The Puffins at Bempton Cliffs

The best time to spot them is mid April to mid July with June probably being the best month.

Yes! RSPB Bempton is located just outside the village of Bempton and there is parking on site - just drive down the side of the White Horse pub, up Cliff lane. Please do not leave your car in Bempton though as there is very little parking in the village. Of course, if you stay with us at PK Cottages you can walk there from your cottage in about 45 minutes so won't need to take your car at all. The walk there is lovely and its the perfect, hassle free way to get to the Cliffs.

They can be a little, as they are quite small birds, but look out for the distinctive orange on their beaks. Try and bring some binoculars (or you can hire some from the RSPB centre) and look out for the RSPB guides on site, who will help you find them too. Also, it is fun looking as you will see thousands of other great seabirds too and it feels fantastic when you do finally spot them.

Bempton Cliffs and the footpath along it is a public footpath so you can walk along there for free (if you enter from along the cliffs) but to park your car in the car park or enter the RSPB centre with cafe and toilets you will need to pay. The money they get from visitors helps them preserve the area and also create things like the wooden viewing points and information signs. If you are a member of the RSPB then you can get access for free and you can sign up to be a member when you arrive. Otherwise entrance fees are: Adults £6 Children £3 Free entrance for first child Free entrance for under 5s Student £4.50 (£2.25 November - February) Free entrance for carers Please check the website for latest prices and details. https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/bempton-cliffs/

In the Summer and around the best Puffin viewing months (April - July) then the answer is definitely yes! But, there are lots of paths and viewing platforms so plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the beauty of the this stunning location. If you are an early bird yourself then try and visit the Bempton Cliffs at day break, the RSPB centre may not be open at that time but the views are breathtaking as the sun comes up and the cliffs come to life. Whilst there is plenty of open space on the cliffs and along the coastal walks, the car parks can get very busy on peak days so please be patient and park where instructed. Bempton is a small village nearby but please do not park your car in the village or block footpaths as it can be a real problem for the local community. Of course if you stay with us at PK Cottages you won't need to worry about your car as, if you don't mind a beautiful walk along country lanes, you can walk there from your cottage in about 45 minutes.

Every part of the day is beautiful in its own way, as the light and bird behaviours alter as the day progresses. If you are an early riser, then dawn is a fabulous time to visit and if you can possibly avoid 11am-2pm then do, as that is probably when it is at its busiest. Of course if you visit in the winter then there are less crowds and you will still see some amazing wildlife, stunning birds and wonderful views. So wrap up warm and book your winter break!

RSPB Bempton have worked hard to make their site as accessible as possible with some paths and viewing platforms being wheelchair friendly. They also have some wheelchairs and a mobility scooter for hire but please book these in advance direct with the centre. Details of RSPB Bempton's Accessible features are below: Access to facilities Car parking 74 spaces 11 Blue Badge spaces Blue Badge spaces can be found immediately outside the Seabird Centre. Viewing points Three viewpoints nearest the Seabird Centre are fully wheelchair accessible and have bays to give improved viewing to wheelchair users. Most viewpoints have benches nearby. Webcam footage is available to view inside the Seabird Centre. Café A self-service food cabinet holds a selection of food and drink and can be accessed from a seated position. Limited indoor seating and tables available. Staff and volunteers are available to assist. Picnic area All picnic tables have spaces for wheelchairs. Dogs Assistance dogs are welcome. Dogs are welcome on the reserve, however they must be kept on leads at all times. This is to ensure that ground nesting birds are not disturbed, and also to ensure the safety of dogs on the cliff top. Additional accessibility information The Seabird Centre and shop are within the same level-access and pen-plan building. Staff and volunteers are available to assist where needed. For further details please see full access statement. The site has one Tramper mobility scooter and one standard mobility scooter for disabled visitors to use. Advance booking via their website is recommended. While there is no charge for this, a donation towards the maintenance of the scooters would be much appreciated. There are also two push wheelchairs that can be used, should anyone prefer these to using a mobility scooter.