Paradise Trail (red) — Sutton Bank MTB trails
Paradise Trail (red) — Sutton Bank MTB trails
4.6
(65)
489
riders
Paradise Trail (red) — Sutton Bank MTB trails
02:35
29.2km
480m
Mountain biking
A great option for more experienced mountain bikers, the red-rated Paradise Trail offers a magnificent day out exploring the countryside tracks of Sutton Bank as well as some tasty descents and singletrack sections.
Start by following the signs for the blue Fort Trail and green Cliff Trail as well as the red arrows around the ‘cyclocross’ track to warm up, then heading north to Dialstone Farm. Split from the Cliff Trail as you turn right further up the bridleway track, following signs across the fields.
After twisting through the trees, the grand view is revealed for the first time from Sutton Bank, and the shorter Fort Loop heads back towards the centre while you turn right to follow the Bank’s clifftop.
Enjoy the changing views as you pass by Boltby Scar, with Boltby Forest visible in front of you and the village of Boltby in the valley below. Cross Sneck Yate Bank road carefully, descending through the woods before climbing on the road towards High Paradise Farm. A short break in the tearooms here comes highly recommended!
Head onwards on the Cleveland Way alongside the edge of Boltby Forest, popping out onto moorland where you will find a fun bombhole to session. A little further along you turn sharp left through the gate and head towards a fantastic descent. Open, rutted and rough, this is a real blast down to the next gateway.
Continue to follow red signs for the Paradise Trail on the doubletrack descent, with a steeper and rough boulder-strewn section at the end before you rejoin the road at Brickshed Cottage. A short road descent leads you into the village of Kirby Knowle.
A bridleway climb takes you from the village up into the woods on the edge of the brilliantly named Wind Egg hill, through Westow Plantation and down the other side into Boltby. Follow the lane towards Sneck Yate Bank, turning right off the road on a left-hand bend and onto the climb back up Sutton Bank.
While there’s quite some elevation to gain, it’s a well designed route that uses switchbacks to get you up the hillside without being too brutal. The first section is a wide, gravelly farm track, and further up it turns to relatively straightforward singletrack.
Back onto the top of the bank, rejoin the blue Fort Trail for the final leg to the National Park Centre, along the bank and through the twists and turns of the singletrack through Cliff Plantation.
Last updated: May 31, 2024
Waypoints
Start point
Get Directions
6.49 km
View from Sutton Bank Junction
Highlight • Trail
If you're following bridleways rather than the marked cycle routes, there's a handy fingerpost here with directions.
Tip by
8.83 km
Cleveland Way Bridleway – Osmotherley to Sutton Bank
Highlight • Cycleway
In some sections you can ride along the way too, like here where it's on a bridleway. While this section is fairly wide, take care on busier summer days when there are plenty of walkers, horse riders and other cyclists on the Cleveland Way.
Tip by
10.2 km
High Paradise Farm Tearoom
Highlight • Cafe
The tearoom serves hot and cold food and snacks, they use the produce from the farm and local suppliers and cook or bake everything on site.
Tearoom open seasonally, in the winter they are open at the weekend 10:00 - 16:00.
Tip by
12.1 km
Bombhole Feature on the Paradise Trail
Highlight • Climb
Tip by
13.4 km
Gallow Hill Descent
Highlight • Viewpoint
After passing through the top gate and turning left, a short pedal leads you to the descent proper; rutted, rough and ruddy wonderful!
It gets pretty gravelly in the middle, be aware!
Tip by
23.9 km
Sutton Bank Climb
Highlight • Climb
Make sure you leave some energy in the tank, as it's not a small climb, though it does make good use of the hill and switchbacks so it's not too brutal.
The first section from the lane (on Paradise Trail) is on a wide gravel doubletrack, and further up it turns into a non-technical singletrack. Pace yourself!
Tip by
29.2 km
End point
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
11.3 km
9.91 km
3.76 km
3.44 km
732 m
Surfaces
10.7 km
7.49 km
6.40 km
2.96 km
1.36 km
< 100 m
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Elevation
Highest point (370 m)
Lowest point (140 m)
Sign up to see more specific route details
Sign up for free
Weather
Powered by Foreca
Monday 18 May
16°C
8°C
-- %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: -- km/h
to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route
This route was planned by komoot.
Nearby routes
Trail Reviews
PARADISE TRAIL - RED CYCLE ROUTE Video Preview Here - https://youtu.be/GEviYwhvNZk Can take anywhere between 3-5 hours. Starting from High Paradise Tea Room the red route is for those who would like to take a bit more of a challenge on, the most technical route but equally as spectacular. The Paradise trail takes in rocky, swooping singletrack, various natural but technical features, and of course has our very own 'K2' climb - the steepest section on the trail system. The Paradise loops around Boltby Forest, moorland and woodland trails providing a cross-section of mountain-bike riding through some of the most breath-taking scenery. It is for those with a true spirit of adventure. 17.5 miles.
A multi-surface route for the more adventurous! With technical descents, more singletrack and plenty of climbing, you’re in for an exhilarating ride! You might want to carry snacks as, although there’s the High Paradise Farm tearoom, it’s only a third of the way in and the tougher part of the route comes afterwards. Sharing the same route initially as the Fort Short Loop, you’re soon out onto wilder terrain, riding roller-coaster scenic singletrack across open countryside and through enchanting woodland. The climbing starts just before High Paradise Farm, a great spot to stop for scrumptious cake, but be mindful that the climbing continues straight from the Farm! Just before cresting the climb, the bombhole feature is a fun distraction and perfect for practising your skills! Enjoy your hard-earned view at the climb’s summit of the surrounding moorland’s kaleidoscope of beautiful seasonal colours. The Gallow Hill descent is an adrenaline- and grin-inducing drop into the valley, that does get steep in its lower section. Fun, undulating woodland trails transport you along the valley before the climb back up onto the area’s higher perches. Do pace yourself, as it’s a long climb that ramps up near the top. A fun, roller-coaster ride speeds you back to the visitor centre and well-earned refreshments!
If I did this ride again, I think I’d start off half way round to get the soul destroying uphill sections out of the way rather than have them kill me off for the last half of the ride. Otherwise this was a nice ride, not as exciting as a full on trail centre, but well worth it for the stunning scenery.