White Horse trail at Kilburn Woods

A 2.5km (1.5 mile) circular walk with spectacular panoramic views at the top from the Cleveland Way National Trail. Climb steps past the historic Kilburn White Horse, skirt along the cliff escarpment before descending into the woodland, and back to the car park.

Kilburn White Horse is the most northerly turf-cut figure in Britain and one of the most famous landmarks in North Yorkshire. It's easily visible from the south, below Sutton Bank, and while it's difficult to get a sense of its scale from the path on the escarpment edge above, there are steps down the side which give a closer view.

The horse dates from 1857, when the outline of the horse was marked out by the Kilburn village schoolmaster and his pupils. The horse was then cut into the limestone underneath – to make it more visible today, chalk chippings are added at intervals and the horse is painted every couple of years to ensure it remains visible.