Kilburn White Horse, Byland Abbey & Sutton Bank - 11.5 miles
Details
This is one of my most challenging walks with significant ascent & descent at various points en route.
The terrain includes quiet roads, field crossings, woodland trails, country tracks and there are likely to be some muddy sections. Total ascent is 1,640 feet.
The first highlight of the walk is the White Horse, best viewed from the edge of Kilburn village. On arriving at the village, look out for the big dog guarding one of the properties !! Our route takes us up to High Kilburn and over to the ruins of Byland Abbey, which will be an early lunch-stop at around midday. From here, we make our way up to Scotch Corner, the site of a battle between the English and ‘them up north’!! There are several wonderful views on this walk and the best is saved until the final section as we walk across the escarpment of Sutton Bank, eventually returning to the White Horse and finishing the walk with a long descent of concrete steps!
Recce notes: one field with cattle and one field with two horses on the recce, plus 139 steps to descend at the end of the walk!
Walk fee: £3. No dogs please. Bring packed lunch/drink/snacks with you.
Start location: White Horse/Kilburn Woods car park is a pay & display cp costing £2.50 with payment by card only. The car park is the one immediately below the White Horse, approx. 1.5 miles from Kilburn village, the nearest postcode is YO61 4AL which, if travelling from Kilburn, will bring you to a left turn up a steep hill sp White Horse. Passing a couple of smaller car parks, ours is towards the top of the hill (see photo). No toilets!! It would be wise to consider car sharing for this one.
After-walk refreshment at the Forresters Arms in Kilburn.
I have no formal walk leader or first-aid qualifications and the Group does not have insurance. When you RSVP for any walk, you accept that you remain responsible for your own safety at all times. You are required to respect the walk leader and be mindful of the safety of others. Please keep to the pace of the group and don’t go off ahead even if you think you know the route.