footpath will direct you left around the edge of a small paddock alongside a small burn. At the end of the paddock, cross the burn to head up around the side of the buildings and continue straight ahead towards a small stile that will take you on to the main road.

Turn right along the road and walk along the verge for approximately 328ft and cross the road to climb another stile into a hilly farm field. Head diagonally uphill across the field. This is the first of several steep inclines – remember to turn back at the top and enjoy the view (or just to catch your breath). Climb over the stile and head across the field to the gate located halfway along the hedge line to your left. From here you follow the tack up to Gormire Farm. Go through the gate and into the farmyard, pass in front of the barn to join a track, turn left and pass up the right-side of the barn.

Shortly, you will come to a junction where you will bear right, following the sign to Southwoods. This leads you down to the shores of Gormire Lake – a mysterious and isolated spot. Continue along this footpath as it draws away from the shoreline, ignoring several merging paths. Soon the path meets a larger bridleway, continuing down and around to the left to a small lane opposite a pretty cottage. Turn right in front of the house and follow the bridleway to the entrance of Southwoods Hall. Cross the driveway and follow the hedge line for 100 m before turning right through a gate to join the Southwoods Hall driveway.

Turn left and walk around the edge of the field to find the gate in the far corner, go through and over a small stream. After 33ft,  bear left through the gate into a small meadow area, and continue to follow signs to the Cleveland Way. The footpath winds up across rugged farmland – small blue arrows attached to strategically placed posts keep you on track. After 0.5mi of climbing, exit the farmland through a gate into woodland. Continue steeply uphill to meet a forestry track and turn right, then immediately left to again, continue uphill. Ignore the path leading off to the left and continue uphill to meet a gravel track on the peak of the hill.

Turn right following the Cleveland Way signs that will lead you along the ridge for 1.9mi back to Sutton Bank. Don’t forget the view – just short of the car park you will see signs and information reminding you of the spectacular vistas out across the plains below.

Trail highlights

Kilburn White Horse

Kilburn White Horse is a figure that is cut into the side of a hillside in North York Moors National Park. The horse figure is 318ft long by 220ft high and covers approximately 1.6 acres. The Kiburn White Horse is the largest and most Northerly figure on a hill in all of England.

The horse was created in 1857 and was produced by a local school teacher along with his students. The White Horse is said to symbolize freedom without restraints.

Gormire Lake

Gormire Lake is a lowland lake that is natural and can be found at the base of Whitestone Cliff. There is no water source that flows in or out of the lake which makes it ideal for swimmers and creates warm waters and little current.

Gormire Lake dates back to being found over 20,000 years ago and was created by glacial erosion. The lake is a somewhat shallow lake and runs 21ft deep.

Find more amazing walks in North York Moors National Park:

• Roseberry Topping Walk
• Hole of Horcum Walk
• Hayburn Wyke Walk