Little Thornwick

The sheltered bay of Little Thornwick (photo by George Stoyle)

North Landing

An iconic and popular site, home to the life boat museum and a launch for traditional cobles (photo by Caroline Comins)

Atlantic Puffin

One of the UK's most recognisable and charismatic seabirds, puffins nest all along the headland's cliff top (Photo: Wildstock)

Sewerby Cliffs

At the southern side of the headland the North Sea’s first No Take Zone has been established (photo by Caroline Comins)

Holmes Gut

Gorse, bramble, scrub and rich grassland provide nesting sites and foraging for many farmland bird species (photo by Caroline Comins)

Sea Cliffs

Towering up to 400ft, Flamborough Headland has spectacular sea cliffs and seascapes (photo by George Stoyle)

Hawthorn Shield Bug

The headland's vegetated sea cliffs support a diverse assemblage of insects (Photo by George Stoyle)

 Flamborough Head European Marine Site

 

Flamborough Head SAC; Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs SPA; Flamborough Head and Filey Coast pSPA

 

 

Internationally recognised as a special and unique place for wildlife, the European Marine Site (EMS) forms part of a European-wide network of marine protected areas and the UK's Blue Belt of marine conservation designations.  The sheer white chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head surge out of the North Sea to heights of more than 300ft, mirrored by the distinctive promontory of Filey Brigg reaching out across the water.  Hundreds of sea caves, stacks, arches and ledges have been forged in the rock by the ever-pounding waves of the North Sea, creating perfect habitat for over quarter of a million breeding seabirds which call this stretch of coastline home during the summer months.  Below the waves, on the murky chalk reef, lurk the lobsters and edible crabs which serve the UK's biggest shellfish port in Bridlington.  Flamborough Head also has one of only three fully protected No Take Zones in the UK and the only one in the North Sea.     

 

Click here to view an interactive map of the site.