Paradise Trail (red) — Sutton Bank MTB trails

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.