Staying at the Crab Pot Guest House puts you right in the heart of one of Yorkshire’s most rewarding walking destinations. Flamborough Head is a natural playground — a chalk promontory jutting eight miles into the North Sea, ringed by dramatic white cliffs, hidden coves and a coastline alive with wildlife. Whether you’re after a gentle stroll before breakfast or a full day’s adventure, here are our favourite routes to explore on foot.
1. The Flamborough Head Lighthouse Loop
Distance: 3.7 km (2.3 miles) | Time: 1–1.5 hours | Difficulty: Easy — suitable for families
This is the perfect introduction to Flamborough for first-time visitors, and it never gets old. Starting from the lighthouse car park, the route traces a short circular loop along the clifftops, giving you unforgettable views of the chalk stacks, sea arches and wave-carved coves below — including the dramatic formation at Selwicks Bay.
The lighthouse itself is a striking Victorian landmark. Built to the design of architect Samuel Wyatt and first lit in December 1806, it still warns shipping 24 miles out to sea. On clear days you can see all the way to Bridlington, Filey and far across the North Sea. Look out for seals bobbing in the waters below — they’re spotted here regularly.
The terrain is mostly level with clear grassy paths. There are no stiles, though some sections become muddy after rain. A café and toilet facilities are available near the car park.
💡 Top tip: Keep a safe distance from the cliff edge — the chalk can be loose and slippery, especially in wet weather. Dogs should be kept on a lead near the clifftops.
🗺 View on AllTrails |
🗺 View on Komoot
2. North Landing Cliffs Loop
Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles) | Time: 2.5–3 hours | Difficulty: Moderate
This is the most popular route on Flamborough Head for good reason — it takes in the very best of the headland’s spectacular chalk cliffs and descends to the charming coble landing at North Landing beach. Starting from the village, you follow clifftop paths past a series of stacks, arches, rocky outcrops and sheltered coves that change with every bend.
The section between Flamborough Head and North Landing is particularly outstanding. The cliffs here are at their most dramatic — constantly shifting stacks and sea arches, some extending far out to sea. It’s a moving picture of coastal geology at its finest. Expect some ascent and descent along the route, with several dips down to cove level and back up.
North Landing itself is a delight — a sheltered cove where traditional fishing cobles are still hauled up the beach, with a café and ice cream on hand for a well-earned break before heading back through the village.
💡 Top tip: This walk is best on a clear, calm day when the chalk cliffs glow in the sunshine. Avoid in high winds, as the path is exposed throughout.
🗺 View on AllTrails |
🗺 View on Komoot
3. Danes Dyke Nature Reserve
Distance: 3 km circular Tree Trail | Time: 1–2 hours | Difficulty: Easy — suitable for families
Just a short drive from Flamborough, Danes Dyke is one of East Yorkshire’s genuine hidden gems — a 148-acre nature reserve combining ancient woodland, dramatic ravines and a beautiful chalk-pebble beach. It makes for a wonderfully different kind of walk, swapping open clifftops for the dappled shade of a leafy gorge.
The reserve’s 3 km circular Tree Trail winds through the ravine past ash, elm, beech and sycamore trees, with hawthorn and elder nestled below. There are wooden bridges to cross, steps to climb and occasional glimpses through the trees to the sea. The reserve is also home to the dyke that gives it its name — an ancient earthwork that once sliced across the entire Flamborough Headland as a defensive barrier, and is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Head down to Dykes End beach for a real surprise: a quiet, unspoilt stretch of chalk-white sand and pebble, perfect for fossil hunting, paddling or simply sitting with the sound of the waves. Waders pick along the shoreline at low tide.
💡 Top tip: Be aware the Tree Trail includes some long flights of steps. For those who prefer a flatter route, an accessible path is available around part of the reserve.
🗺 View on AllTrails |
🗺 Official Reserve Info
4. Flamborough to RSPB Bempton Cliffs
Distance: ~10 km return | Time: 3–4 hours | Difficulty: Moderate
For wildlife lovers, this is the walk of a lifetime — especially between April and July. Following the clifftop path north from Flamborough, you gradually approach the RSPB Bempton Cliffs reserve, where the noise levels rise long before the viewing platforms come into view. Around half a million seabirds gather here each breeding season, and the spectacle is genuinely breathtaking.
Bempton is the only mainland site in the UK where you can see nesting puffins. The clifftops also host gannets — performing spectacular diving displays — as well as guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The RSPB has six secure cliff-edge viewing platforms, with knowledgeable volunteers on hand to help with identification.
From Flamborough village a footpath heads north through the fields before joining the coast path. Return the same way, or arrange a lift from the Bempton visitor centre.
💡 Top tip: Puffins are best seen from late April to early August, with May–July being peak season. Arrive early on summer weekends to beat the crowds at the viewing platforms.
🗺 View on AllTrails |
🐦 RSPB Bempton Cliffs
5. The Full Headland Way: South Landing to Danes Dyke
Distance: ~11 km (7 miles) one way | Time: 4–5 hours | Difficulty: Challenging
For those wanting a proper day out, the full length of the southern Flamborough coastline along a section of the Headland Way is as fine a piece of coastal walking as you’ll find anywhere in Britain. Starting from the sheltered cove of South Landing — a wonderful spot in its own right, with chalk beach and the Living Seas Centre — the path traces the entire southern arc of the headland westward to Danes Dyke.
The variety is extraordinary. Sea stacks, caves, arches and coves appear in succession along a coastline of constant drama. The chalk cliffs here were laid down as mud on the ocean floor during the age of the dinosaurs — a staggering thought as you stand at the cliff edge looking out to sea.
This walk is best done as a point-to-point with transport arranged at both ends. The path can be muddy in wet weather, and sturdy footwear is essential.
💡 Top tip: Check the weather forecast before setting out — this walk is fully exposed to the elements throughout. A sunny day transforms the white chalk cliffs into something truly magical.
🗺 View on AllTrails |
🗺 View on Komoot
When to Walk: A Seasonal Guide
Every season brings something special to Flamborough:
- Spring: Wildflowers carpet the clifftops. Puffins return from late April. Seabird colonies begin in earnest. Quieter crowds before the summer rush.
- Summer: Peak seabird season — gannets, puffins and guillemots in full swing. Long evenings ideal for golden-hour coastal walks. Busiest time at Bempton Cliffs.
- Autumn: Migrating birds make Flamborough a birdwatcher’s hotspot. Quieter paths, dramatic skies and the North Sea at its most atmospheric.
- Winter: Bracing and beautiful. The cliffs have a raw grandeur in winter. Seals are often visible in the water, and the paths are refreshingly peaceful.
Essential Walking Tips
- Footwear: Good walking boots or sturdy trail shoes are recommended for all routes. The chalk paths become slippery in the wet, and some sections are uneven or eroded.
- Cliff safety: Always stay well back from cliff edges — the chalk is loose and can crumble without warning. Keep children and dogs close on all clifftop sections.
- Tides: If you plan to explore any of the beaches such as South Landing or Danes Dyke, check tide times before heading down — some coves can be cut off at high tide.
- Weather: The headland is exposed. Even on warm days, the wind off the North Sea can be fierce — bring a windproof layer whatever the season.
- Maps: OS Explorer Map 295 (Bridlington, Driffield & Hornsea) covers all the walks listed here. Routes are also available on AllTrails and Komoot if you prefer a digital guide.
All of the walks above start within easy reach of the Crab Pot Guest House. Book your stay with us and wake up ready to explore one of the finest stretches of coastline in Britain.