Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Come visit our Sutton Bank Sunday event Today! Catch the next performance of the Minster Strays Traditional Dance group at 12:30, and meet Pogo the pup, all decked out in his own dancing costume.
Other events include: fire friction demonstrations and a foraging walk at 2:00pm with the Trailblazers group, an indoor bird trail and identification, crafts and a Moorland Trail.
Lots of activities are happening regardless of the weather forecast. Come out!

Wild Wednesday is coming up next week, 1:30pm - 3pm. Bring the little ones to learn about our dragonflies, make some dragonfly art and take home a fabulous sculpture.
There’s no charge for adults to attend. Minimum age 6. Book online or call 01439 772738 https://buff.ly/2vtOymN
(c) Chris J Parker

Wild Wednesday! Lucy the lamb has escaped and has got into a spot of bother. Bring the little ones and join us for some woolly fun next wednesday 15 August from 10:30am - 12pm.
There’s no charge for adults to attend. Minimum age 3. Book now online or call 01439 772738, it's only £4.50 https://buff.ly/2AQRten
(c) Chris J Parker

Learn about our dragonflies, make some dragonfly art and take home a fabulous sculpture.
All children to be accompanied by an adult. There’s no charge for adults to attend. Minimum age 6.

Lucy the Lamb has escaped. She's gone through an open gate and gets into a spot of bother. Join us for some woolly fun.
All children to be accompanied by an adult. There’s no charge for adults to attend. Minimum age 3.

Who's coming to MoorFest today? We've got storytelling, craft activities, a bee hive, a 'Ranger Patrol Trail', guided walks and so much more including guests English Heritage, Yorkshire Coast Nature, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and others.
It's on from 11am - 4pm. See you soon for free family fun https://buff.ly/2KEHv4v
(c) Volunteer Brian Nicholson

Are you coming down to MoorFest tomorow? You should! Find out more about bees and see the working hive and skeps with Westfields Honey Farm, see felt demonstrations with Margaret Jackson, discover how to identify different heather varieties and all about moorland management with Askham Bryan College, Yorkshire Coast Nature will be here so you can find out about their wildlife trips and experiences to see some of the National Park’s most iconic wildlife, plus children's crafts, trails, local folklore storytelling and you can go out on our 'Ranger Patrol Trail'. What are you waiting for?
Drop in between 11am - 4pm, it's free! https://buff.ly/2KEHv4v #NationalParksWeek

Please remember the #firealert is still in place. Do come and visit the Centre, but please don’t light fires or BBQs & don’t discard matches, cigarettes or glass as there is a high risk of moorland and forest fires. Thank you!

MoorFest is just around the corner, this Sunday to be exact. We've got storytelling, craft activities, a tasting table, bee hive and more! Drop by the centre between 11am - 4pm for free family fun.
Find out more https://buff.ly/2KEHv4v
(c) Volunteer Brian Nicholson

Have you submitted your sightings yet for the #bigbutterflycount? We spotted 5 species over the 15 minutes yesterday, which we reckon is pretty good!
Submit your records here: https://www.bigbutterflycount.org

One week to go until MoorFest! Crafts, tasting table, folklore storytelling, a ranger patrol trail and get up close to a working beehive. Are you coming along? Drop by between 11am - 4pm for free family fun. Find out what's going on https://buff.ly/2KEHv4v #NationalParksWeek
(c) Volunteer Brian Nicholson

Join us in learning about trees and identify them from their leaves. Use them to print designs onto a T-shirt to take home.
All children to be accompanied by an adult. There’s no charge for adults to attend. Minimum age 6.

Collect food for the hungry caterpillar in a special caterpillar bag, and then transform your bag into a beautiful butterfly!
All children to be accompanied by an adult. There’s no charge for adults to attend. Minimum age 3.

#NationalParksWeek is kicking off this Sunday for a whole week and it's our chance to celebrate the special qualities of National Parks. Closing the week is our own annual event MoorFest on Sunday 29 July. It’s a celebration of country life, culture and heritage so come along to the Centre and enjoy a whole host of free activities.
Find out more https://buff.ly/2KEHv4v
(c) Volunteer Brian Nicholson

Don't forget if you want to meet local author Zee Cripps, she's here today from 11am - 4pm, for her latest book signing 'Scruffy and Maisie'.
Come and drop in.

No plans this weekend? Drop by the visitor centre tomorrow for local author Zee Cripps' book signing. Zee will be here from 11am - 4pm signing her new book 'Scruffy and Maisie'.

The results are in...it's going to be a narrow 1-0 win against Croatia (or should that be Crow-atia?)

Oh heck...it's a 0-0 draw at the feeding station of dreams! No need to worry though, now we're the penalty kings...
#believe #ENGSWE #England

World class views. We highly recommend you visit here. The cafe is very good too.

We visited yesterday and had a lovely walk up to the gliding club and the white horse. We didn’t use the cafe but popped in to the visitors centre for a nosey and was clean and well laid out. The finest view in England is indeed mighty fine!

Pulled in yesterday to wait for Sutton Bank to be opened after a heavy snow fall. Haven’t used the cafe for a couple of years as I can’t walk far these days. It was as delightful as ever. Good coffee and I had a great bacon butty while waiting. The food was home made, excellent and good value, the staff cheerful and friendly.

I note that someone had a bad experience recently but the management dealt with it in an exemplary manner. The whole visitors centre is an example of Yorkshire at its best!

Perfect for an autumn walk. Truly fantastic views, great facilities and good value car park and cafe. Ideal for our young children who can't hike far as the viewpoint is close to the car park but there's loads of walking options if you want to venture further. The landscaped play area was also a nice change from the usual playground offerings. This will become our regular weekend spot.

Me and my partner had a lovely walk in the snow on monday morning the visitor centre was shut but i needed the toilet a very kind gentleman let me use the staff toilet

Lovely place and different walks and u can hire bikes, also, lovely place to spend time with friends.

I have been here many times and always have good service from all the staff. Yesterday the waitress came out in the snow to bring our meals as we have to sit outside with our army of hounds! She even took the time to say hello to all the dogs.

Had a wonderful day at Sutton Bank. A great place for walking and so well organised. Hugely welcoming and thanks to Jill at the reception for being so helpful suggesting great walks. Stunning views! Highly recommend. Also pleased to see the takeaway coffee cups are environmentally compostable!

Great place to have a walk with the kids. They loved bird watching from both the cafe and the visitor centre. Boys being able to be boys outside is always a great day out! Too misty for a view, but a fab time even without them. Cafe served lovely food and all the staff were very friendly and helpful!

Brilliant views, good centre with lots of info and bike hire available we went on a scorching day and walked to the white horse.

Brilliant place for walking/cycling,

Different cycle trails from easy to hard,

Fabulous play area,

Lovely cafe,

Fantastic bike skills track for kids,

Bike hire,

Amazing views on the cycle trails,

We took 6 year old twins on a short/easy traffic free 3 mile cycle loop it was lovely.

Play area is wonderful,from tree house to mud kitchen, little stone built castle to climb on plus lots more,

Lots of picnic tables,

Fab fun day out.



Lisa from Leeds

A great place to come for a walk and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Plenty to see and do there and a great family day out.

Why in God's name is there no public transport there? It's a great place but without a car you have to pay for a taxi to and from Thirsk (or wherever). Please make this place accessible!

Fantastic views over the Vale of York and Mowbray, lovely walks. Visitor centre not open until 10.30 though and you need change to pay for parking. Would be good to be able to pay by card. Had an excellent full breakfast in the café and good friendly service

Beautiful view, worth the walk on a hot day.

Tea and cakes were very good but I had to pay £1.50 to park a motorbike... were the bloody hell do you stick a none sticky parking ticket on a windy day on a motorbike we’re it won’t either get blown off or nicked????? Come on National Trust ... really!!!!!

Great place to walk too, but be AWARE the food and drink in the cafe is very expensive. I took my family of 4 in on Saturday and for a family of 3 for a standard light lunch cafe style and drinks, it cost £27 for 2 children and me. My husband refused to eat as he felt ripped off and only had a coffee. A white bread sandwich of cheese & ham with no garnish was £4.95, a jacket with cheese and beans with mini salad garnish was £7.95, and a tuna mayo jacket with mini salad garnish was £8.95.

We went up to Sutton bank today to go biking. Having to pay £4.50 to park and none of the footpaths etc have been gritted. I was very disappointed, the car park was extremely dangerous, especially for my three young children.

The food and drink in the cafe is absolutely extortionate. My advice to anybody is to take your own food and drink and eat in the picnic areas. You will end up with a bill for a family of 4 of around £40... Jacket with beans and cheese with salad garnish £7.95. shocking the most you should pay is £4.95

World class views. We highly recommend you visit here. The cafe is very good too.

We visited yesterday and had a lovely walk up to the gliding club and the white horse. We didn’t use the cafe but popped in to the visitors centre for a nosey and was clean and well laid out. The finest view in England is indeed mighty fine!

Pulled in yesterday to wait for Sutton Bank to be opened after a heavy snow fall. Haven’t used the cafe for a couple of years as I can’t walk far these days. It was as delightful as ever. Good coffee and I had a great bacon butty while waiting. The food was home made, excellent and good value, the staff cheerful and friendly.

I note that someone had a bad experience recently but the management dealt with it in an exemplary manner. The whole visitors centre is an example of Yorkshire at its best!

Perfect for an autumn walk. Truly fantastic views, great facilities and good value car park and cafe. Ideal for our young children who can't hike far as the viewpoint is close to the car park but there's loads of walking options if you want to venture further. The landscaped play area was also a nice change from the usual playground offerings. This will become our regular weekend spot.

Me and my partner had a lovely walk in the snow on monday morning the visitor centre was shut but i needed the toilet a very kind gentleman let me use the staff toilet

Lovely place and different walks and u can hire bikes, also, lovely place to spend time with friends.

I have been here many times and always have good service from all the staff. Yesterday the waitress came out in the snow to bring our meals as we have to sit outside with our army of hounds! She even took the time to say hello to all the dogs.

Had a wonderful day at Sutton Bank. A great place for walking and so well organised. Hugely welcoming and thanks to Jill at the reception for being so helpful suggesting great walks. Stunning views! Highly recommend. Also pleased to see the takeaway coffee cups are environmentally compostable!

Great place to have a walk with the kids. They loved bird watching from both the cafe and the visitor centre. Boys being able to be boys outside is always a great day out! Too misty for a view, but a fab time even without them. Cafe served lovely food and all the staff were very friendly and helpful!

Brilliant views, good centre with lots of info and bike hire available we went on a scorching day and walked to the white horse.

Brilliant place for walking/cycling,

Different cycle trails from easy to hard,

Fabulous play area,

Lovely cafe,

Fantastic bike skills track for kids,

Bike hire,

Amazing views on the cycle trails,

We took 6 year old twins on a short/easy traffic free 3 mile cycle loop it was lovely.

Play area is wonderful,from tree house to mud kitchen, little stone built castle to climb on plus lots more,

Lots of picnic tables,

Fab fun day out.



Lisa from Leeds

A great place to come for a walk and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Plenty to see and do there and a great family day out.

Why in God's name is there no public transport there? It's a great place but without a car you have to pay for a taxi to and from Thirsk (or wherever). Please make this place accessible!

Fantastic views over the Vale of York and Mowbray, lovely walks. Visitor centre not open until 10.30 though and you need change to pay for parking. Would be good to be able to pay by card. Had an excellent full breakfast in the café and good friendly service

Beautiful view, worth the walk on a hot day.

Tea and cakes were very good but I had to pay £1.50 to park a motorbike... were the bloody hell do you stick a none sticky parking ticket on a windy day on a motorbike we’re it won’t either get blown off or nicked????? Come on National Trust ... really!!!!!

Great place to walk too, but be AWARE the food and drink in the cafe is very expensive. I took my family of 4 in on Saturday and for a family of 3 for a standard light lunch cafe style and drinks, it cost £27 for 2 children and me. My husband refused to eat as he felt ripped off and only had a coffee. A white bread sandwich of cheese & ham with no garnish was £4.95, a jacket with cheese and beans with mini salad garnish was £7.95, and a tuna mayo jacket with mini salad garnish was £8.95.

We went up to Sutton bank today to go biking. Having to pay £4.50 to park and none of the footpaths etc have been gritted. I was very disappointed, the car park was extremely dangerous, especially for my three young children.

The food and drink in the cafe is absolutely extortionate. My advice to anybody is to take your own food and drink and eat in the picnic areas. You will end up with a bill for a family of 4 of around £40... Jacket with beans and cheese with salad garnish £7.95. shocking the most you should pay is £4.95