Bempton Cliffs RSPB reserve

Bempton Cliffs is a stretch of sheer chalk coast in the East Riding of Yorkshire, managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The reserve runs for about six miles north from Flamborough Head towards Filey, with cliffs rising over thirty metres at their highest. Hard chalk resists erosion, creating ledges and crevices that suit nesting seabirds. The site also includes Buckton Cliffs just to the north. A visitor centre welcomes people at the cliff top. The cliffs host England’s only mainland gannet colony, with birds present from January to September. Around one in ten of the UK’s kittiwakes nest here, making it a key site for that species. Atlantic puffins also breed on the cliffs, though they are now endangered along the Yorkshire coast. Tree sparrows nest in boxes at the visitor centre, adding a small land-bird presence. In 2017, artist Adrian Riley installed 22 panels of phonetic birdsong across the reserve, each placed near habitats of the species it depicts. Visitors walk along fenced cliff-top paths and use protected observation points to watch the seabirds. The chalk cliffs drop dramatically to the North Sea, offering wide views along the coast. The reserve’s layout keeps people at a safe distance while allowing close study of gannets, puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes. Interpretive artwork adds another layer of interest without disturbing the wildlife.