Dog-friendly walks in Flamborough

The council's own two-mile circuit of the ravine, down through the woods to the shingle at Dykes End, across the beck and up the far bank, then north along the ravine top to Flamborough Road and back. It is the one walk on this headland that is properly sheltered, so it works in a gale off the North Sea when the clifftops are unwalkable. No dog order applies anywhere on the reserve, and the council asks only for close control, so a dog can be off the lead the whole way apart from the short section beside the access road. There are steps at both ends of the beach crossing and the ground is rough and root-crossed in the woods. Start and finish at the pay and display car park on Flamborough Road, grid reference TA215694.

A there-and-back along the south side of the headland, out of the upper car park at South Landing, down past the lifeboat house and then west on the clifftop path above Beacon Hill and Ragstone Hole to the shingle at the mouth of Danes Dyke. The whole route is council countryside land where the only rule is close control and clearing up, so a dog can be loose the entire way, and neither beach at either end is named in the dog exclusion order. The path runs on unfenced grass close to a chalk edge in several places and there are steps at both ends. Come back the same way or climb the ravine at Danes Dyke to the car park on Flamborough Road and walk the lane. Toilets at both ends, charged parking at both ends, and a kiosk at Danes Dyke in season.

The full round of the headland, out of the North Landing car park at the end of North Marine Road, east along the clifftop past Breil Nook and Cattlemere Hole to the fog signal station and the lighthouse, then south-west above High Stacks, Old Fall and Beacon Hill to the ravine at South Landing. The way back is inland up South Sea Road to the Dog and Duck square in the village, then out along North Marine Road to the car park, which is the only real stretch of tarmac. The council reserve leaflet for the Flamborough Outer Headland gives the dog rule as keep your dog under close control, do not disturb wildlife, livestock or other visitors, and clean up after your dog, so no lead is required on the council land. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust section between Thornwick and Breil Nook is different and does require a lead. The cliff edge is unfenced grass for most of the seaward leg, there are steep steps at South Landing, and the drop is four hundred feet in places.

A short, spectacular round from the Thornwick Bay car park, east along the cliff edge above Little Thornwick and the natural arch, past the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust ledges where the puffins and kittiwakes nest, and down into the deep sandy cove at North Landing. The return is inland along the lane and North Marine Road, which is the only tarmac on the route. Neither cove is named in the council dog exclusion order, so the sand at both ends is open to dogs every day of the year, but the clifftop between them is Trust land where a lead is required. The Trust warns the path is hilly and steep in places with steps, and the drop is unfenced. Charged parking, a cliff-edge cafe and seasonal toilets at Thornwick; charged parking, cafe, shop and toilets at North Landing.