Flamborough Cliffs, North Marine Road, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire YO15 1BJ
YWT Flamborough Cliffs
Mixed-habitat reserve
Place photograph
8.3
Wildland
1–2 hours for a reserve visit
Time
Free entry
Cost
Dramatic
Feel
Why it's Wildland
8.3Chalk cliffs above the North Sea form the stage for one of Europe’s most important seabird colonies. In spring and early summer, puffins, gannets, auks and gulls gather along the headland; the grassy cliff tops and gullies also support chalkland plants, butterflies and songbirds.
This is more than a dramatic cliff walk: the headland is a major seabird colony and a spring-and-autumn migration hotspot. Come for the chalk edge and wide sea views, but give yourself time to watch the cliffs for nesting birds.
Dramatic · Wild · Big-sky
Find your way
Open mapFlamborough Cliffs, North Marine Road, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire YO15 1BJ
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Know this place a little better?
The experience
Follow the coastal footpath from North Landing and take time to watch the cliffs and sea. Spring and early summer bring the strongest chance of seeing nesting puffins; the reserve is also a migration hotspot in spring and autumn.
Things to do
Watch the seabird colony
Scan the cliff tops and faces for puffins, auks, gannets and gulls. The reserve source identifies mid-May to mid-July as the best period for views of nesting puffins from the cliff tops.
Allow time to watch; no fixed duration specified.
Follow the coastal public footpath
Access the reserve from North Landing and walk a section of the coastal path, which forms part of the King Charles III England Coast Path.
Look for migrating birds
Watch the headland and sea during spring or autumn migration, when Flamborough is described as a bird migration hotspot.
Notice the chalkland wildlife
Look across the grassy cliff tops and gullies for chalkland plants, butterflies and songbirds.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 1–2 hours
Quick escape: cliff-top birdwatching
- 01
Start at North Landing car park and enter the reserve by the coastal public footpath.
- 02
Follow a section of the cliff-top path and pause at safe viewpoints to scan the cliffs and sea.
- 03
Look for nesting seabirds from mid-May to mid-July, or watch for migrating birds in spring and autumn.
- 04
Return by the same path; check conditions and parking before setting off.
Half day · Up to 4 hours
Make a half day of it: Flamborough Head circular walk
- 01
Begin in Flamborough village near Chapel Street.
- 02
Follow the described circular route towards Thornwick Bay and Thornwick Nab, then continue along the coast by the reserve.
- 03
Allow time for the steep sections and coastal views; keep to the path and take care near cliff edges.
- 04
Return to Flamborough village. Confirm route conditions and any local facilities before travelling.
Verified history
The supplied reserve information describes Flamborough as a geologically significant headland and a renowned seabird and bird-migration site. It does not provide specific historical dates, people or navigation incidents, so no more detailed history is included.
Hidden details
The spring and autumn migration passage — Flamborough is not only a place to watch nesting birds: the headland is also identified as a migration hotspot, with rarities attracting birdwatchers.
Wildlife beyond the cliff faces — The reserve’s grassy cliff tops and gullies support chalkland plants, butterflies and songbirds as well as its better-known seabirds.
When to go
March · April · May · June · July · No specific time of day is given by the supplied reserve source; check conditions and visit when you can spend time watching the cliffs.
The reserve recommends March to July. Nesting puffins can be seen from the cliff tops from mid-May to mid-July; spring and autumn are also noted for bird migration.
Coastal weather can change; dress for exposed cliff-top conditions and check the forecast before visiting. No specific weather guidance is supplied by the reserve source.
The route
- surface
- Not specified; coastal paths include steep sections. Check current conditions.
- distance
- The reserve source gives no route distance. A separate supplied route source describes a 7-mile (11 km) Flamborough Head circular walk.
- duration
- Up to 4 hours for the 7-mile circular walk.
- difficulty
- Moderate; some steep sections, according to the route source.
- waymarking
- Not specified.
- route shape
- Circular, starting and finishing in Flamborough village.
- start point
- Flamborough village near Chapel Street for the sourced circular walk; North Landing car park for access to the reserve footpath.
- parking start
- The route source mentions car parking in Flamborough village. For reserve access, parking is available at North Landing and Thornwick Bay; charges apply at the non-YWT car parks.
- Thornwick Bay
- Thornwick Nab
- Coastal section by Flamborough Cliffs Nature Reserve
Worth pairing with
Flamborough Head circular walk
A sourced 7-mile circular route starting and finishing in Flamborough village, described as taking up to four hours and including some steep sections. Check route conditions before setting out.
Thornwick Bay
Included on the sourced Flamborough Head circular route, with views of chalk cliffs and Thornwick Nab. The route source mentions a café, but current opening and availability are not verified here.
What to look for
Scan the cliff faces for puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. On the grassy cliff tops and in the gullies, look for chalkland plants, butterflies and songbirds.
The story
Geology and coastal navigation; no specific historical account is supplied.
Best time to go
March–July; for nesting puffins on the cliff tops, mid-May to mid-July is the strongest window.
March to July is the reserve’s recommended visiting period. For nesting puffins on the cliff tops, aim for mid-May to mid-July; the first weekend in June is usually the Yorkshire Puffin Festival.
How long to spend
1–2 hours for a reserve visit; allow up to 4 hours for the sourced 7-mile Flamborough Head circular walk.
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers · Families
Practical information
Opening & access
The reserve is open at all times and accessed by the coastal public footpath from North Landing car park. The King Charles III England Coast Path runs through it. Check current conditions before setting out.
Check before visiting
Parking
Parking is available at the non-YWT North Landing and Thornwick Bay car parks; charges apply. Check current parking arrangements before travelling.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
No on-site café is confirmed by the supplied reserve source. Check local options before visiting.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Dogs must be kept on a lead; pick up after them and use a bin.
Accessibility
Access is by coastal footpath. The supplied source describes the wider terrain as rugged and not fully wheelchair accessible; check conditions and access requirements before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Free entry; parking charges apply at North Landing and Thornwick Bay.
Water
Sea
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around YWT Flamborough Cliffs
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
