Green coastal walks

Best route for nesting seabirds

A circuit of Flamborough Head is the prelude to the birdwatcher's extension of this walk, a dizzying cliff-edge ramble into the squawking and shrieking heart of the RSPB's Bempton Cliffs seabird reserve.

Difficulty  ● ● 

Duration 11 miles

Route From Flamborough, go south over Beacon Hill to the coast path; then anticlockwise round Flamborough Head to North Landing and on to Bempton Cliffs. Back to North Cliff; footpath south into Flamborough.

How long? Allow around five hours, plus birdwatching time.

Green credentials Along these cliffs, intrepid professional egg gatherers, swinging in harnesses, once collected seabird eggs from the cliff faces by the sackful. Now the fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, puffins and razorbills nest under protection each spring - more than 200,000 at Bempton Cliffs alone (01262 851179, www.rspb.org.uk).

Look out for... the poignant memorial at Flamborough's village crossroads to the heroic crew of the fishing coble Two Brothers, who drowned in the early 1900s trying to rescue colleagues in distress.

Where to stay Crab Pot Cottage, 10 High Street, Flamborough (01262 850555, www.crabpotcottage.com). This cosy village-centre B&B features a shop selling toys and miniature models. Double B&B from £60.
How to get there East Yorkshire Bus Service runs services 502, 510 from Bridlington (01482 222222, www.eyms.co.uk) or the B1255 from Bridlington.
OS maps OS Explorer 301; Landranger 101. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.
For more info Bridlington TIC (01262 673474, www.yorkshire.com).