Allerthorpe

Allerthorpe is a small village in the East Riding of Yorkshire, tucked in flat, quiet countryside about a mile and a half south-west of the market town of Pocklington and around 14 miles east of York. It sits at the western edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, where the chalk hills give way to the low-lying Vale of York, and the parish takes in the neighbouring hamlet of Waplington as well as Allerthorpe itself. The 2021 census recorded a population of just 230, so this is very much a rural retreat rather than a destination with its own high street.

What draws visitors here is the mix of open-air activity and genuine wildlife interest packed into a small area. Allerthorpe Common, immediately west of the village, is one of only three surviving pockets of lowland heath in the Vale of York (the others being at Skipwith and Strensall), and its rarity has earned it Site of Special Scientific Interest status. Closer to the village, Allerthorpe Lakeland Park has turned old gravel workings into a 53-acre site of lakes, watersports and family activities, while the parish church of St Botolph, a Grade II listed building, is a reminder of the village's longer history. It's a base for people who want the Yorkshire Wolds and the edge of York within easy reach, without the crowds.

Top things to do near Allerthorpe

Allerthorpe itself is tiny, so most days out involve a short drive or walk into the surrounding countryside and nearby Pocklington. Here are some of the best things to do in the area.

• Allerthorpe Common Nature Reserve — Managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, this is one of just three remaining pockets of lowland heath in the Vale of York and one of the best places locally to see adders. Its birch and willow cover attracts woodpeckers and flocks of lesser redpolls in winter, alongside badgers, foxes and roe deer. There are no formal paths or visitor facilities, so it suits those happy to walk a rougher track and bring their own refreshments.
• Allerthorpe Lakeland Park — A 53-acre park built around three lakes on the edge of the village, with stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, an Aqua Park, pedalos and open-water swimming on the main lake, plus play areas, fish feeding and quieter walks around the second and third lakes.
• Allerthorpe Golf & Country Park — A 9-hole golf course with driving range and an on-site restaurant, open all year and set among the flat Wolds-edge farmland that surrounds the village.
• Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum, Pocklington — Nine acres of gardens around two lakes holding a National Collection of hardy water lilies, which bloom from June to August, plus a Victorian garden, aviary and Edwardian rock garden, about two miles from Allerthorpe.
• Pocklington Canal — A quiet, partly restored waterway running through a nature reserve rich in dragonflies and waterfowl, good for a level towpath walk or short boat trip.
• Pocklington market town — With red pantile roofs, twisting alleys and All Saints Church, notable for one of the most complete sets of medieval stained glass in the country, plus the Pocklington Arts Centre for film, music and exhibitions.
• Yorkshire Wolds Way — The national trail runs along the chalk escarpment a short drive east of Allerthorpe, offering longer walks with views back over the Vale of York.

Getting to Allerthorpe

Allerthorpe lies just off the A1079 York to Beverley/Hull road, about 14 miles east of York and a mile and a half from Pocklington, making it an easy drive from across the East Riding and North Yorkshire. The M62 and A1(M) are within reach for visitors coming from further afield in Yorkshire or the North Midlands. The nearest mainline railway station is York, which has fast services from London, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh; from there it's roughly a 30-minute onward drive or taxi journey, as Allerthorpe itself has no station. Local buses connect Pocklington with York and Hull, but a car is the practical way to reach the village and the surrounding attractions.

Best time to visit Allerthorpe

Late spring through summer is the best window, when Burnby Hall's water lilies are in bloom (June to August) and Allerthorpe Lakeland Park's watersports and Aqua Park are in full swing. Spring brings Burnby Hall's tulip festival in late April and early May, and it's also a good time to look for adders basking on Allerthorpe Common as they emerge from hibernation. Summer weekends can be busy at the lake park, so early starts or weekday visits are more peaceful. Autumn suits quieter walks on the Common and along the Wolds Way as the birch woodland turns, while winter brings flocks of redpolls to the heath, though the reserve itself has no facilities so it's one for well-equipped visitors year-round.

Where to stay near Allerthorpe

Allerthorpe Lakeland Park operates its own campsite alongside the watersports lakes, making it a practical option for visitors who want to combine a stay with paddleboarding or kayaking. Allerthorpe Golf & Country Park also offers holiday lodges on site for a longer, more settled break. Beyond the village, Pocklington and the surrounding Wolds villages have a scattering of B&Bs and country inns, while York, with its full range of hotels, is around 30 minutes' drive for visitors who want a city base with easy access out to the Wolds.

Food and drink near Allerthorpe

The Plough Inn is Allerthorpe's own pub and restaurant, serving the village and passing visitors. Allerthorpe Golf & Country Park has an on-site restaurant, JJ's Bar and Grill, while Allerthorpe Lakeland Park runs a lakeside cafe for visitors using the watersports facilities. For more choice, Pocklington's market town centre has a range of independent cafes, pubs and takeaways within a couple of miles, and Burnby Hall Gardens has its own tea room open during garden hours.