Reighton to Flamborough

It was another shortish walk again today. At the risk of sounding like a medical blog, I’ve not had a good week: head cold, sore throat and half deaf from an ear infection. Perhaps a walk would help to sweat the infection out of my system (kill or cure is the theory).

I parked up at Flamborough where I met William and Jocelyn, my son and daughter-in-law, for a lift over to Reighton and a walk back along the cliffs to the car.  There are good field paths to Speeton, including a short section of trail which is apparent on the ground but missing from the OS map.

On the way to the cliff top the path passes St Leonard’s Chuch, an ancient structure and one of the smallest parish churches in England. I’ve never noticed before but there are no windows along the eastern, seaward, wall: that’s Norman draught proofing for you!  

After initially dropping towards the shore the path rises to the top of the high cliffs. Unfortunately, Filey Bay and the cliff tops were engulfed in a sea-roak. During the climb the path teeters on the edge of the drop. Any illusion of protection is quickly shattered by the decrepit condition of the broken down post and wire fence. The track is safe enough in dry conditions but I wouldn’t tackle it in snow.  

The excitement ends on gaining the cliff top. The remainder of the walk is a glorious airy parade high above the North Sea. The high point of the ramble is at the triangulation pillar sat on Speeton Cliffs 344 feet above the rocky beach. In less misty conditions the coast can be traced as far north as Ravenscar (I think), whilst the view south takes in Holderness, the Humber Bridge and over the river to the Lincolnshire Wolds. Today I couldn’t see the field boundary.  

I saw the first few gannets shortly afterwards as the mist began to lift and got a whiff of the colony soon after. It got quite busy with people too through the RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs. The puffins have left, but gannets, fulmars and kittiwakes remain.

Danes Dyke reaches its northern terminus at the cliff. It is said to have Bronze Age origins but remains a massive structure, resembling a railway embankment. The dyke dissects Flamborough Head and cries out for access along its length.

I arrived in Flamborough in good time and in fair condition. Recent foot problems seem to be resolved. The walk was of about 8 miles.      

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