Route: North Cliffe Wood
Area: East Yorkshire
Date of walk: 16th April 2026
Walkers: Andrew
Distance: 2.5 miles
Ascent: none
Weather: Sunny intervals
North Cliffe Wood Nature Reserve is managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is well worth a visit at any time of year but especially so in spring, when there are carpets of bluebells throughout the woods. I normally visit the woods at the end of April or beginning of May, and thought I may be a little too early today
There are a few roadside parking spaces along Sand Lane by the two entrances to the wood and I parked in one of these. On entering the wood I followed the track along its eastern edge. Within a couple of minutes I was greeted by the wonderful sight and scent of countless bluebells – our native bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, otherwise named common bluebells, English bluebells, British bluebells, wood bells, fairy flowers and wild hyacinth. The sight was enhanced by occasional patches of stitchwort and primrose, and a host of warblers provided background musical accompaniment, including chiffchaff, willow warbler and blackcap. Other residents include treecreeper, great spotted and green woodpeckers and woodlark. Anyone with a passing interest in birdlife is recommended to bring binoculars
I walked around the perimeter of the wood, and also a small area of heathland where grass snakes may regularly be seen basking in the summer months. I then re-entered the wood, following a path around the edge until I arrived back at the start. It was a superb display and the bluebells were just as prolific as in previous years, perhaps more so
Note that the route map is only a suggestion. There are various paths in the woods, which extend further than shown. Each time I come here I take a slightly different course, so it’s best to wander around wherever your interest takes you
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The start of the walk as I cross this rickety bridge over one of the streams which runs though North Cliffe Wood
I join a path which runs along the western perimeter of the wood, and it's good to see that the bluebells are in flower...
North Cliffe Wood is home to some stately old trees, although the woodland mostly comprises birch
Looking back
Primrose, one of many
Stitchwort
The star of the show, our native bluebell
A few more bluebell photos as I make my way around the wood...
The Nature Reserve also contains an area of heathland...
I make my way back to the start...
The end of the walk, and another wonderful visit to this place, is just around the corner
