# Allerston Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Camping, cottages and caravan parks in Allerston, a North Yorkshire village on the edge of Dalby Forest and the North York Moors. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/allerston (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Stone cottages, forest trails, moorland on the doorstep Photo © Bill Griffiths, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants) Allerston is a small village in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, tucked into the Vale of Pickering just where the flat farmland gives way to the wooded slopes of the North York Moors. A stream runs alongside the main street, past a row of stone cottages, before joining the River Derwent nearby. It is a village most visitors pass through rather than stop in for long, yet its position is the whole point: Dalby Forest rises immediately to the north, the market town of Pickering sits five miles to the west, and the North Sea coast at Scarborough is only a short drive away. The village itself is unassuming, built around a single main street with a scattering of farms and holiday cottages on its fringes. What draws people here is not Allerston's own attractions but its usefulness as a base: quiet enough for a proper break from city noise, close enough to reach the moors, the forest, the steam railway and the coast within half an hour. For anyone wanting to camp or caravan within easy striking distance of the North York Moors National Park without the crowds of the more famous villages, Allerston is a sensible, low-key choice. ## Getting to Allerston Allerston sits just off the A170, the main road linking Pickering and Scarborough, making it an easy stop by car from either direction. The village is around 30 minutes from Scarborough and Malton, and about 45 minutes from York, from where the A64 connects to the wider road network. The nearest railway stations are at Malton and Scarborough on the TransPennine line, with connections through York; from either, a taxi or bus completes the journey to Allerston. There is no direct rail link into the village itself, so a car is the most practical way to get around once here, particularly for reaching Dalby Forest and the more remote parts of the moors. ## Best time to visit Allerston Late spring through to early autumn is the most rewarding time to visit, when Dalby Forest's trails are dry underfoot and long evenings suit walking or cycling. Summer brings the busiest roads and campsites, particularly around the school holidays, but the moors rarely feel overcrowded compared with the honeypot villages further north. Early autumn is a quieter, atmospheric alternative, with the forest turning colour and the heather on the open moorland tailing off after its August peak. Winter is much quieter still and some seasonal attractions close, but the coast and market towns nearby remain open year-round for a low-key out-of-season break. ## Where to stay in Allerston [All hotels in Allerston →](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/hotels) About staying in Allerston Allerston has only a small number of places to stay under its own roof, mostly self-catering cottages, converted farm buildings and the distinctive railway-carriage accommodation at The Old Station, rather than conventional hotels. This makes it a good fit for visitors who want a quiet rural base rather than a resort-style stay, with the freedom of a private cottage close to Dalby Forest and the open moors. Anyone wanting a wider choice of hotels, inns or guesthouses is best looking a few miles west to Pickering, which has a good spread of options within easy reach of Allerston, or further afield to Scarborough on the coast for larger seaside hotels. Wherever you base yourself, Allerston's position just off the A170 means the North York Moors, Dalby Forest and the coast are all within a short drive, so it is worth weighing up whether you want to stay in the village itself for peace and quiet, or in Pickering or Scarborough for a broader choice of places to eat, shop and sleep. Booking ahead is sensible in summer and around school holidays, when both the village's limited cottages and nearby town accommodation fill up quickly, particularly with families visiting Flamingo Land or the steam railway. [The Cayley Arms Inn Allerston, Pickering](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/hotels/the-cayley-arms-inn) [🏨B&B The Old Forge The Old Forge, Wilton](https://staycation.co.uk/wilton/hotels/the-old-forge) [Bohemian Breeze Breaks Pinfold Cottage, Thornton-le-Dale](https://staycation.co.uk/thornton-le-dale/hotels/bohemian-breeze-breaks) [The New Inn The New Inn, Pickering](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/hotels/the-new-inn) [The New Inn The Square, Thornton-le-Dale](https://staycation.co.uk/thornton-le-dale/hotels/the-new-inn) [High Dalby House & Cottages Dalby Forest Drive,, Pickering](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/hotels/high-dalby-house-cottages) [Beansheaf Hotel Malton Road, Malton](https://staycation.co.uk/malton/hotels/beansheaf-hotel) [Gallows Hill Gallows Hill Lane, Scarborough](https://staycation.co.uk/scarborough/hotels/gallows-hill) ## Things to Do in Allerston [All attractions in Allerston →](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions) Top things to do in Allerston Allerston's own high street is short, but the surrounding area is rich in things to see and do, from ancient woodland to steam trains. - **Dalby Forest** — A vast 8,500-acre Forestry England site right on Allerston's doorstep, with waymarked walking and mountain biking trails, a visitor centre, and family activities including Go Ape treetop courses and a weekly parkrun. - **Pickering** — The nearest market town, five miles away, with a Norman castle, a bustling weekly market and independent shops, and the southern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. - **North Yorkshire Moors Railway** — A heritage steam line running from Pickering up through the moors to Grosmont and Whitby, passing through some of the most scenic stretches of the national park. - **Flamingo Land** — A large theme park and zoo a few miles west near Kirby Misperton, popular with families staying in the area. - **Forge Valley Woods** — A designated nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest close by, with gentle riverside walks through ancient semi-natural woodland. - **Scarborough** — The Victorian seaside resort on the coast, roughly 30 minutes' drive, with its two bays, castle headland and traditional seafront. [Dalby Forest ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/dalby-forest) [Go Ape Dalby ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/go-ape-dalby) [Scampston Hall & Walled Garden ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/scampston-hall-walled-garden) [North Yorkshire Moors Railway ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/north-yorkshire-moors-railway) [Beck Isle Museum ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/beck-isle-museum) [Woldies ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/woldies) [Flamingo Land ⭐ 2.3](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/flamingo-land) [Joe's Alpaca Walks - North Yorkshire ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions/joe-s-alpaca-walks-north-yorkshire) ## Where to Eat in Allerston [All restaurants in Allerston →](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants) Food and drink in Allerston Allerston itself is small and does not have a pub or restaurant of its own, so most visitors head into Pickering for eating out, where the choice runs from traditional pubs to cafes and restaurants serving Yorkshire produce. Farm shops in the surrounding villages are worth seeking out for local meat, cheese and baked goods, and the Fylingdales and Dalby Forest visitor centres have cafes for walkers and cyclists passing through. [Lavenders Tearoom ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/lavenders-tearoom) [Brandysnap Bistro ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/brandysnap-bistro) [Wydale Hall ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/wydale-hall) [Cedarbarn Farm Shop And Cafe ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/cedarbarn-farm-shop-and-cafe) [Dalby Activity Centre ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/dalby-activity-centre) [Spencers Bar And Grill ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/spencers-bar-and-grill) [Steam & Moorland Garden Centre - Engine Shed Restaurant ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/steam-moorland-garden-centre-engine-shed-restaurant) [Noyon ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants/noyon) ## Attractions Near Allerston [All attractions in Allerston →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Allerston. [3 mi Dalby Forest Pickering · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/attractions/dalby-forest) [4 mi Go Ape Dalby Dalby · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/dalby/attractions/go-ape-dalby) [4 mi Scampston Hall & Walled Garden Malton · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/malton/attractions/scampston-hall-walled-garden) [5 mi North Yorkshire Moors Railway Pickering · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/attractions/north-yorkshire-moors-railway) [5 mi Beck Isle Museum Pickering · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/attractions/beck-isle-museum) [5 mi Woldies Malton · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/malton/attractions/woldies) [6 mi Flamingo Land Malton · ⭐ 2.3](https://staycation.co.uk/malton/attractions/flamingo-land) [7 mi Joe's Alpaca Walks - North Yorkshire New York · ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/new-york/attractions/joe-s-alpaca-walks-north-yorkshire) ## Camping in Allerston [All campsites in Allerston →](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/camping) About camping in Allerston Camping and caravanning is the more natural way to stay around Allerston, and the village is home to the well-regarded Vale of Pickering Caravan and Camping Park on Carr House Farm, a family-run five-star site that has grown steadily since opening in 1986. It offers spacious grass pitches, modern toilet and shower facilities, a woodland walk and a play area, set in open countryside within easy reach of Dalby Forest. As with the rest of England, wild camping on open moorland or farmland around Allerston is not legally permitted without the landowner's express permission, so it is worth sticking to established sites such as this one or asking locally before pitching anywhere off-site. The terrain here suits campers well: Allerston sits at the point where the flat, sheltered Vale of Pickering meets the rising ground of the North York Moors, so pitches tend to be more sheltered than sites higher up on the open moor, while still giving quick access to Dalby Forest's trails and the wilder moorland beyond. Late spring to early autumn is the best season to camp, when the forest tracks are firm and dry and evenings are long enough for a walk after setting up; midsummer weekends and school holidays are the busiest, so early booking is worth doing at popular sites. Fewer sites stay open through the depths of winter, given the exposed nature of much of the surrounding moorland, though some remain open for hardier caravanners in shoulder seasons. For those who like the outdoors but want fewer of the practicalities of a tent, glamping options in the wider area include shepherd's huts, static lodges and pods, often on farms similar to the ones dotted around Allerston, giving a halfway point between a hotel stay and traditional camping. Whichever style of stay you choose, Allerston's position close to Dalby Forest, Pickering and the coast makes it a practical, well-placed base for exploring this part of the North York Moors National Park. [Hawthorn Glamping ⭐ 5.0 · from £120/night](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/camping/hawthorn-glamping) [Vale of Pickering Caravan Park ⭐ 4.8 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/north-york-moors/camping/vale-of-pickering-caravan-park) [Vale View Caravan and Camping Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/pickering/camping/vale-view-caravan-and-camping-park) [Vale of York Holiday Park ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/vale-of-york-holiday-park) [Studley House Farm ⭐ 4.8 · from £93/night](https://staycation.co.uk/scarborough/camping/studley-house-farm) [Gennel House Farm Certificated Site ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/gennel-house-farm-certificated-site) [Netherby House (Certificated Site) ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/netherby-house-certificated-site) [Warren House Caravan And Campsite ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/camping/warren-house-caravan-and-campsite) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Allerston [All cottages in Allerston →](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/cottages) [Yeoman's Cottage 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £316](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/yeomans-cottage-syk1053249) [🏡Cottage Craven Bungalow 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £577](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/craven-bungalow-uk41202) [Farm Yard Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £350](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/farm-yard-cottage-syk1068228) [Boundcliffe Farm 4 bed · sleeps 10 · from £640](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/boundcliffe-farm-syk3878) [🏡Cottage Eagles Peak 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £779](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/eagles-peak-syk1097488) [Hare's Hill 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £797](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/hares-hill-syk1165100) [🏡Cottage Foxes Den 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £795](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/foxes-den-syk1097485) [🏡Cottage Stags Mount 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £803](https://staycation.co.uk/north-yorkshire/cottages/stags-mount-syk1123918) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Allerston Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DAllerston%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Allerston - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/allerston/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for Allerston [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)