Allerthorpe Wood Tracks
Start / End: Sutton Road- Allerthorpe Woods
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 45 mins
Map: OS 294
This lovely walk takes the smaller woodland tracks, so whilst it is not as accessible as our other Allerthorpe walks, it is flat and offers a peaceful, off-lead stroll in glorious woodland, plus, in late summer, great bramble picking!
The Walk
Start from: YO42 5JQ ///blink.craft.rescue
1. This walk starts from the obvious layby on Sutton Road (travelling from Barnby Moor to Sutton on Derwent) - just watch the dip in road level as you come off the main road and park well into the layby where you will see the gate into Allerthorpe Woods. Go through the gate and take the track straight ahead.
Quick note as per our other walks in Allerthorpe - adders have been reintroduced into the reserve within the woods, so be mindful of them sunbathing on grassy banks, rocks or tracks from mid-morning until early afternoon from spring through to autumn. Take care and if you need it (hopefully not) the nearest vet that has an anti-venom is Wicstun Veterinary Group at Market Weighton (https://www.wicstunvetgroup.co.uk/)
2. At the first fork, turn left and follow the path all the way along through the woods. In the summer this path is lined with beautiful purple heather and yellow broom. You will eventually come to the crossroads on the main path which has pylons running along it.
3. Go straight ahead, crossing over the main path with the pylons and follow the woodland path as it bends round to your left. Another path (from the main path) joins it from the right after a short distance, and after this find the narrow track running right and adjacent to the main path you have just crossed. Walk along this path to the end enjoying the peace and seclusion.
4. At the end of the track you will find yourself back on one of the main paths through the woods. Turn left and walk up this wide sandy path - but not right to the end. This path can get quite muddy and has plenty of puddles for Bill to lie in after it has been raining. Before the end you will spot another track running off to your right. This goes through the pine woodland and the path is a nice straight pine needle covered trackway. When the light is right here this stretch is really lovely. Walk to the end of this track and turn right.
Allerthorpe Common is rich in diverse plant and animal life and you may see green woodpeckers, prickly coconut-scented gorse bushes, roe deer, badgers and foxes. It is particularly rich in reptile, amphibian and invertebrate species.
5. This next track has a gully running along the left had side of it which contains water (and mud) in the winter months - which Bill loves! Follow it all the way along and look out for the 'wooden man' on your right and just off the path - which Bill was, incidentally, scared of when he was little! At the end of this track you will re-join one of the main paths through the woods which has pylons running along it.
6. Turn right, back onto the main path with the pylons and follow it back, walking through the crossroads with the other main path.
If you wanted to head back to the car at this point just keep walking down the main path with the pylons and turn off left where you joined it at point 3. Then retrace your steps back to your car.
7. If not - after the next pylon take the track on your right. You may now recognise that this is the track that joined your way at point 3 earlier in the walk. This time continue up the wider track instead of turning off.
8. As you near the top of this path look out for the final clearing in the woods on your left and a path that heads left running alongside the clearing. Take this path and follow it all the way along until you get to the bracken lined track at the end.
9. Turn left onto this path and walk along the edge of the wood where you will see overhead telephone lines. You will again cross the main path with the pylons but keep walking straight ahead at this point.
10. Keep following the path taking the right-hand track every time it forks and you should (fingers crossed!!) find yourself back at the gate where you parked your car.
You can find refreshments either by turning left or right on Sutton Road - turning left brings you to Sutton on Derwent and the St Vincent's Arms pub or turning right brings you back to the A1079 Hull Road where you might want to venture into Pocklington for all manner of lovely cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops.
Photo Gallery
Let's Go! (1.)
Take the path straight ahead (1.)
Something interesting here (1.)
Follow the path to the fork (1.)
Bill in heather (2.)
Beautiful wildl flowers in Allerthorpe Woods (2.)
Photo Gallery
Crossroad with main path (with pylons) (3.)
Path bending to left / path coming in from right (3.)
At the end of the narrow track (3.)
Emerging from the narrow track (3.)
Heather along the main path (4.)
Rich plant life off the main path (4.)
Photo Gallery
Bill on the main path (4.)
Wide sandy main paths of Allerthorpe Woods (4.)
Bill in foliage (4.)
Track through pine woodland (4.)
Bill in the woods (4.)
Follow the pine needle covered path (4.)
Photo Gallery
Bill and the woods (4.)
Beautiful woodland (4.)
Watch out for tree roots (4.)
The end of the track - turn right (4.)
Alongside the gully (5.)
Mushrooms (5.)
Photo Gallery
The wooden man (5.)
Not so scared now! (5.)
At the end of the track (5.)
Tree opposite the clearing (8.)
At the clearing in the woods (8.)
Through the clearing (8.)
Photo Gallery
On the bracken path (8.)
Bill in the bracken (9.)
Trees and bracken (9.)
Follow the path (9.)
In memory of Zippy - a good friend (9.)
At the main pylon path (9.)
Photo Gallery
Keep on going.... (9.)
Views from the path (10.)
Lovely woodland (10.)
Keep forking right (10.)
Light in the trees (10.)
Hay baling time (10.)