All Saints' Church combines a late-19th-century church building with older architectural elements and an original 12th-century round-arched doorway. Together with Rufforth Airfield’s heritage and the cycle and riding routes, Rufforth offers several points of interest for a stay. If you’re looking for holiday accommodation in Rufforth, these highlights can help you assess the village according to your interests.
Church history in one place
All Saints' Church was built in 1894–1895 by J Demaine and W Brierley. It also incorporates architectural elements from an earlier church on the same site and has an original 12th-century round-arched doorway. This brings together different historical layers: the construction of the present church building, the earlier church on the same site and the medieval doorway. For those interested in architecture, this offers a tangible glimpse into Rufforth’s building history, without suggesting that all the elements belong to the same building phase.
All Saints' Church welcomes families and visitors from across the surrounding area. Visiting arrangements may change; check them before planning a visit.
Memories of Rufforth Airfield
Rufforth Parish Garden has been redesigned to represent the runways of Rufforth Airfield. It also contains a memorial to people who were stationed at the airfield during the war. The garden’s design and the memorial offer two distinct connections to the local aviation heritage: the runways are represented in the garden, while the memorial commemorates the people stationed there.
Cycle and riding routes: directions and course
The 2018 neighbourhood plan describes a cycle route and a riding route connecting Rufforth with Knapton and continuing towards Acomb. It also describes the extension of the cycle route to Rufforth: it runs along the hedge line beside the B1224 and behind houses and a pub, as far as the end of Milestone Avenue. The plan cannot reflect subsequent changes. Before setting out, therefore, check the current route, surfaces and crossings.
A route can be reached from Wetherby Road and runs through Knapton to Rufforth. Check current access conditions in advance. This way, the route information can serve as a guide to compare with the conditions for your visit.
Landscape and nature
Sand Dykes Nature Reserve is designated as a Site of Local Interest. If you need formal clarification of access for your visit, check the status of this designation. Drainage ditches run through the open countryside around Rufforth. Kingfishers and pike are found there, and occasionally otters too. The wildlife adds another dimension to the architectural and airfield history; sightings naturally vary.
Rufforth offers both tangible historical features and routes through the landscape. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you’d rather include the church architecture, the airfield memorial or the routes and natural surroundings. For the routes, it’s worth checking the stated access and condition requirements before using them.
Discover more destinations: Hessay, Strensall, Copmanthorpe, Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, Huntington, Acaster Malbis, Knapton.
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