Yorkshire, England - Bempton Cliffs

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We drove about 40 miles east Kilburn Park to the North Sea, passing through Helmsley and 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 some 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. 

This town seemed sleepy this time of year.... 

note - you can enlarge any part of a picture by left-clicking in and then out again.

	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 arrived, 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 and a single Cormorant.  Because of a fierce wind, we walked only to main nesting site & then back to the Visitor Center. The small cafe there had surprisingly good coffee and 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 and one Cormorant		seeing double

Scenic highlights - on our way 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, line suddenly being on a movie set. Like a mirage, 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 there's a WWII memorial weekend in mid-October, and locals do dress up.   

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 - week two, part one York city walls & etc.

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