Yorkshire, England 2015 - Bempton Cliffs

return to Yorkshire trip index

return to mdimage site index 

We drove about 40 miles east from Kilburn Park to the North Sea, passing through Helmsley & Pickering on two-lane roads, heading for Bempton Cliffs, one of England's best seabird sanctuaries. 

Along the way we stopped in the small coastal town of Filey, to stretch our legs and get coffee.  We enjoyed perusing a few shops, where the owners were pleasant to chat with. We found some good greeting cards with Yorkshire scenery by local artists. The town seemed sleepy this time of year.... 

	North Sea at Filey				antiquated resort destination
		in-town houses
	she called it the "German Ocean"

Summer is the ideal time to see nesting sea birds at Bempton Cliffs.  In October, when we visited, the Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Guillemots (Auks) and Puffins who typically breed here in huge numbers, were all out to sea, where they spend most of their lives. 

These birds always return in July & August for nesting and breeding. Young sea birds have only two months to grow up and develop flying and basic survival skills before they are living at sea, full time.   

We did see some attractive Gannets. Because of a fierce wind from the south, we walked only to the main nesting site & back, and the Visitor Center had a small cafe with surprisingly good coffee & scones as well as a pleasant & talkative docent. 

Bempton Cliffs is part of the RSPB system (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).  

			Gannet nesting area
				Gannets
	seeing double

An unexpected encounter - on our drive back through Pickering, around 3 pm, we saw a gathering of locals dressed in WWII uniforms or period clothing, strolling through town, and, period vehicles were parked along the main street.  It was stunning, like walking onto a movie set. We took it all in only for a minute or two, at the two main traffic lights, and then the vision was gone.       

Later (at home) I learned that every year (mid-October) there's a WWII remembrance, and dress up and play their part.   

Below are some of British walker-photographer Andrew Locking's images from his passing through Pickering on the WWII memorial weekend two years later, in October 2017, on the drive home after a scenic walk at Robin Hood's Bay. See www.andrewswalks.co.uk/robin-hoods-bay.html  

Andrew Locking has one of the best hiking photo websites in the UK, a good travel research tool. For example, his site shows hikes in England's Lake District, and, in the Yorkshire Moors and Dales, among other European destinations.

His main webpage is www.andrewswalks.co.uk/

go to next page - York city walls & etc.

return to Yorkshire trip index

return to mdimage site index