We really enjoy discovering new walks with the spaniels, so after some digging, we decided to check out the White Horse and Kilburn Woods walking trail. It’s just a hop away from Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire, and we’d only ever spotted the iconic White Horse from afar during our drives to York City. It had been on my must-visit list for ages! As for the history of the White Horse, I’ll let you find that out for yourself—on the trail, just above the horse there’s an information board, so you really have to go see it for yourself (don’t just Google it—that’s cheating!).
The walking trail starts at the Forestry England car park, Postcode – YO61 4AN. This is a pay and display carpark and you needed to pay with your debit card.
Now, this trail is a 2.5km circular loop and you can tackle it either way. The trail is clearly marked with yellow arrows along the way. Just a heads up, if like us, you choose to go anticlockwise, you’ll kick things off with a bit of a workout – about 150 steps straight up! If you’d rather save those steps for later and come down at the end, I suggest going clockwise. You’ll still have to climb, but it’ll be on some pretty uneven ground through the woods. There’s a wooden rail you can grab onto for a bit of support.
When we finally reached the top of the steps, totally worn out and panting worse than the spaniels, we really needed a break, and this was just the spot to rest while soaking in those amazing, wide-open views of the green patchwork of the Vale of York.
From the top of the White Horse, you stroll along the Cleveland Way beside the cliff escarpment until you reach the Yorkshire Gliders Club. Just ensure your dogs stay at a safe distance from the edge—keep them on a lead if they don’t return when you call them. Fortunately, we got to see a couple of gliders taking off right as we passed by, and it was an impressive sight!
Continue until the trail takes a sharp left down a bumpy, narrow path leading into Kilburn woods. It becomes quite uneven as you descend into the trees, but that’s all part of the adventure. The spaniels really enjoyed the woods, joyfully zigzagging through the trees and eagerly sniffing all the new scents around them. Until this point, you’ve been on a well-defined path, but within the woods, the ground was a bit muddy, so wearing walking boots is essential. Simply follow the yellow arrows, and they’ll lead you back to the car park where you began your journey. Just before reaching the car park, you’ll find a lovely open grassy area with large picnic tables—perfect for a visit in spring or summer!
Although it was only a short walk, I truly enjoyed the experience. It offered a variety of breathtaking panoramic views, an exciting challenge, the thrill of watching the aircraft, a delightful woodland stroll, and a fascinating dive into the area’s history.
After our walk, we drove 9 miles along the road to the charming market town of Helmsley. With a growing appetite, we tucked into a delightful homemade pasty from Thomas of Helmsley butchers & delicatessen before drinking a latte and a cappuccino from Barkers Cafe Bar. The abundance of dog-friendly shops, cafes, and pubs left us excited to plan a return visit with the spaniels in the near future. I’ll save that adventure for another blog!
Spaniels By The Sea 
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