Did you know that Bempton Cliffs Reserve is part of a 4-5 mile circular walk encompassing cliff top habitat, farmland habitat, the village of Buckton and the village of Bempton? It's a wonderful way to experience a wide range of different birds and wildlife as well as getting a bit of exercise and a rosy glow in your cheeks at the same time.
Imagine this....
You pull up in the reserve car park, pay the £3.50 fee (unless you are a member, in which case it's free) and head towards the visitor centre. As you walk across the car park, you spot a goldfinch in the hedge to your left and, if you're lucky, hear the quail calling in the fields behind you. As you reach the entrance to the visitor centre, you notice somebody standing in the doorway, craning their neck to look into the rafters. When you get up close you realise there's a swallows nest (with four hungry chicks inside) cradled between the wall and the beam.
You step through the doorway and you are immediately greeted with a welcoming smile and a hello. You have the option of browsing the well-stocked shop, getting an ice cream from the servery or hiring a useful pair of binoculars. The information assistants, Dawn and Nikki, prove very helpful when you ask a quick question about the reserve opening hours and you are shown exactly where you need to go next on the map on top of the cash desk.
The fresh air beckons and you leave the centre via the back door (above which there are a number of tree sparrows nesting in the roof), walking down the chalk path until you reach the well-fenced cliff edge and the Heritage Coastal Path. On your way down, you see a reed bunting in the hedge line and watch a number of different butterflies float over the grass. From the edge, if you have time, you can take a quick deviation southwards from the route of the walk to experience the spectacular view of 'Staple Newk' the chalk arch that thousands of breeding gannets have made their home.
After this, you follow the path northwards, making use of the viewing platforms specially built to help visitors get the best (and safest) views of the large numbers of seabirds clinging to the cliff sides. On one of these points, you are highly likely to meet one of the RSPB's friendly and knowledgeable volunteers who will answer any questions you might have and give you a peek through their telescopes. You will notice razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars, gannets and maybe, until the first week of August, puffins as you walk up towards the furthest viewing point: Jubilee.
Looking left before you reach Jubilee you will notice some interesting concrete structures. These are the remains of RAF Bempton, a ground controlled aircraft interception station used in WWII. The site is private property but a virtual tour can be found on the internet here. Looking north again, Filey Bay can be seen sweeping round to the right as you walk until you see the sign that tells you to follow the field headland parallel to the coast. This headland soon turns into a track that cuts across farmland. In the spring and summer this is a good place to see corn buntings and in the winter the gorse hedges and small ponds attract migratory and wintering birds.
When you reach the road, turn left and continue through the small village of Buckton, making a right turn onto Bolam Lane and continuing along here until you reach the railway line. From here, you turn left and follow the signposted route across the fields, passing the mediaeval village of Newsham before you walk into Bempton village. Once in the village you will see the RSPB reserve signposted but don’t miss out on a quick look at the stained glass windows of St Michaels Church, which include images of Bempton Cliffs and the seabirds found there.
After a nice amble back up the lane to the centre don’t forget to pop back in for a cuppa and tell the staff all about what you’ve seen. We rely on visitors and volunteers to keep our ‘recent sightings’ board up to date and appreciate feedback about our reserve
So, how do you feel about taking a hike now?
Rachael Tulloch (Warden Intern, RSPB Fairburn Ings)