With striking white chalk cliffs, tranquil beaches, and abundant wildlife, one lesser-known Northern destination offers a peaceful retreat for nature lovers.

Bempton Cliffs, located on the Yorkshire Coast, is home to a large puffin colony and, if you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins.

This hidden gem, which has been referred to as the “little Cornwall” by Facebook blogger Kendall Escapes, boasts some of the country’s most dramatic coastal scenery.

The cliffs here are a haven for seabirds, with over 200,000 nesting each year, including puffins, gannets, and kittiwakes. The puffin colony, in particular, is one of the main attractions for visitors.

Bempton Cliffs is also home to some of the best walking routes along the coast, with a nine-mile circular walk that takes you through the cliffs, woodlands, and down to quiet bays.

For those who enjoy wildlife, this is one of the best places in the UK to spot bottlenose dolphins, with sightings common in the waters around the cliffs.

Generally, Bempton Cliffs can be seen as a more tranquil alternative to the better-known spots along the UK’s coastline, offering both natural beauty and rich wildlife experiences without the crowds.

Tripadvisor reviewers highlighted the abundance of wildlife along the coastline, as well as the high walkability in the area, for both adults and children.

Kimberleyanddarren said: “We were unfortunately too late to see the puffins but it didn’t dampen our day.

“We saw lots of incredible wildlife and loved that it was easy paths and not miles of endless walking which can feel tiring with small children in tow.”

Max R shared: “Absolutely stunning. We went in the season for puffins and there were a lot of them.

“We only had binoculars, but there were a number of RSPB [Royal Society for the Protection of Birds] volunteers on site who had telescopes and invited you to look through them to see the nesting puffins and other cliff nesting birds.”

And in the summer season, there is award-winning Filey beach nearby to visit, which has been praised by visitors as “the finest beach on the planet”.

In 2018, the Sunday Times named it as their beach of the year, bringing it to prominence among Britons.

This expansive stretch of sand, which unfurls over an awe-inspiring five miles, forms a majestic crescent between headlands.

At low tide, the beach broadens to a quarter of a mile across, providing beachgoers with virtually unlimited space to explore, play sports, and sculpt sandcastles.