The village lies to the west of the limestone escarpment of Sutton Bank. The nearest settlements are Thirlby to the north; Bagby to the south west and Cold Kirby to the east. The low level geology of the area is of Devensian clay on beds of lower Jurassic lias. There is a small waterway, Sutton Beck, that is part of the tributary system that joins the River Swale near Topcliffe.