Allerthorpe Woods and Common Circular
East Yorkshire
Allerthorpe Woods sits on the sandy soils of the Vale of York just west of Pocklington where dogs go on a lead through the pines and are kept out of the fenced common reserve, a Forestry England pine wood wrapped around Allerthorpe Common, which Forestry England describes as a rare example of northern lowland heath. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust leases 6 hectares of the common as a nature reserve of wet and dry heath, acid grassland and open water, best known for its adders, and roe deer and great spotted woodpeckers live in the wider wood. This 4km circuit from the Common Lane car park follows wide, flat tracks through the pines, past heather, bracken and the fenced edge of the reserve. There is almost no climbing, and the sandy, needle covered paths drain well, though some puddles and waterlogged patches form after heavy rain.
This dog friendly walk is easy on paws and there is no livestock, so it is a good place for a game of fetch and a proper sniff among the pines. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust asks for dogs to be on leads in the wood, and dogs are not allowed in the fenced heathland reserve at all, so keep to the forest tracks. Adders bask on banks, rocks and tracks from spring to autumn, usually from mid-morning to early afternoon, so keep your dog close in sunny spots. There is no water on route, so carry some. The car park is pay and display, with a picnic area but no toilets.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 10 min
- Walk Type
- Forest, Heathland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Picnic area by the car park; no toilets or cafe; shops, cafes and pubs in Pocklington.
- Parking
- Forestry England car park on Common Lane, pay by card or RingGo, free for Forestry England members.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Allerthorpe Woods and Common Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in East YorkshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Allerthorpe Woods and Common Circular dog friendly?
Allerthorpe Woods is a decent option for dogs, earning a 7/10 on our dog friendly rating. The 4km circuit follows wide, flat tracks on soft, sandy pine needle paths with no livestock and no serious climbing, making it easy going for most dogs. Just be aware that leads are required throughout the wood, and dogs are not permitted inside the fenced heathland reserve at all.
Can dogs be off lead at Allerthorpe Woods and Common Circular?
Unfortunately not — Yorkshire Wildlife Trust asks that dogs are kept on leads throughout the wood, so this isn't a walk where your dog can roam freely. That said, the wide forest tracks, interesting smells and absence of livestock still make it a rewarding outing on the lead. Dogs are also completely excluded from the fenced Allerthorpe Common nature reserve, so stick to the forest paths.
What should I know before visiting Allerthorpe Woods and Common Circular with my dog?
The most important thing to be aware of is adders — they bask on banks, rocks and tracks from spring to autumn, typically from mid-morning to early afternoon, so keep your dog close in sunny spots. There is no water available on the route, so bring plenty for your dog. The car park on Common Lane is pay and display (card or RingGo, free for Forestry England members), there's a picnic area nearby, but no toilets on site — the nearest cafes and pubs are in Pocklington.
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Allerthorpe Wood Car Park, Common Lane, Allerthorpe, Pocklington YO42 4DB
53.9188, -0.8482
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