Gandalf the Campervan is currently nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, perfectly placed for a Twixmas escape. We’re en route to the seaside but decided to break up the journey somewhere we hadn’t really explored before — which is quite rare, considering how much of Yorkshire we have already covered.
We’re staying at The Mile Campsite, just on the outskirts of Pocklington. It’s a simple but very functional base, with everything we needed: hard standing pitches, electric hook-up, decent hot showers, and a washing-up area with hot water (always a bonus).
From the campsite, it’s about a 15-minute walk on a pavement into town. Pocklington has a good selection of pubs, a Co-op, an Aldi, a handful of charity shops, and even a butcher — sadly closed while we were there. Our standout favourite, though, was the Brew York Tap Room, which not only serves excellent beer but also delicious Korean street food. Definitely worth the visit alone!
We arrived around 1pm and headed straight out for a wander to the tap room before returning to the van for food and a proper chill-out. The campsite is wonderfully quiet, making it easy to relax, and we slept incredibly well.
On Sunday, after that great night’s sleep, we headed out to explore some of the local footpaths. We walked around two miles up to Millington to try The Gait Inn, a lovely dog-friendly pub in a pretty little village. From there, we followed small, quiet lanes — which also form part of the Yorkshire Wolds Way — looping back around into Pocklington for some snacks at the tap room.
It was a very pleasant walk, just under seven miles in total.
In the summer months, the Wolds Explorer bus runs from here, which would make this an ideal base for exploring more of the Yorkshire Wolds without moving the van. There’s also a direct bus to York, just 14 miles away, adding even more options for days out.
All in all, it’s been a perfect place to stop, slow down, and recharge. We’d happily return — and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it as a base for exploring this beautiful part of Yorkshire.
As we packed up and left the campsite, ready to continue our journey along to the coast, we couldn’t resist a small detour into the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds. Our stop was the charming village of Huggate, said to be the highest village in the Wolds and a place we’d can imagine is often sped past rather than explored.
Just eight miles from Pocklington — and even reachable by bus in the summer months — Huggate feels delightfully tucked away. If you’re arriving by vehicle, there’s a free car park on the edge of the village (worth noting the 2.2m height barrier). One of Huggate’s most curious claims to fame is the deepest village well in England. Sitting proudly on the village green, the well plunges an impressive 103 metres underground and is definitely worth stopping for a photo.
From the village car park, we set off on a four-mile circular walk, which turned out to be a real highlight. The most dramatic section follows the rim of Horsedale, where the path hugs the edge of the steep valley for over a mile. The views here are simply stunning — rolling countryside stretching out in every direction. There’s even a bench perfectly placed to soak it all in, making it an ideal picnic spot. We enjoyed the view (and a slice of Christmas cake).
Our walk was 4 miles and really great, The most spectacular is the middle section where you follow the rim of Horsedale for a mile or so. There is a bench on the route overlooking the Dale so a picnic would be lovely here too. We enjoyed some Christmas cake!
Find our Walk route here
Have you explored the Yorkshire Wolds? We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time here. It’s been a joy to slow down and discover an area we usually just whizz past either to York or further north — a reminder that sometimes the best places are the ones just off the main road.
