Bempton, near Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire
RSPB Bempton Cliffs
Coastal reserve
Source image
8.8
Wildland
Half day
Time
Check
Cost
Dramatic
Feel
Why it's Wildland
8.8From spring into summer, Bempton’s tall white cliffs become a vast seabird city: the RSPB reports around half a million seabirds gather here between March and August.
This is a rare place where the wildlife spectacle is written across the landscape itself: chalk cliffs above the North Sea, crowded with breeding seabirds in spring and summer. A sequence of cliff-top viewpoints makes the drama unusually accessible, while open grassland and scrub add more to watch for beyond the cliff edge.
Dramatic · Big-sky · Wild
Find your way
Open mapBempton, near Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire
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The experience
Follow the cliff-top paths between viewpoints, watching the nesting ledges and the open sea. In spring and summer, look for puffins, gannets, kittiwakes and guillemots; away from the cliff edge, scan the grassland and scrub for breeding birds and hunting raptors.
Things to do
Watch the seabird cliffs
Use the cliff-top viewpoints to look for puffins, gannets, kittiwakes and guillemots on the chalk cliffs. The RSPB describes the cliffs as a major breeding site, with around half a million seabirds gathering between March and August.
Allow time to pause at several viewpoints
Follow the accessible viewpoint route
Walk the hard-surfaced circular route linking three accessible viewpoints. The RSPB also describes a level walk from the visitor centre to Bartlett Nab viewpoint.
Scan the grassland and scrub for birds
Look beyond the cliff edge: the RSPB says corn buntings, skylarks and linnets breed in the grassland and scrub in spring and summer. Kestrels and barn owls hunt there, with short-eared owls also possible in winter.
Check recent local sightings
Before visiting, consult Flamborough Bird Observatory’s recent highlights for reports from Bempton and nearby parts of the headland.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour; check current path and visitor-centre information
Quick Escape: Bartlett Nab and the cliff edge
- 01
Start at the visitor centre and take the level walk towards Bartlett Nab viewpoint.
- 02
Pause at the cliff top to watch the seabirds and look out to sea.
- 03
Return by the same route; check current reserve information for the best route options.
Half day · Half day
Make a half day of it: follow the accessible viewpoints
- 01
Begin at the visitor centre and check current reserve information, sightings and any access restrictions.
- 02
Follow the hard-surfaced circular route linking three accessible viewpoints.
- 03
Allow time at each viewpoint to scan the cliff ledges and sea for seabirds.
- 04
Visit the centre and shop if open; confirm current facilities and hours before travelling.
Hidden details
The grassland has its own birdlife — Do not spend the whole visit looking down at the cliffs: the RSPB identifies grassland and scrub as breeding habitat for corn buntings, skylarks and linnets.
Gannets diving offshore — Watch the sea as well as the nesting ledges. The RSPB says more gannets dive into the deep here than anywhere else on mainland England.
When to go
April · May · June · July · Check current sightings and weather before choosing a time; no specific time-of-day advantage is established by the supplied evidence.
The RSPB says around half a million seabirds gather between March and August, and describes April to July as the period when the cliffs become a major seabird spectacle. Autumn and winter offer a different visit, with migrant birds and possible owl sightings.
The site is on an exposed coastal cliff top. Check the forecast and current reserve advice before visiting; no specific weather restriction is established by the supplied evidence.
Worth pairing with
Flamborough Bird Observatory recent highlights
Use the observatory’s sightings page to check what has recently been recorded at Bempton and nearby on the Flamborough headland.
What to look for
- 01
Look for puffins, gannets, kittiwakes and guillemots on the chalk cliffs
- 02
watch for gannets diving offshore. In spring and summer, scan grassland and scrub for corn buntings, skylarks and linnets, and look overhead for kestrels or barn owls. Short-eared owls may also be seen in winter.
Best time to go
April–July for the busiest seabird season, including puffins; seabirds gather from March to August. Winter brings a different visit, with migrant birds and possible owl sightings.
April–July is the strongest window for the seabird spectacle described by the RSPB. Check the Flamborough Bird Observatory’s recent sightings before setting out, and take account of the exposed coastal weather.
How long to spend
Half day
Perfect for
Wildlife lovers · Photographers · Families · Walkers
Before you go
Address
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Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 9:30am-5pm
- Tuesday: 9:30am-5pm
- Wednesday: 9:30am-5pm
- Thursday: 9:30am-5pm
- Friday: 9:30am-5pm
- Saturday: 9:30am-5pm
- Sunday: 9:30am-5pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Public RSPB nature reserve with a visitor centre and level-access routes to the cliff top, including Bartlett Nab viewpoint. Check the RSPB website for current opening times and admission charges before travelling.
Check before visiting
Parking
The RSPB lists 74 parking spaces, two coach bays and 11 Blue Badge spaces, with a drop-off point immediately outside the visitor centre. No overnight parking or camping; touring caravans cannot be accommodated. Confirm current arrangements before travelling.
Toilets
Accessible toilet in the visitor centre; the RSPB states the centre is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm. Check current details before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Google source data lists a café and shop among the reserve’s subtypes; confirm current opening and availability with the RSPB.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on reserve footpaths and in the visitor centre. Keep dogs on a short lead at all times; assistance dogs are welcome throughout the reserve.
Accessibility
The RSPB describes a level walk from the visitor centre to Bartlett Nab viewpoint and a hard-surfaced circular route linking three accessible viewpoints. The visitor centre is level-access. Two Tramper mobility scooters and two push wheelchairs are available; advance booking for a scooter is recommended.
Cost
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Water
Sea
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Place photographsKeep exploring
Around RSPB Bempton Cliffs
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
