Selected Walks
Flamborough Head Circular
Flamborough Head Circular is a 3.7 km easy-rated trail located on the Flamborough Headland Heritage Coast in East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It generally takes 0.5–1 hour to complete with a modest 31m elevation gain, making it accessible for most fitness levels.
The route offers spectacular views of Britain’s chalk cliffs, featuring abundant wildlife such as seals and birds. The terrain is mostly level with clear grassy paths, though visitors should be prepared for muddy conditions after rain and ensure dogs are kept on leads near the cliff edges for safety.
Key features include:
- Scenery: Panoramic views of the North Sea and the iconic Flamborough Head Lighthouse.
- Accessibility: The trail is dog-friendly, has easy parking at the pay-and-display lot (Postcode: YO15 1AR), and includes bathroom facilities and nearby cafes.
- Difficulty: Rated as Easy with well-maintained paths, though appropriate footwear is recommended due to potential mud and slippery sections.
Bempton to Bridlington Coastal Walk
The Bempton to Bridlington Coastal Walk is a scenic 11 to 14-mile (17–22 km) linear route along the King Charles III England Coast Path in East Yorkshire, known for its dramatic chalk cliffs and abundant wildlife. The walk typically takes 4 to 6 hours to complete, featuring moderate difficulty with significant ascents and descents as it traverses the Flamborough Headland.
Key features and highlights of the route include:
- Wildlife Viewing: The path passes through the RSPB Bempton Cliffs reserve, offering views of thousands of seabirds such as puffins, gannets, kittiwakes, and guillemots, particularly during the breeding season (May–September). Marine life like seals, porpoises, and minke whales are also frequently spotted.
- Geological Landmarks: The trail showcases unique geological features including North Landing with its smuggler’s caves, Thornwick Bay, the Drinking Dinosaur rock formation, and the ancient earthwork Danes’ Dyke.
- Route Details: Starting from Bempton Cliffs (or the nearby train station), the path heads south past Flamborough Lighthouse (the oldest surviving lighthouse in Britain) and ends in Bridlington.
- Logistics: The route is dog-friendly with refreshments and toilets available at intervals, including cafes in Bempton and Flamborough. It is accessible by public transport, with a short train ride available from Bempton station back to Bridlington if walking in reverse.
Bempton Cliffs Walk
If you’re after seabirds, Bempton Cliffs is hard to beat. This RSPB reserve is one of the best places in England to see them up close – puffins, gannets, kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills all crowd the chalk cliffs in summer, when the air fills with the noise and movement of hundreds of thousands of nesting birds. A series of cliff-edge viewing platforms give you a front-row seat.
The walk starts at the reserve car park and follows the coast east, then swings west along to Buckton Cliffs. From there a footpath peels inland through open countryside towards the village of Bempton, and a quiet lane brings you back to the start. You get the drama of the cliffs and the softer views inland towards the North York Moors in one go.
Feel like stretching it out? Carry on along the East Riding Heritage Way to Thornwick Bay and Flamborough Head – details are on the Flamborough to Bempton Cliffs Walk page.
Bempton Cliffs Walk