Wildlife & Nature Reserves in East Yorkshire

Seabird cliffs, wetland reserves, and wild estuaries within easy reach of the Yorkshire Wolds.

East Yorkshire sits at a crossroads for wildlife. The chalk cliffs of the coast hold England's largest mainland seabird colony. The Humber estuary draws vast flocks of wading birds and wildfowl in winter. Inland, a chain of wetland reserves provides habitat for breeding and migrant species throughout the year. For anyone with binoculars and a willingness to get up early, this corner of Yorkshire offers some of the finest wildlife watching in the country.

Bempton Cliffs

The RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs is the standout wildlife site in East Yorkshire. Between April and August, over a quarter of a million seabirds nest on the 400-foot chalk cliffs. Puffins are the headline act, arriving from mid-April and best seen in May and June when they are feeding chicks. But the gannets are equally impressive: huge, white, and dramatic as they plunge into the sea below.

The reserve has six clifftop viewing platforms, each offering a different angle on the colony. Guillemots and razorbills pack the lower ledges. Kittiwakes build their nests on impossibly narrow shelves. Fulmars glide past at eye level. RSPB volunteers are usually stationed at the viewpoints with telescopes and are generous with their time and knowledge. The visitor centre has a cafe and regularly updated sightings boards.

Bempton is about 35 minutes from the cottage. For a fuller day, combine it with a cliff walk to Flamborough Head lighthouse along the England Coast Path. Our birdwatching guide covers the best times and species in more detail.

Spurn Point

Spurn Point is a narrow sand spit that extends 3.5 miles into the mouth of the Humber estuary. It is one of the most unusual landscapes in England: a fragile strip of sand and shingle barely wide enough for a path in places, with the North Sea on one side and the estuary on the other. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust manages the site, and it has been designated a National Nature Reserve.

Spurn is best known for autumn migration. In September and October, southbound migrants pile in from Scandinavia, and the narrow geography of the spit concentrates them into a small area. Rare birds turn up regularly, and the bird observatory has been recording sightings since 1946. Even outside peak migration, the atmosphere at Spurn is special. The remoteness, the light, and the constant movement of sand and sea give the place a wild, elemental quality.

Access to the point is on foot or by the Trust's Unimog vehicle (runs at set times). The walk from the car park to the lighthouse is about 3.5 miles each way along the beach. Allow a full day, bring food and water, and check tide times before setting out. Spurn is about an hour's drive from the cottage.

Tophill Low Nature Reserve

Tophill Low sits on the site of two large reservoirs near Driffield, about 20 minutes north of the cottage. It is managed by Yorkshire Water and has developed into one of the best inland birdwatching sites in the region. Well-placed hides overlook both reservoirs and a series of smaller pools and marshes that attract a wide range of species.

Breeding birds include marsh harriers, reed warblers, and various wildfowl. In winter, the reservoirs hold diving ducks, grebes, and occasionally rarer visitors like smew or bittern. The site is relatively compact, so you can visit all the hides in a couple of hours. It's an excellent spot for a quiet morning's birdwatching without the commitment of a full day trip.

Entry is free for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust members; others pay a small daily fee. The paths between hides are flat and well-maintained. Tophill Low is one of those places that rewards regular visits across the seasons, as the cast of birds changes constantly.

North Cave Wetlands

North Cave Wetlands, managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, is a former gravel extraction site that has been transformed into a rich wetland habitat. The reserve sits just north of the Humber near the M62, about 40 minutes from the cottage. Several hides overlook lakes and scrapes that attract wading birds, ducks, terns, and in summer, breeding avocets and little ringed plovers.

The reserve is well set up for visitors, with a network of paths linking the hides. Spring and early summer are particularly good, when breeding activity is at its peak and the reedbeds are full of singing warblers. In winter, large flocks of lapwing and golden plover gather on the fields around the reserve, with raptors often hunting above.

The Humber Estuary and Other Sites

The Humber estuary is designated as a Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar wetland of international importance. In winter, it supports tens of thousands of wading birds: knot, dunlin, redshank, curlew, and bar-tailed godwit feed on the mudflats as the tide drops. The best viewing points on the north bank include Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve (an excellent site for marsh harriers and bearded tits) and the foreshore at Brough and North Ferriby.

Closer to the cottage, the farmland of the Wolds itself supports brown hares, which are commonly seen in the fields, especially in spring. Barn owls hunt the field margins at dusk, and roe deer are present in the woodland edges. The dry valleys of the Wolds have their own quieter wildlife interest, less dramatic than the coast but no less rewarding if you take the time to look. The Yorkshire Wolds visitor guide covers more about the landscape and its character.

Frequently Asked Questions

What wildlife can I see in East Yorkshire?

East Yorkshire supports a wide variety of wildlife. Seabird colonies at Bempton Cliffs (puffins, gannets, guillemots), wading birds on the Humber estuary, breeding marsh harriers at several wetland reserves, brown hares on the Wolds, and seals along the Holderness coast. The area is particularly strong for birdwatching.

When is the best time for birdwatching in East Yorkshire?

Every season has something. Spring brings breeding seabirds to the coast and migrant warblers to the wetlands. Summer is best for puffins and gannets at Bempton. Autumn sees large numbers of passage migrants at Spurn Point. Winter brings huge flocks of waders and wildfowl to the Humber estuary.

Is Spurn Point worth visiting?

Yes. Spurn is one of the most unusual landscapes in England, a narrow sand spit stretching 3.5 miles into the Humber estuary. It is excellent for birdwatching, especially during autumn migration, and the remote, wild atmosphere is worth experiencing regardless of what birds are about.

Are the nature reserves free to visit?

Most Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and RSPB reserves are free to enter, though there is usually a car parking charge for non-members. Annual membership of either organisation pays for itself quickly if you plan to visit several sites.