Flamborough Head & Lighthouse – Exploring Yorkshire’s Spectacular Coast

Flamborough Head is one of the most dramatic and recognisable stretches of coastline in Yorkshire. With towering white chalk cliffs, spectacular sea views, wildlife and its famous lighthouse, it's an area that deserves plenty of time to explore.

For this Explore Britain with PJ visit, PJ and Mrs PJ headed out around Flamborough Head to see what makes this part of the Yorkshire coast so special.

And it certainly didn't disappoint!

Exploring Flamborough Head

Flamborough Head extends out into the North Sea and is famous for its impressive white chalk cliffs.

Walking around the headland gives you some fantastic views along the coastline, with the cliffs, sea and constantly changing weather creating some brilliant opportunities for photography and video.

There are several places around the headland where you can stop and simply enjoy the scenery, and on a clear day the views can be spectacular.

It's also somewhere that feels completely different from the busy seaside resorts nearby. You don't have to travel far from Bridlington or Scarborough before you're surrounded by open countryside, cliffs and the North Sea.

Flamborough Lighthouse

One of the most recognisable landmarks on the headland is Flamborough Lighthouse.

The present lighthouse was built during the 19th century and stands prominently above the cliffs, helping vessels navigate this potentially dangerous section of the Yorkshire coastline.

Its distinctive white tower makes it an excellent focal point when exploring the headland, and the surrounding area provides some superb coastal views.

But this isn't the only lighthouse connected with Flamborough.

The Old Lighthouse

Flamborough is also home to an unusual earlier lighthouse tower dating from the 17th century.

Known as the Old Lighthouse, it is one of the oldest surviving lighthouse structures in Britain.

Interestingly, there is uncertainty over whether a light was ever actually displayed from the tower.

It makes a fascinating contrast with the later lighthouse and provides another glimpse into the long maritime history of Flamborough Head.

A Haven for Wildlife

Flamborough Head isn't only about the scenery and history.

The cliffs and surrounding coastline are extremely important for wildlife, particularly seabirds.

Depending on the time of year, visitors may see large numbers of birds nesting and feeding around the cliffs and sea.

Nearby Bempton Cliffs is particularly famous for its enormous seabird colonies, making this whole stretch of Yorkshire coastline a fantastic destination for anyone interested in nature and wildlife photography.

You never quite know what you're going to spot while looking out across the water.

Walking Around Flamborough Head

One of the best ways to experience Flamborough Head is simply to explore it on foot.

There are coastal paths and viewpoints around the headland offering different perspectives of the cliffs and lighthouse.

Good footwear is definitely worthwhile, particularly if the ground is wet or you've decided to explore some of the less even paths.

And, as with any cliff-top location, take care around the cliff edges and keep children and dogs under close supervision.

Is Flamborough Head Worth Visiting?

Absolutely – especially if you enjoy spectacular coastal scenery.

Flamborough Head offers something quite different from a traditional seaside day out.

There's the lighthouse and maritime history to discover, but the real attraction for us is the landscape itself.

The combination of the huge chalk cliffs, North Sea, wildlife and open countryside makes this somewhere you can happily spend several hours exploring.

It's also the sort of location we'd happily return to in a different season because the experience could be completely different depending on the weather, wildlife and time of year.

Location: Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Best for: Coastal walks, scenery, wildlife, photography and history
Allow: Around 2–4 hours to explore, or longer if you're planning a substantial coastal walk
Explore Britain verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – A spectacular part of the Yorkshire coast