Allerthorpe Woods

Visitor information

Visit this small pine wood located in the Vale of York, near Pocklington

The area is very flat making it great if you want an easy stroll through the peaceful woodland. It is also very popular with wildlife experts, especially entomologists looking for insects! Adders can also be found in the woodland. They are shy and not easily seen, so if you spot one, you should count yourself very lucky! Watch out for them sunbathing on grassy banks, rocks or tracks from mid-morning until early afternoon from spring through to Autumn.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust lease part of the area as a nature reserve and the entire wood is being managed to ensure that this rare example of northern lowland heath maintains its biodiversity.

Please be aware that the area is not suitable for off-road cycling.

At a glance

  • Walking trails 
  • Picnic area
  • Nature reserve
  • Dogs welcome 

Things to do

Enjoy a tasty treat at Allerthorpe Wood. Just bring along good food and company!

The picnic area is located at the north of the wood, next to the car park. 

To prevent forest fires and reduce waste, please do not bring any barbecues into our forests.

Walking in Allerthorpe Wood is the perfect way to get some fresh air and explore some of the area's most beautiful landscapes.

The woodland has a variety of public footpaths for you to explore. 

Nearby forests

Hybrid Bluebell close up

Home to foxes, deer, badgers and many woodland birds, Hagg Wood provides the perfect woodland visit for any wildlife enthusiast! At different times of the year you can hear the call of woodpeckers, wood pigeons and cuckoos. 

It's also a great place to spot bluebells in spring, as well as primroses, yellow pimpernel, wood anemone and dog violets, which you'll find growing along the woodland rides and clearings.

Field of purple orchids in the sun

Wheldrake Wood is a fantastic place to escape the everyday bustle of York and stretch your legs with a woodland walk. With an abundance of wildlife, mixture of trees and network of informal paths, Wheldrake Wood is the place to go for your next outdoor adventure. 

Starting from Broad Highway Car Park, you can choose to stay on the main path or for the more adventurous, explore further by branching off on smaller trails.

A view across an open valley with small villages and towns in the distance. With tops of trees in the foreground

Experience stunning views and visit the iconic Kilburn White Horse at Kilburn Woods.

Kilburn White Horse is the most northerly turf-cut figure in Britain and one of the most famous landmarks in North Yorkshire. It's easily visible from the south, below Sutton Bank, and while it's difficult to get a sense of its scale from the path on the escarpment edge above, there are steps down the side which give a closer view.

A line of conifer trees in front of a vast forest covered in mist.

Home to over 8,500 acres of breath-taking views, endless walking, running and cycle trails and Gruffalo adventures, a great day out awaits at Dalby Forest.

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