25th June '09 Speeton Cliffs

Hot, sunny, windy on top.

Speeton Cliffs.

St Leonards Church, Speeton.

This is another one of those trips we've often promised to do every time we pass the place. And after we've got round to doing it, wondered why we've not been a few years earlier. As you enter the village it doesn't look too inviting, but it gets better until you reach a small gravel carpark at the church. The setting here is delightful and you are invited by a small notice board to visit the church, which we did. After leaving a small donation for the parking and informative leaflets, we made a start to the cliffs. One of the leaflets sets out the route and gives details of interesting things to lookout for on the way. You get the impression from the start that the people of Speeton are really proud of where they live and want to share it with others. I like that.

Views across Rieghton Sands towards Filey.

Halfway along the path after looking for and not finding any of the famous long-haired sheep you are offered a rest on what the leaflet tells you is a pre-historic seat, with the inscription '.........Built in 1977'! There are many signs along the way of the wartime defences manned by local volunteers. At the cliff edge itself, which is no longer the chalk cliffs as found at Bempton, but soft clays and sand, the eroded slopes are covered in thickets with the odd wooded gulley. Beyond a fenced off section surrounding a marsh, is a reserve for the Crested Newt. Further along we took lunch overlooking a beautiful meadow where we were entertained by Larks and Meadow Pipits. We never managed to get onto the beach to look for fossils. Hopefully it won't be long before we return.

Looking towards Bempton Cliffs.

Skylarks, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, Linnet, Swallow, House Martin,