This stunning coastal walk explores Britain’s highest chalk cliffs from Bempton Cliffs to Flamborough Head, with seabirds, seals and shipwrecks for company. From Flamborough Head you can either retrace your steps along the cliffs, or follow inland country lanes back to the RSPB reserve and its welcoming cafe.

Flamborough is the headland that forms the most northerly point of the Holderness Coast. The most striking aspect of Flamborough Head are the white chalk cliffs that surround it. The chalk lies in distinct horizontal layers, formed from the remains of tiny sea creatures millions of years ago.

Flamborough Head is one of the most spectacular areas of chalk cliffs in Britain, standing 400 feet high. The chalk was laid down millions of years ago when the last dinosaurs were roaming the earth. The cliffs are home to one of the largest sites of nesting sea birds in England, boasting a rare colony of gannets.

Geology: The North York Moors rises up to 400M above sea level and is made up of sandstones, shales and limestone, including some carboniferous rocks. Flamborough Head, is a chalk headland which is topped with till, a glacial deposit left behind during the “Devensian Glacial Period”.

Seals can be seen cavorting in the shallows of Flamborough Head and you maybe lucky to see the odd dolphin or porpoise further out at sea. Just in land and the farmed fields are home to countless insects and woodland birds. You can start your wall either at North Landing beach, Flamborough Head or South Landing beach.

The nature reserve can be accessed by walking along the clifftop footpath northwest from Flamborough Head lighthouse or by following the B1265 from Flamborough village, where a large private car park and café exists. There is a small car park at Thornwick which has an admission charge.

Public Toilets: In the car park beside the café. Accessibility: There is a surfaced path to the Fog Signal Station on the cliff top; other cliff and reserve paths are not surfaced.

North Landing

Car park – 150 spaces Season tickets: Class A £550 – 12 months; £290- 6 months; Class B £400 – 12 months; £215- 6 months; Class C £300 – 12 months; £165 – 6 months.

Car parks in Flamborough Village are limited and the streets are busy in the summer months. ERYC provides information on Parking in the East Riding, charges, fines, controlled parking zones and park and ride. The car park at Thornwick Bay is Free however there may be a small fee to enter the Thornwick area. …

Can you go inside the lighthouse?! Yes, there are tours organised by East Riding of Yorkshire Council under license from Trinity House. All the details and prices are available online, under Flamborough Lighthouse.

Headlands Restaurant at Flamborough Head is very dog friendly and welcomes pooches inside and out, we always pop in when we’re in the area – a five paw establishment! The headland at Flamborough extends 10km into the North Sea.

Go on a bracing walk to Spurn point and discover Spurn lighthouse, stopping to watch wildlife along the way. It’s three miles down to the point (one way) and the walk can be uneven and sandy. There is no access for vehicles and dogs aren’t allowed (but see below for walks at Spurn that you can do with dogs!).

We’re so entranced by the cave-swimming experience that we drive in our wetsuits to North Landing, further round Flamborough Head, to explore. Here, a local has told us, you can actually swim through the headland.

There are dog bans in place on the main sections of beach at Scarborough South Bay and North Bay, Whitby West Cliff and Tate Hill, Filey and Sandsend. The areas where dogs are not permitted will be clearly signposted at all beach access points.

Almost all of these beaches allow dogs to be off leash all day every day. As you can imagine, there are dog-friendly beaches in Southern, Central, and Northern California. In the south where beaches get crowded, the dog rules get more strict to avoid conflicts, but there are great off-leash dog beaches there too.

Just a few miles south of Scarborough is Cayton Bay, a wild and rugged dog-friendly beach. This walk is perfect if you want to get away from town and feel the sea breeze.

Dogs are allowed on the beach near the Bay. They have to get off where the first cafe/ shop is then they are banned until cobble landing. They are then allowed on again round to the side where the brigg is.

At high water it is not possible to walk off Filey Brigg back onto the beach. You will have to go up the cliffs or wait for the tide to go out. The cliffs are really dangerous in places and the few ways up are not easy foot paths.

Some of the beaches on the Yorkshire Coast have a limit on when dogs are allowed and which areas of the beach they can go on. Filey – 1 May to 30 September only: Dogs banned from the beach (from ‘Royal Parade’, to the ‘Coble Landing’ / ‘The Promenade’).

West Pier. – Picture of West Pier, Filey – Tripadvisor.

Overall Filey is a lovely coastal town worth the visit if you’ve never been. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Quiet, sandy beach that continues for miles, with gorgeous views as far as Flamborough. The up/down hill climbs are very much worth it.

The beach byelaws do not allow horse riding on the main beaches, which includes South and North Bay beaches, Scarborough. Filey – South of Martins Ravine (paddling pool, Google maps: Martins Ravine, Filey) towards Reighton Gap. Best access from Reighton Gap, and Primrose Valley.

Filey`s front is fine, we enjoy the easy strolling along by the sea. …

Filey beach is one of the safest beaches in the country. The beach slopes gently and there are no deeper parts to catch you out of your depth. It also has a life guard in the summer.

five mile

This easy walk provides superb views of Filey Bay for most of the route. On reaching Primrose Valley, the path descends to the beach. Although the map takes you back the same way, along the cliffs, it’s a beautiful walk back along the beach.

around 15 min

Primrose Valley Fun Works or now know as “Play” Passes give you access to the entertainment complex, swimming pools and sports and leisure facilities. Play Passes are a required to access all of the Funworks facilities, these can be prebooked in advance over the phone or at the Primrose Valley resort reception.

Not only will you end up strolling down the beautiful beach, but you will also have had a beautiful, well-worth-it walk! …