Flamborough Cliffs walk - seabirds Flamborough Cliffs

Route: Flamborough Cliffs

Area: East Yorkshire

Date of walk: 9th June 2026

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 5.2 miles

Ascnet: 200 feet

Weather: Mixed rain and sun

Following our recent to nearby Bempton Cliffs, we decided to return to the East Yorkshire coast in search of more seabird action. Flamborough Cliffs are only a short distance away from Bempton, and the two can be linked by a walk. Both are home to one of the most important seabird colonies in Europe. Bempton Cliffs are managed by the RSPB, whilst Flamborough Cliffs are cared for by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. At this time of the year, the cliffs are teeming with countless breeding seabirds including auks, gannets, gulls, razorbill, guillemots and puffins

We parked in the North Landing car park at the end of North Marine Road and turned right along the cliff top, heading in the direction of Flamborough Head and its lighthouse. Before long it started to rain, so photo opportunities were limited, though it would improve later on. We knew that this would be a ‘there and back’ walk – there isn’t an opportunity for a circular one. The sight, sound and smell of thousands of seabirds was spectacular. Every nook and cranny in the sheer cliff face was booked for the season. After leaving the Nature Reserve, where the best of the action is to be found, we continued along the cliffs past the local golf course and as far as Scottle Bank Nook. The walk could easily be extended if desired

As we started to retrace our steps, there was an improvement in the weather so we spent some time watching the non-stop seabird activity. It was good to spot several puffins along the way. When we arrived back at North Landing, another downpour threatened so we retreated to the cafe for lunch and then made a short there and back walk in the direction of Bempton Cliffs. We reached an eroded section where the path has disappeared into the sea and a short inland detour is needed. We decided to turn back here and to visit the beach at North Landing, a beautiful spot. This concluded another wonderful visit to the spectacular chalk cliffs in this part of East Yorkshire

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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)

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The start of the walk as we pass by the access track to North Landing beach, which we'll visit at the end of the walk

Caves and rock arches in Flamborough Cliffs

Approaching rain as we head towards Flamborough

'Seabird City' on the cliif face

Looking back to Bempton Cliffs in the distance

Breil Nook

Flamborough Head, Flamborough Lighthouse

Flamborough Head and Flamborough Lighthouse in the distance

A reminder not to stray too close to the edge of the eroding coastline

Dramatic skies over the North Sea

We reach the far point of our walk (which could be extended as far as time permits). Improving weather gave us the chance to enjoy the scenery in better light as we retraced our steps

Looking inland across the wild flower meadows in the Nature Reserve

Breil Nook

The rock stack known as Queen Rock

We didn't venture out here, nor should anyone else

Looking out to sea

Puffins!

Flamborough Cliffs, razorbill, guillemot, puffin

Kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemot and a solitary puffin lower left...

Nesting kittiwakes

After lunch at North Landing, where we avoided a downpour, we headed in the other direction, which involves a down and an up in order to get around a gully known as Holmes Gut

Looking back to North Landing beach

Bempton Cliifs in the distance, offering another extension to the walk, but we turned back here at a point where the path turns inland to avoid a collapsed section of the cliff