FEB 2025
54°14'25.9"N 1°12'38.7"W
This loop is a local knowledge upgraded option of the popular signposted, singletrack ‘Paradise Trail’ XC route out from Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire. It’s got truly incredible views, awesome cafes and a bike shop, pump track and family skills area at the start. While it’s most comfortably done on an MTB loop there’s nothing really tech. That means you’ll manage it fine on a gravel bike with a bit of muscle and potentially some sketchy moments on a couple of the descents. It’s surfaced well enough for most of it’s distance that it’ll ride OK in all weathers. The cafe, pub and play before/after options make it a great one for families too. Especially as you can loop back very easily along the flat top trails / back road at any point in the first 14km if you have a mini rider mutiny.
POLARIS PARADISE PLUS
35.5KM, 734M VERTICAL
Start and finish point - The route starts and finishes from Sutton Bank Visitor Centre. 10km from the A19, 45km north of York and 52 km south of Middlesborough. There’s a train station to the west of Thirsk that connects to York and Newcastle.
For full navigation data download the GPX file and watch the Strava fly through. And if you want to see just how incredible the views can look over Gormire then watch our ride video for a highlights preview of the route. Check in every month for a new MTB or gravel route as we build up our collection of classics across the UK, and if you see us out filming be sure to come and say hello. We’re a brand built on the love of riding and your feedback from the trails is vital to making the product the best it can be.
Stops & shops
There are toilets, an excellent cafe, a bike shop run by Pace Cycles (check seasonal opening times) and the North Yorks Moors visitor centre at Sutton Bank where you start and finish. The car park is pay and display.
Paradise farm (6km) has a wonderful cafe toilets and even an essential kit store.
Thirsk (10km away) has supermarkets, a train station (sort of), petrol stations and all the other town stuff you’d expect.
Watch out for
Epic views in east and west from the top of the North York Moors plateau for a lot of the ride also mean wind and rain can hit you hard so you should dress / pack with that in mind.
The incredible views, easy access and cafe / visitor centre make the start / finish sections near Sutton Bank very popular with ramblers, runners and random meanderers of all ages. If it’s obviously rammed don’t get frustrated with people. Just join the route further north where other users will be more dispersed.
While the previously challenging rocky descent at the far end has been gravelled recently I’d argue that makes it more dangerous. So while it might be tempting to dive bomb it now, you’ll be heading towards a blind bend with a gate and anyone coming up the other way without much braking or steering grip.
Route information
Sutton Bank stuff 0-1.5km
Before you head out onto the route, don’t miss out on the chance to have some fun at Sutton Bank itself. There’s a beginners skills track just next to Sutton Bank Bikes that’s great for junior or novice laps before setting off. Cathy and Sophie from the bike shop also run a whole program of very popular and fun events for kids there during the year too, so be sure to check the calendar if you’ve got young ones. There’s a full pump track that links off the start of the Paradise Trail over the road too so bairns and big uns alike can get their flow on around the sculpted all weather rollers. Once you’ve got dizzy enough the first 1.5km of the route follows the broad, occasionally termed ‘multi use bike track’ in a loop around the woods back to the National Park Centre too. All useful for keeping lively ones occupied while you sneak some shopping time in Sutton Bank Bikes or pre / refuel at the excellent cafe at the Visitor Centre. And yes we know it used to be awful but it’s under new ownership as of Feb ’25 and the ‘Truffled Hog’ crew are doing an awesome job now.
Sutton Bank to Paradise Farm 1.5-9.5km
After you’ve had enough coffee and pump track laps it’s time to hit the route proper along the quiet road north across the gallops with panoramic views west across the Moors. Don’t get too engrossed though or you’ll miss the chicane onto the fenced bike track that will swing you east towards the first reveal of the incredible views towards the Dales. From here follow your nose along the gently contouring all weather singletrack northwards. This is likely to be the busiest section of the outward leg in terms of walkers and runners as well as other riders so be polite and give everyone the space and time they need. The first little leg tester of the day takes you up through the last remains of Iron Age Hillfort ramparts and then it’s gently downwards on more flowing singletrack with views north to Boltby Forest. A couple of gates leads you into open grassland which can be a bit of a lumpy slog when damp, but at least the last bit is downhill. Cross the steep road careful onto the rise and fall woodland trail opposite which will eventually join the short back road climb up to Paradise Farm. While you’re not even a third of the way round we can thoroughly recommend Ginny’s excellent sandwiches and cakes. Her infamously cheeky Jack Russel and Corgi ‘helpers’ will no doubt entertain and if you get too full to go further Ginny even offers lovely B&B rooms.
Paradise Farm to Kepwick Brow 9.5-14km
Take the track north east from Paradise Farm but rather than following the Paradise Trail signs and turning left at the crossroads go through the gate opposite. Don’t be lured into the obvious tractor trail bridleway due east either. The track you’re looking for is a narrow singletrack running north east through the heather. It’s actually aligned perfectly with the Bilsdale transmitter mast in the distance too if the visibility is good and you fancy flexing your seat skipper navigation skills. Wobbling /charging out of the far end of the singletrack depending on the accuracy of your steering turn left along the wall then down and up through the gate. Chew across the grass to the gravel double track hoping that there isn’t a headwind blowing in from the Dales. The second big view reveal as you crest the highest point of the ride is seriously spectacular though and if you’re feeling epic you can go as far as Osmotherly, Carlton Bank and eventually Saltburn if you head north on the old drovers road.
Kepwick Brów to Brickshed Cottage 14-18.3km
We’re heading south though, making sure to spot the gate at 14.5km to start the over 3km long descent* that’s the riding highlight of the route. Beware - or bait - the ruts and perpetual puddles as you peel off the moor down towards Boltby Forest for the first flat out km. Don’t forget to get another eyeful of the spectacular view while you wait for mates at the gate either. Then it’s a swerving, swooping singletrack charge (*with a couple of tiny kick ups) for the next 2km until you get to the final T junction. We’re taking the right fork, but be careful as what used to be rowdy, speed limiting loose rock is now a straight, steep gravel chute down to a blind corner and a gate. Often with people coming the other way. Not the smartest surfacing decision we’ve seen, but hopefully one that rain erosion will soon revert to properly rocky again.
Brickshed Cottage to Stonecliffe Wood 18.3-21.75km
It’s time to calm your heart rate and get your midway calories in on the only section of road of the whole route. The tiny back lane turns left along the foot of the moors and you’ll see the official ‘Paradise Trail’ route signed into a field on the left just before the first farm. Even on a dry summer day it’s a trudge through a couple of fields before a savagely steep and long climb up to a short traverse and short singletrack descent before some more horse filled fields. If it’s remotely damp though you’ll probably struggle to walk let alone ride the climb and a lot of the contouring section will be soggy too. In other words unless it’s been factor fifteen for a while we’d skip that section and continue on the road into the gorgeous, quiet hamlet of Kirkby Knowle. Turn left onto Knowle Lane after the church then left again after about 500m onto Wandhill Lane. This continues on to the T junction at Stonecliffe wood where it’s time to make a decision. Turn left and you’ll be on the road straight to Boltby to rejoin the Paradise Trail which will give you a 30km overall route. Turn right though and you get our local knowledge Boltby bonus loop with some lovely rolling estate road and a cheeky wooded climb up to a fun singletrack descent back to Boltby.
Stonecliffe wood to Boltby 21.5-27.4km
Well of course you went left didn't you, so thanks for trusting us and we hope you don’t mind that we didn’t mentioned there’s a bit of a climb on the road to get to the estate road. Turn left over the cattle grid at the top of the hill though and it’s a lovely swoop down on ‘dual cabbageway’ into a very pretty pocket of countryside very few folk will ever see. If you’re lucky you’ll be joined by a huge barn owl gliding silently over the fields and through the woods like we were too. Even if you’re not riding with owls the dip down through the ford around the old manor house of Tang Hall is a lovely bit of riding. Then it’s a zig zag road then field climb up to the farm before a final kick up to the woods along the fence. Be prepared for some enthusiastic encouragement up the climb by the resident farm collie here, but don’t worry, he’s the other side of the fence and hasn’t worked out how to jump it. Yet. Through the gate into the ancient wood to complete the climb with a few roots and steps built in for spice then it’s reward time on the old green lane and then slot car singletrack descent out of the wood and down to the back lane into Boltby. If it’s hot there’s a ford for cooling your feet halfway along the lane too, but as it was icy on the tops when we rode it for the video, we stuck to the bridge instead. Speaking of the video, I think I said there was a pub in Boltby too. Unfortunately it’s now shut so you’ll just have to take some tinnies if you want a shandy before the final climb back up to the top of the bank.
Boltby to Sutton Bank 27.4 - 35km
Climbing east out of Boltby you’ll drop down round a bend in the road then at the second left kink, go through the gate with the red ‘Paradise Trail’ sign on it. A gentle fire road climb leads to a little step up challenge through a gate which us also where the shorter ‘Fort Trail’ drops in from above. Then it’s more fire road climbing through open forest and then a swooping descent before the final push up to the top edge again. The good news is that it’s broken into steeper and shallower sections so it’s not one big leg burner. After the first bit of old fire break track which can be slippery in spots it’s all well surfaced too. The fact the second section is a singletrack climb twisting up through open woodland gives you something to think about besides the gradient too. Then it’s a last switchback through the gate and up the final gully grunt and you’re suddenly back on the scarp again just below the hill fort. And if the weather is playing ball that means incredible views right across the Vale of York to the Yorkshire Dales and if it’s getting late the sunsets up here are incredible. The scenic splendour comes to a peak as you climb up to the viewpoint above Lake Gormire which has been officially declared one of the best views in England. As we’ve said before though that can make the trail out to it busy so make sure you follow the designated bike trail which is set back from the cliff edge on the other side of an old stone wall. That way you’ll be away from most of the ramblers and it’s a bit more fun and twisty too. Then it’s you final bit of vista bliss (watch out for people sat on the bench halfway along) before turning left into a final furlong of dedicated one way singletrack that’s a great way to finish the loop in style.
