Garbutt Wood Nature Reserve

If you’ve ever marvelled at the stunning view from Sutton Bank, you’ll have seen Lake Gormire below, and an enticing wood that’s crying out to be explored. That’s Garbutt Wood.

Location

Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Thirsk
North Yorkshire
YO7 2EH

OS Map Reference

SE507833
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A static map of Garbutt Wood Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
24 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Large car park at Sutton Bank National Park Centre off the A170 (charge applies).

Walking trails

Public and permissive footpaths. Paths are often muddy, steep and uneven, with several flights of steps and boardwalks. 

Access

Wheelchair/buggy access is limited to the Cleveland Way from the National Park Centre down to the eastern (clifftop) edge of the reserve.

Dogs

On a lead

Only on public footpaths.

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Facilities

Visitor centre
Toilets
Shop
Cafe/refreshments
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Outdoor play area

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times. We recommend a half day trip for this reserve but if you want a longer outing why not combine with walks around Sutton Bank, where you might see turtle doves and nightjars in summer. Alternatively, check out the nearby Lake Gormire for wetland plants, including the rare tufted loosestrife!

Best time to visit

March to September (April to May for bluebells)

About the reserve

This spellbinding woodland is at its most magical when the flowers are out in May and June, and the songs of redstarts, blackcaps and other breeding birds create an enchanting atmosphere. Whitestone Cliff, towering above the woodland, adds a sense of drama, while on a smaller scale there are micro-habitats ideal for lichens, mosses and ferns. In the north-west corner of the site, you can find plants including common fleabane, ragged robin and common spotted orchid.

Contact us

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01904 659570
Contact email: info@ywt.org.uk

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

About

Interesting for both its biological and geological features, this impressive nature reserve with various habitats is home to good numbers of breeding birds, beautiful flowering plants, and oak and birch woodland.

From 305m above sea level on the cliff top, the nature reserve tumbles 150m to its western boundary just above Lake Gormire. The Whitestone Cliff itself has a sheer face of around 15-21m. The last major rock fall was in 1775, an event recorded in the diary of Methodist John Wesley who was preaching in the area.

Above the cliff you will find bilberry and heather moor, whereas below the boulder-strewn scree many micro-habitats have established ideal for lichens, mosses and ferns. Here you will also find evidence of man’s activity as the sandstone from the cliff was quarried until 1840 and shaped into square sleepers for use on the railways.

The main area of woodland is acidic consisting mainly of birch, oak and holly, but pockets of other tree species occur including aspen, ash, sweet chestnut and sycamore. The more open areas of the nature reserve are covered with bracken and scrub. In the north west corner of the site where springs have made it too wet for the bracken, remnants of the plants that once existed survive. Common fleabane, ragged robin and common spotted orchid are amongst the flowers that flourish.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring: Plants - Wood sorrel; Moschatel Birds - Tree pipit; Blackcap; Redstart
  • Summer: Plants - Common spotted orchid; Common valerian; Meadow sweet; Invertebrates- Ringlet; Meadow brown
  • Autumn: Fungi - Fly agaric; Milk cap
  • Winter: Birds - Sparrow hawk; Bullfinch

History

The earliest reference to the woodland is from Tudor times.

Established as a nature reserve in 1966, the wood forms part of Gormire SSSI and is part of a network of woodland and forestry plantations that stretches for some distance along the Hambleton Hills.

Currently Yorkshire Wildlife Trust leases the land from the Forestry Commission; the Trust’s main management focus is the control of sycamore. Bracken is also controlled in some areas by pulling, bashing or tree planting.

Directions

Public transport
Buses from Thirsk stop at the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre

By car
Take the A170 Thirsk to Scarborough road. Climb the steep Sutton Bank and park in the visitor centre car park on the left shortly after reaching the top of the climb. There is a parking charge. From the car park, follow the Cleveland Way footpath north and then look for a footpath left off the track. This footpath is rocky and descends steeply down through the site to Lake Gormire. 

Amazing woodland with Gormire Lake at the bottom and amazing views from the top.
Thomas Gallo
Google Reviews
Common Spotted Orchid

(C) Martin Batt

Magical Wildlife Moment...

The ‘orchid ride’ is peppered with spikes of common spotted orchids in June.

A tree top canopy with a blue sky.

Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

Let’s go wild for Yorkshire's wildlife!

From the heights of Ingleborough to the tip of Spurn, our nature reserves are a home (often the only home) to Yorkshire’s rarest and most incredible wildlife. Will you help us continue our work and provide these vital sanctuaries for nature?
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