Sand between the toes and the stunning Bempton Cliffs

Our East Riding day started with a drive to Withernsea, which features in the book I'm reading at the moment 'Bletchley Girls' because one of the listeners was based in a seaside hotel there listening to German messages. We just had a drive through the seaside resort and went onto Hornsea Mere which we hoped was a lake that we walked around. We had that embarrassing moment when you realise you have just walked around a car park, there was not a route around the lake, but there was a lot of people in the café looking at us. So back in the car and onwards.

We tried to find a dog friendly beach and first tried Skipsea but alas we couldn't find the beach. Onwards to the next but we couldn't actually find the way down to the beach and the road was closed. It literally looked like the road had fallen off the cliff and the rest of the entrances to the beach had holiday homes in front of them. We eventually found Wilsthorpe and it was a cracker. I love the feel of fine yellow sand between the toes. The beach is huge and connects the beaches we couldn't find, all the way to Bridlington and around the Flamborough and it's chalk white cliffs which look like the white cliffs of Dover. We ate our picnic on the sand and had a paddle in the warm water. Well warm for the UK.

Onwards to our next stop - Bempton Cliffs. We spotted the leaflet and noticed that the reserve allowed dogs which is rare for RSPB sites so off we went. Oh my gosh, what a treat. £4 entry or free for RSPB members. We walked down to the first viewpoint of the cliffs and it took our breath away. Gannets, fulmars, guillemots, kittewakes and puffins everywhere! There were so many of them flying and clinging onto the cliffs. We visited 5 of the viewpoints and each one completely stunning. We had no idea the gem we happened upon.