Puffin Watch 🐧🌊: How to See Yorkshire’s Cutest Seabirds at Flamborough

Each spring, the chalky cliffs of Flamborough Head burst into life - not with fireworks or fanfare, but with the return of one of Britain's most beloved seabirds: the Atlantic puffin. With their comical waddle, bright orange feet, and rainbow-hued bills, these "clowns of the sea" have a way of stealing the show - and hearts - along this stunning stretch of the Yorkshire coast.

Why Flamborough is Puffin Paradise

Flamborough and nearby Bempton Cliffs are home to England's most accessible puffin colonies, offering front-row seats to one of the UK's great wildlife spectacles - all from solid ground, no boat required. The headland forms part of a designated Heritage Coast, celebrated for its ecological richness and dramatic beauty.

Come from late March to early August, and you'll likely spot puffins bobbing on the sea or darting clumsily to and from their burrows carved into the cliffside. These burrows, often repurposed rabbit warrens or tunnels the birds dig themselves, serve as nesting sites where they raise their young. It’s in these dark, snug chambers that a single white egg is laid, and from it hatches a downy chick - affectionately known as a "puffling".

Unlike their neighbours, such as guillemots and razorbills who crowd open cliff ledges, puffins prefer the relative safety of underground life. This nesting habit, along with their bright breeding plumage and awkward charm, makes them a favourite among birdwatchers and families alike.

Where (and How) to See Them

There are three main ways to experience puffins at Flamborough:

1. RSPB Bempton Cliffs
   Bempton Cliffs is one of Europe's most accessible seabird colonies. The site features over three miles of cliff-top paths and seven designated viewing platforms, such as Grandstand and Bartlett Nab. These offer excellent views and are wheelchair- and pushchair-friendly, with Tramper mobility scooters available for hire. The visitor centre includes a shop, cafe, toilets, and a helpful team of RSPB volunteers armed with telescopes and tips for spotting the stars of the show.

2. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Flamborough Cliffs
   For a wilder, more natural experience, head to the YWT reserve near North Landing. It’s a little more rugged - expect uneven paths and a few steep sections - but it rewards you with a more intimate feel and a chance to discover puffins closer to eye level. Popular spots include Briel Nook and the path towards Flamborough Lighthouse. The Living Seas Centre at nearby South Landing is worth a visit too, especially for families interested in rock pooling or marine education.

3. Boat Trips
   To truly appreciate the scale of the colonies and see puffins from a whole new perspective, hop on a boat. The Yorkshire Belle sails from Bridlington Harbour with RSPB-guided wildlife cruises, while Living Seas Safaris offer coble boat trips from North Landing. These sea-level journeys let you watch puffins diving, swimming, and interacting with gannets, kittiwakes, and more. Booking ahead is often necessary, especially during the peak season.

When to Visit

Timing is everything. Puffins return to the cliffs in late March or April and stay until early August. For the best chances to see them feeding chicks, aim for May through July, with June typically being the peak month. Earlier visits in April can reveal large groups "rafting" on the sea surface - a sign of their imminent return to land.

Join the Yorkshire Puffin Festival

A true highlight of the puffin season is the Yorkshire Puffin Festival, scheduled in 2025 for Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June. Held at the YWT's Flamborough Cliffs Nature Reserve, the festival features a mix of fun and educational activities designed to celebrate these charming seabirds and raise awareness of the challenges they face.

Festival highlights include:

• Expert-led cliff-top walks

• Boat safaris

• Puffin-themed crafts using marine plastic

• Storytelling and theatre for children

• Educational games and wildlife stalls

• Appearances by Cliff, the festival's cuddly puffin mascot

It’s a brilliant weekend for families, photographers, nature lovers, and anyone curious about the natural world. Best of all, it happens right in the middle of puffin season, so your odds of seeing them are excellent.

Puffins in Peril

Despite their popularity, puffins are not out of danger. The species is classed as "Vulnerable" globally, and is on the UK’s Red List for Birds of Conservation Concern. Their reliance on sandeels - small fish that are increasingly affected by warming sea temperatures - makes them especially sensitive to environmental change. If adult puffins have to travel farther to find food, their chicks may starve or grow too slowly to survive.

Plastic pollution and human disturbance also pose threats. Visitors can help by following a few simple guidelines:

• Keep dogs on short leads

• Stick to marked paths, well away from cliff edges

• Take litter home

• Avoid drone use near colonies

• Support local conservation groups

Planning Tips

• Getting there: Flamborough is reachable by road, with parking at North Landing (YWT) and RSPB Bempton. Use postcodes YO15 1BJ or YO15 1JF.

• Accessibility: Bempton is the better option for visitors with mobility needs. Paths are level and viewing platforms secure.

• Gear up: Bring binoculars, a camera, warm layers, waterproofs, and sturdy boots - cliff weather can change fast.

• Facilities: RSPB Bempton has a full visitor centre. North Landing offers basic refreshments and toilets. South Landing's Living Seas Centre adds interactive displays and more.

Beyond the Puffins

There’s plenty more to see while you're in the area. Flamborough Head is a biodiversity hotspot, home to razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, and gannets. You might spot grey seals, harbour porpoises, or even a minke whale offshore. Walks along the cliffs and through Danes Dyke woodlands offer additional nature-spotting opportunities.

You can also climb Flamborough Lighthouse in summer for epic views, or explore sea caves and rockpools at low tide. Whether you’re here for the puffins or just in search of a grand day out by the sea, this stretch of Yorkshire delivers.

Final Word

The return of puffins to Flamborough isn’t just a wildlife spectacle - it’s a celebration of nature’s resilience, a call to care for our coast, and an open invitation to experience Yorkshire at its wildest and most wonderful.