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Welcome

Situated at the top of the dramatic Sutton Bank escarpment, Sutton Bank National Park Centre has views which James Herriot described as ‘the finest in England’.

The centre has a café, exhibition space, shop, cycle hire, adventure play area, crafts, and numerous activities as well as cycle trails and accessible walks which enable the wonderful landscape to be enjoyed by everyone.

The friendly, informative staff have a wealth of knowledge about the North York Moors National Park. There is plenty of parking, as well as accessible toilets on site and mobility equipment for hire.

Watch the video: Sutton Bank National Park Centre
Approach to Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Hearing

We have a hearing loop in the National Park Centre Information desk.
Some staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

Glass doors and full-height windows have contrast markings.
The walls and the doors have high colour contrast.
We have information in audio and braille.

General

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
Some staff have disability awareness training.
We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Sutton Bank National Park Centre
Sutton Bank,
Thirsk,
YO7 2EH

Travel by public transport

You can get to Sutton Bank National Park Centre by bus.
The nearest bus stop is directly outside the National Park Centre. The Moorsbus service operates on weekends and Bank Holidays only, through July, August and September. See https://www.moorsbus.org/timetablesfares.html for the timetable. The bus stop is 0 miles / 0.0 km from Sutton Bank National Park Centre.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with REDS taxis by calling 07760160244. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Please contact REDS in advance to discuss your requirements

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not free.
There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 2000mm wide, or more.

Parking costs are £2.70 for up to two hours, and £4.80 for all day.

Accessible parking bays Entrance to National Park Centre Centre doors

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 1500mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.
The door is 1500mm wide.
The main door is side hung and manual.

There are large double doors leading in to the foyer which are kept open during opening times. A bell is set to the side of the doors for access when closed (this would be due to adverse weather conditions). A further set of double automatic doors leads into the National Park Centre and shop.

Sliding glass doors at the shop entrance

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

We have contrast markings on all glass doors, contrast markings on all full-height windows and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.
Main reception Shop area Shop area Bird watching station Reception desk with dropped counter

Ticket/ information desk

The information desk and counter situated in the Visitor Centre.

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 1500mm wide, or more.
The door is 1500mm wide, or more.
The desk has a low section.

The large desk is situated in the middle of the National Park Centre. Helpful, informative staff are always on hand to assist. Information about the area, Tramper/Scooter hire, along with purchases from within the shop can be made here.

Public toilet

Accessible toilet in the courtyard directly outside the Visitor Centre.

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
You need a RADAR key to open the public toilet.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 890mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 800mm at the side of the toilet. There is 2000mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 420mm high. The toilets have handrails.

The accessible toilet also has a toilet seat raiser available. The sink is an automatic soap/water/dry sink situated at a height of 800mm.

Baby changing facilites are in the both the men's and ladies toilets.

Entrance to accessible toilet Accessible toilet

Shop

Shop within the National Park Centre

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 1500mm wide, or more. The door is 1500mm wide.
The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

The Visitor Centre has a combined shop, information desk and exhibition centre. There are freestanding retail shelving units that are well spaced and at an appropriate level. The space also includes a bird viewing area which is wheelchair accessible.

Place to eat and drink

The Park Life Cafe

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 1500mm wide, or more. The door is 1500mm wide.
To get to a table, there are no steps.
The dining area is self-service. If you need table service, staff can help you.
The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.
There is background music sometimes.
The table and plates have high colour contrast.
We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs) and vegan specific diets.

The cafe has flexible tables and chairs which are situated around a cosy log burning fire. 

Tables can be booked in advance - please contact sbc-parklifecafe@deepbeatentertainment.com

An online menu can be found at www.facebook.com/parklifecafesuttonbank/menu.

Easy hold cutlery and cups are available.

 

 

Tables with different coloured chairs in the Park Life Cafe Counter in the Park Life Cafe

Sutton Bank Bikes

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more.
The door is 1000mm wide.

Sutton Bank Bikes is situated directly next to the Visitor Centre. There is an external single door entrance from the outside area and a double door wheelchair accessible entrance that is accessed from within the Visitor Centre.

The outside of Sutton Bank Bikes Entrance to Sutton Bank Bikes from within Sutton Bank National Park Centre Entrance to Sutton Bank National Park Centre from within Sutton Bank Bikes Outside Sutton Bank Bikes

Getting around outside

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 1000mm wide, or more.
The entrance is 1000mm wide.
Some tables have space for wheelchair users. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

There are a variety of areas around the site where visitors can enjoy a picnic. Some tables are wheelchair accessible.

One of the picnic areas on site Picnic benches in the main courtyard

The Star/Nature Hub

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1000mm wide.

The new Nature Hub is a modular building situated in a secluded woodland setting, yet close to the facilities of the Visitor Centre. There is wheelchair access into this flexible space, which has windows and tables at varying heights suitable for wheelchair users.

Stargazing, birdwatching, talks, workshops etc take place here. The space can be hired for private events. Please contact the Centre team to see when the hub is booked out and if any events are running.

There is a birdsong station and a revolving dark skies interpretation panel.

The Nature Hub surrounded by snow in a woodland setting. Nature hub approach. Interior of Nature Hub.

Accessible walks on the Cleveland Way

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1000mm wide, or more. The entrance is 1000mm wide.

There are accessible walks along sections of The Cleveland Way.

The first is a shorter, circular route to 'The Finest View in England' 500m from the centre.

The second route crosses over the road (cross with care), and turns left towards The White Horse landmark. There are stunning views and seating overlooking the beautiful North York Moors countryside.

There are two tramper routes that extend further along the Cleveland Way. One passes 'England's Finest View' and continues to a turning circle one mile north of the National Park Centre. The second crosses the main road and continues along the escarpment for a mile to the white horse hill figure.

Full details of all the above are available at the National Park Centre.

Bench overlooking the snow covered view. Man in wheelchair overlooking view from Sutton Bank. Aerial view of the famous White Horse landmark. Solid surface pathways on accessible walk at Sutton Bank. Tramper on the White Horse path

Cycle routes

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

There are 3 cycle routes available at Sutton Bank - the green route being suitable for adaptive bikes. The route follows a 3 mile loop - maps available from Sutton Bank Bikes. 

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.
We have a hearing loop in the National Park Centre Information desk.

The National Park Centre is part of the Mobility Scheme and Trampers can be hired for use on two designated routes.

Trampers must be pre-booked at www.lakedistrictmobility.org/sutton-bank. Membership of the scheme costs £10 and allows users a year of access to Trampers at a range of locations throughout the country.

The Centre also has another basic mobility scooter for hire free of charge, which can access a limited number of routes. Pre-booking is advised.

Easy hold cutlery and cups are available in the cafe.

Ear defenders can be borrowed from reception.

A magnifier with a light is available to borrow for use in the exhibition space.

We have a small selction of braille maps, which includes the site itself and the White Horse loop, available to borrow.

 

 

Sutton Bank is dog friendly inside and out. Waste can be disposed of in any general waste bin.
We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.

The staff at Sutton Bank are extremely helpful, and if you need any assistance they are very willing to help.

Tramper at Sutton Bank Mobility scooter at Sutton Bank

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.
We have information in audio and braille.

Some limited braille maps are available - please contact the National Park Centre in advance.

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

Sutton Bank is a popular place for cyclists, walkers etc. It is situated on the Cleveland Way. Some of the trails through the woodland may be suitable for visitors who have adapted cycles. We recommend that you speak with the staff at the Sutton Bank Bikes to discuss your individual needs.

Although we don't have an official 'quiet session' or space at the Centre, the grounds provide an excellent place to find a quieter spot. The quietest periods are outside school holidays, and also first thing on a morning.

 

Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.