Yorkshire Moors

Villages & Places

Allerston

Allerston is a small, quiet farming village on the A170 between Pickering and Scarborough, tucked between the Vale of Pickering and the wooded slopes of the Moors. And, handily, right at the gateway to Dalby Forest.

The battlemented stone tower of St John's Church, Allerston, above the churchyard wall and village bench on a clear summer day

St John's Church, Allerston. The village's landmark, a minute's walk from the A170.

A peaceful base

Off the main tourist trail but minutes from everything, Allerston is the sort of place people choose precisely because it's calm: a knot of stone houses and farms, with the National Park, Dalby Forest, Thornton-le-Dale and Pickering all a short drive away, and the coast under an hour.

The village church

The most obvious landmark is St John's Church, whose square, battlemented stone tower rises above the churchyard wall at the heart of the village. There are benches on the green beside it and a noticeboard with village news, it's a pleasant spot to pause with a coffee before heading up into the forest. Service times are posted at the gate; check with the parish for anything specific.

On the doorstep

Dalby Forest's toll drive begins nearby, so the forest's trails, biking and dark skies are effectively local; Thornton-le-Dale (and Bangers & Cash's Mathewsons) is the next village along; and Pickering and its steam railway are a few minutes west. It makes an ideal, unhurried base for exploring the southern Moors, which is exactly why it makes a good, quiet base. See where to stay.

In the village

For village news, history and events, visit the Allerston village website at allerston.org.

Top answers for the Yorkshire Moors

All questions in the full FAQ hub →

Quick, straight answers to the questions visitors ask most. Each one links through to the fuller guide.

When is it busiest, and how do I avoid the crowds?

Busiest in the summer school holidays and on sunny weekends, especially the coast and honeypots like Goathland and Thornton-le-Dale. Visit midweek, out of school holidays, or in spring and autumn; the open moor is always the easiest place to escape people.

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What are the best market towns in the North York Moors?

Helmsley, Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Thirsk (Herriot country), plus Malton just to the south. Each with markets, independent shops and good places to eat.

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Which villages are the prettiest and most worth visiting?

Thornton-le-Dale (often called Yorkshire's prettiest), Hutton-le-Hole, Goathland, Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes are perennial favourites, each with its own character.

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Where are the North York Moors?

In North Yorkshire, north-east England, between the Vale of York and the North Sea coast. Bounded roughly by Thirsk and the A19 to the west, Teesside to the north, the Whitby-to-Scarborough coast to the east, and the Vale of Pickering to the south. The main gateway towns are Helmsley, Pickering, Thirsk and Whitby.

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What is there to do in the North York Moors in winter?

Stargazing (it's an International Dark Sky Reserve), bracing coastal and moorland walks, cosy country pubs, and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's festive steam services. The moors are atmospheric and empty in winter.

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What are the top things to do in the North York Moors?

Ride the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, walk the heather moors and the Cleveland Way, explore Rievaulx and Whitby abbeys, see the Hole of Horcum and Sutton Bank, visit Goathland and Thornton-le-Dale, and spend a day on the coast at Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay.

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