Is it just me, or do you ever have one of those days where you want to run away from the loud hustle and bustle in the city and find solitude in the woods?
Throughout the recent UK lockdown, there have been many restrictions and obstacles which have prevented me and many others from getting out the house. Being trapped at home has occasionally caused me to feel incredibly isolated and deflated at times.
However, being locked up at home over the past year has also encouraged me to make the most of my time off from work, and in turn has fuelled my cravings to escape my house and explore the great outdoors.
However, due to additional travel bans in the UK, this has restricted many hikers and adventurers in venturing too far away from home, leading them to find alternative local hiking routes.
Thankfully, I am very lucky to live in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and therefore have had plenty of local options when finding suitable hiking trails.
One of my favourite local areas to explore is Allerthorpe Wood, which is a beautiful, large Forestry Commission wood with ancient heathland areas maintained by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
Whilst I have visited this area many times before, this blog will provide an overview to my most recent visit to Allerthorpe Wood, during February 2021.
Situated off the A1079, Allerthorpe Wood is located very near to Pocklington (just to the west of the villages of Allerthorpe and Barmby Moor). Like most hiking routes in Yorkshire, this particular area offers vast areas of stunning wilderness and also benefits from having additional nearby hiking beauty spots such as the Pocklington Canal, Wilberforce Way and Yorkshire Wolds Way.
To access the entrance of Allerthorpe Wood, I use the following GPS coordinates: 53°55'00.6"N 0°51'23.0"W. These coordinates will lead you to a small car park which is located just outside the main entrance into Allerthorpe Wood.
During my trips to Allerthorpe, parking has never been an issue and there has always been plenty of space to park my vehicle. Additionally, on my recent visits there has also been a small coffee kiosk located in the car park offering hot drinks and snacks. In my personal opinion, there is nothing better than having a fresh pre-hike americano on a cold February morning!
Due my trip taking place in the middle of February, you will not be surprised when I tell you that the weather was very wet and cold! There were also a lot of settled puddles and overflowed rivers due a recent snowstorm that had hit the UK earlier that week. However, these weather conditions were of no concern, and nothing a tall pair of wellies and a waterproof coat could not handle.
One of my favourite parts of visiting Allerthorpe Woods is that I will never experience the same route twice! The reason for this is that there are so many different routes and paths you can take once you enter the woods, ensuring that every trip is unique. I always make sure that I try to take a different route to previous visits, so that I can experience and view the woodlands from a different perspective
At the start of your route, you are immediately greeted by a fork in the road, one route leading you straight into the heart of the forest, and the other leading you down a long gravel path running alongside the woods. On this occasion, I started my hike down the long gravel pathway, which led me to the far end of the woodland. From here, I then diverted off the main gravel path into the woods.
Once you enter the woodland, you are immediately surrounded by a vast forest of pine trees and conifers. From here, you can follow a wide variety of different woodland paths that lead you deeper into the woods, allowing you to observe the local wildlife such as small mammals and various woodland birds.
Whenever I visit Allerthorpe Wood, I always ensure that I try to explore as much of the wilderness as I can. However, due to adverse weather conditions earlier that week, this had caused many of the paths to be blocked off by large areas of flooded water. Most of these were fine to wade through in my wellies, however, there were some areas of flooded water where I wish I had brought a canoe.
After exploring most of the wilderness routes, my fitness tracker estimated that I had walked just over 7.5KM in just under 2 hours. After making my way back to the car park, I took some time to sit back and soak in the woodland surroundings whilst enjoying a refreshing can of Raven Hill Ravine.
If you are looking for a spontaneous escape from the city, Allerthorpe Wood is an ideal destination where you can stretch your legs and explore the peaceful woods.
Although the routes in Allerthorpe Woods are not particularly long, this area is perfect for those who are looking for a shorter outdoor walk. Those who are looking for a longer walk may want to extend their routes by exploring additional nearby hiking hotspots such as the Pocklington Canal and Yorkshire Wolds Way.
Another benefit of this area, is that most of the routes in this common are on manmade paths, making this an ideal destination for dog walkers, young families, and inexperienced hikers.
All-in-all, Allerthorpe Wood is a beautiful hiking destination which I highly recommend others to visit!
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Have you visited Allerthorpe Woods?
What are some of your favourite local hiking hotspots?
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