“ The finest view in England”

That is how the writer and famous local resident James Herriot ( pen name of James Alfred Wright) called this astonishing panorama, from the top of Sutton Bank, and who , being a Yorkshire lass am I to argue.

When taking this photo I was standing at a height of 295 metres ( 968 feet) a k e sea level.
In front of you the ground plunges 200 meters ( 656 ft) to the valley floor.
From here on a clear day ( not today however)
you can see a huge swathe of northern England stretch all the way to the Pennines, 30 miles west.

Down on your right is Gormire Lake only one of 2 natural lakes in Yorkshire.
To the left is Hood Hill.
The Vale of Mowbray stretches out in front.

This was part of the 5 mile walk from the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre, which also took us to the White Horse of Kilburn.
Now looking like a grey mare, and in need of a whitewash. ( see extra)
However the Forestry Commission who own the site, will not let the villagers step foot on the horse again, for “ health and safety “ reasons!
They are going to maintain it themselves, but so far haven’t done anything.

Also spent some time watching the gliders taking off. ( see extra)

Had a chat with a lovely couple, down from Scotland, on holiday.
Turned out they came from Langham , where my mum was born, and they knew the cottage.
Small world.