Beast Cliff  Beast Cliff is a steep sea cliff situated about halfway between Whitby and Scarborough on the coast of North Yorkshire in northeastern England. Beast Cliff is at the southern end of a coastal region designated as a Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest. Bordering the eastern edge of the North York Moors national park, the Cleveland Way runs at the head of the cliffs. In terms of its position on the Ordnance Survey National Grid system of geographical mapping, Beast Cliff is mostly in the one-kilometre grid square but at its northern end it extends into OV0000. That point is the only area of land in the entire 100-kilometre national grid square of , adjoining , and . Beast Cliff is formed from rocks of Jurassic sandstone and shale and is highly vegetated with a wide variety of flora. Scrub and woodland grow on a moderately sloping intermediate plateau part way down the main cliff. This plateau separates lower and upper steeper cliffs. The undercliff is some high and it consists of two steep slopes with a near-vertical face in between which varies in height around about . The upper cliff slopes at about 45°. The total height of the cliff is about . The cliffs are geologically unstable and frequent landslides intrude upon the woodland, which is therefore constantly renewed with young trees. Mosses and ferns cover sandstone boulders. The woodland is flourishing with juvenile ash and birch growing through a lush understorey, and with alder and willow near pools of water. The Cleveland Way long distance footpath follows along at the head of the cliffs. At one time animals were lowered on ropes to the intermediate plateau for grazing. The whole stretch of coast between Maw Wyke and Beast Cliff around Robin Hood's Bay is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest with an area of . Beast Cliff itself, at the southern end of this area, is regarded as nationally important for its coastal and woodland vegetation. Part of the area is also designated as a Special Area of Conservation, "Beast Cliff–Whitby (Robin Hood's Bay)". The Natura 2000 improvement plan for the site involves extending its boundaries to allow geomorphological processes to take place undisturbed; preventing inappropriate drainage and coastal defences; and permitting appropriate grazing. On 10 February 1923 the Grimsby steam trawler FV "Premier" went ashore and the lifeboat from Robin Hood's Bay rescued all nine crew. Later the fishing vessel broke up in heavy seas at the foot of Beast Cliff.