RSPB Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire – wildlife, nature, café & shopping for gifts which give back to wildlife

Nature is good for you; doctors can even prescribe it for patients, and we have no shortage of glorious countryside in Yorkshire.

Any time spent out in a natural environment can help, but with RSPB Bempton Cliffs on your doorstep you can get a truly refreshing dose of wildlife and nature, and with the bonus of being able to leave with presents for your loved ones knowing you’ve helped protect the wildlife you value.

It’s a win, win, win situation!

Some of the best views in Yorkshire? Probably

Here at Bempton Cliffs you’ll find footpaths leading you to safe viewpoints that overlook the impressive towering sheer cliffs rising 100m from the sea. From here you can watch waves pounding the base and keep a look out for wildlife in and out of the water

Dolphins have been known to cruise past and out at sea distant storms can add extra drama to the scene.

On the fields and hedgerows winter visitors from afar find food in the ‘service station’ this area provides for feathered travellers – bushes heavy with berries and grassland full of seeds and insects.

Featured feathered friends

The cliffs most-loved visitors – the Puffins – won’t be around at this time of year, but overhead you’ll hear the calls of hundreds of winter visitors – from the mesmerising pink-footed goose to the tiny miracle of the goldcrest.

The reason the cliffs are so popular for overwintering or migrating birds is their position and the work that goes into conserving the area as a haven for birds.

RSPB Bempton Cliffs is in a prime location, being part of Yorkshire’s ‘great white cape’ that is Flamborough Head. Many of these birds will fly overhead but others will stop for food after a perilous sea crossing and the trees and hedgerows which dedicated volunteers and staff have planted provide a winter larder to refresh tired wings, before moving on to gardens and parks.

Over these fields barn and short eared owls can find voles, creeping out into the open to feed, linnets and goldfinches twitter in flocks as they rise from the crops planted to give them food. The owls have competition over the fields as kestrels hover over the grassland and can even ambush the owls to take their catch.

Closer to the cliffs you might catch the world’s fastest bird and watch the peregrine takes to the air in search of unwary pigeons. If we are lucky the winter months always bring the chance of Snow Buntings too, beautiful visitors from Scandinavia.

Overhead, the loud crackles of fieldfares can be heard before they fly away from hawthorn berries in a flash of silver. The smaller redwing is often nearby, another Scandinavian breeder over here for better weather and more food. Others can be rare visitors to our shores as they find themselves far away from their usual route.

“We can’t guarantee a distant storm, or dolphins or even owls but nature is full of surprises - and there’s always the view,” said Poppy Rummery of the RSPB at Bempton Cliffs.

Supporting wildlife through shopping

After your dose of natural medicine, visitors here are invited to warm up in the café, which offers hot snacks, soup and hot chocolate and then browse the gift shop to find ideal seasonal gifts that don't cost the earth.

You can also purchase or hire binoculars from the visitor centre, to get even closer to nature, but it’s far from a necessity. Visitors can simply stroll along and take in the fabulous coastline, North to Scarborough and South to Flamborough.

You’ll find a warm welcome and lots of help and information at the site. The visitor centre is open from 9.30am to 4pm (café 3.30pm) every day. Check out the website for more. RSPB Bempton Cliffs Reserve is at Cliff Lane, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO15 1JF.