Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Overall rating

4.87

About

Vet and author James Herriot declared the tremendous view from the dramatic Sutton Bank escarpment over the Vale of Mowbray and the Vale of York, the "finest in England". So why not stop at the top of the bank, visit the shop and blow away the cobwebs? Head into the National Park Centre for info on walks, wildlife and the wider National Park. You'll find an excellent gift shop with a range of unique local products. Our friends at Park Life Café offer a wide selection of drinks, snacks and main meals to eat in or takeaway. Sutton Bank Bikes offer cycle hire, training and skills courses, a bike wash, repair and servicing as well as bikes and gear for sale. Mobility scooters, including two trampers are available for those with access needs. Parking: £3.50 for two hours or £5.50 for all day. Yearly and weekly car park passes available. Entry to the Centre is FREE.

Reviews

Overall rating

4.87

(4 reviews)

Overall rating breakdown

5 3
4 1
3 0
2 0
1 0

Access (avg.)

3.75

Parking (avg.)

3.75

Toilets (avg.)

3.5

Staff (avg.)

2.5

wheelyp

Feb 2025

Accessible Walk across North Yorkshire Moor to white Kilburn Horse

This is genuinely one of the most accessible walks in one of the most inaccessible parts of the UK. The going under foot is perfect and the views are out of this world, we managed 5 miles because the weather was so kind and we enjoyed watching gliders get towed up into the sky from the nearby gliding club. We did not use the cafe but it was obviously popular.

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kenblackburn58

Sept 2022

4.5

Review of Sutton Bank

Please see video for review

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jeannie

Aug 2018

Superb day out using Centre’s scooter

The National Park Centre is at the top of Sutton Bank. They have a scooter which is free to hireand a leaflet detailing a 5 mile all abilities walk consisting of two loops. We took the southern loop and enjoyed views right acrossthe Vale of York and Eastwards to the Pennines. The track passes the glider air field and it was fascinating to watch them taking off over our heads. Back at the Centre there is lots of information about the area, and the adjacent cafe is fully accessible.

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Disabled Access Information Provided by Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Disabled Access at Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Wheelchair loan One electric scooter and one manual wheelchair are available free of charge for use inside the Centre and the grounds. Tramper hire (x2) The Tramper is an electric all-terrain mobility scooter available for use at the Centre. The Tramper has been designed specifically to cover rough ground including mud, grass, cambers and steeper inclines safely, allowing visitors with limited or poor mobility, who have difficulty walking to explore iconic beauty spots in the North York Moors. The North York Moors Mobility scheme has been set up in partnership with Outdoor Mobility. It's part of our continued commitment to make more of our beautiful places accessible to those who are less physically able. To hire the Tramper, you must be an existing member of the North York Moors Mobility scheme. Members can currently hire them on daily on a pre-booked basis. For membership and bookings - head here: https://www.outdoormobility.org/ Tramper information •The Trampers are available daily at Sutton Bank from 11am to 3pm •First time users must undertake a short training session to become an Annual Member for £15 or as Temporary Member for £2.50 (which lasts for two weeks and can be upgraded to a full membership by paying the difference) •Annual membership lasts 12 months and, as well as the two Trampers in the North York Moors, members can also make use of the Trampers at sites in the Lake District, North Pennines and all 47 Countryside Mobility sites in South West England •To avoid disappointment, please make all bookings in advance •Trampers are limited to a speed of 4mph with an age restriction of 14 and above •The maximum weight limit to use a Tramper is 25 stone (158 kilos) •Hire duration depends on site and route •Hire is free for all members •Please show your member card at the Centres to show you’ve had training To find out more and to start exploring, book your Tramper session through the North York Moors Mobility website. Internal access From the main foyer, you can access the café (through double outward opening doors, approximately 1.7m wide) and the main centre area (through automatic sliding doors). The Centre is at ground level and there are no internal steps or ramps. The surface is a mixture of carpeting and stone flag floor (which can be uneven in places). Seating is available in the exhibition, the foyer and the café. Access to the grounds Paths around the grounds are mainly flat or have shallow gradients. Paths are tarmac. The courtyard surface is stone sets. We have three wheelchair accessible picnic tables located in the grounds. Our staff will be happy to point them out. Access beyond the Centre building A path has been created from the Centre to a wheelchair/pushchair accessible viewing platform. Distance = approximately 700m, with a hard compact surface. A circular route can be followed back to the Centre, which has a minor road crossing. Distance = approximately 1000m. The path to the White Horse is wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Distance is approximately 2.5km one way with a hard compact surface. There is a major road crossing to join the path. You can see our full accessibility guide here: https://www.accessibilityguides.org/content/sutton-bank-national-park-centre

Accessible parking at Sutton Bank National Park Centre

A pay and display car park is adjacent to the National Park Centre. Charges apply for Blue Badge holders. Tarmac surface. There are designated spaces for disabled drivers in the car parking areas to the east and west of the Centre, but not in the parking area to the north. East car park (furthest away from the bank top): distance from disabled spaces is between 55m (minimum) and 71m (maximum) from the entrance. West car park (closest to the bank top): distance from disabled spaces is between 100m (minimum) and 120m (maximum) from the entrance.

Dedicated on site parking

Toilets features at Sutton Bank National Park Centre

The toilets are located next to the main courtyard area. A unisex RADAR-accessible toilet is also located off the main courtyard. A key is available from the Information Desk. You can also purchase your own RADAR key for £3.60 from the Information Desk. Baby changing facilities are located in the RADAR-accessible (disabled) toilet as well as in the female and male toilets.

Accessible toilet

A designated accessible toilet designed for wheelchair users and others with visible and non-visible accessibility requirements is available within the main public areas.

Changing Places toilet

There is a Changing Places toilet, which includes an adult-size changing bench, toilet, sink and hoist.