Gormire Lake – Hard

Walk

This walk starts at Sutton Bank and reaches a hidden lake, Gormire Lake. The journey back up from the lake is quite strenuous but worth the extra effort.

 Getting ThereFollow the A19 south until you reach the Thirsk turn off. Follow the road signposted to Sutton Bank which is the A170. Park at the Sutton Park National Park Visitor Centre which is where the walk starts. This is at the top of Sutton Bank.

Gormire Lake Walk Route

Start the walk by crossing the picnic area and car park behind the Visitor Centre to the junction of a lane with the main road at the top of Sutton Bank. Cross the lane to a footpath opposite signed "Cleveland Way" and "Sneck Yate", which follows the top of Sutton Brow.

Initially in woodland, the path emerges onto more open heath which gives brilliant views across the Vale of Mowbray.

After about three quarters of a mile, the path loses height before turning right around the overgrown corner of a wall.

A little farther on, leave the Cleveland Way, going sharp left onto a descending bridleway, signed "Thirlby Bank".After first falling across shrubby heath, the route soon drops into woodland, winding steeply down through the trees along the course of and old banked way. Ignore side paths until, eventually you reach a junction at the bottom of the hill by a three-fingered bridleway sign.

Turn left and then almost immediately fork right along a gently undulating track towards Gormire Lake. Keep left with the main path where it later splits again, soon arriving at the lake shore, which is a great spot for a picnic and if you're more daring even a swim...

After spending some time at the lake shore, look for a signpost a little farther on and turn from the waters edge to climb through the trees on a path signed to the National Park Centre.

The route to the top is steep. Drink plenty of water if your lucky to have hot weather. Over a stile part way up, keep on through the Garbutt Wood Nature Reserve to a fork. Go right, shortly passing a large isolated boulder at the edge of a clearing, Beyond, the gradient, having briefly eased, resumes its upward trend and there is a final stiff pull to the top of Sutton Bank Here you will rejoin the Cleveland Way. Turn right and follow it back to the visitor centre.