Where to See Red Squirrels

This must be the most common question we get, so here are some of our top places to go to see red squirrels.  If you know of any other good places, especially ones which have public footpaths through them, please do tell us and we will share these red squirrel woods with other readers of our website.  Remember to report all your sightings to us.

Northumberland

Cumbria

Merseyside & West Lancashire

Northumberland:

Red squirrels can be seen in all of the nine reserve areas, but some of these do not have good public access so we have highlighted some of the best areas in Northumberland to see red squirrels.

• Kielder Forest has between 60% to 75% of England's red squirrels; but it is not always easy to see them in this vast forest.  You can visit the hide at Leaplish Activity Centre where reds often visit or walk the trails around Kielder Castle to see red squirrels.
• Wallington Hall (National Trust) near Cambo has a lovely hide and boasts the highest density of red squirrels in the county.(Admission charge to the grounds unless a member). 
• Plessey Woods near Bedlington and Queen Elizabeth II Park in Ashington have regular sightings of red squirrels.
• Gosforth Park has the only urban population of red squirrels in England.
• Cragside (National Trust) and other woodlands around Rothbury
• Killhope Lead Mining Museum has a squirrel hide.
• Thrunton Woods and the Ford & Etal area also have regular sightings of red squirrels.
• Slaley Hall and the forests around Slaley.
• Howick Hall Gardens & Aboretum covers about 65 acres and virtually all  has been grown from seed collected in the wild since 1985. There are about 11,000 trees and shrubs.
• Bolam Lake Country Park lakeside, woodlandand & open grassed areas
• Belsay Hall & Gardens formal gardens and wild woodland .

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Cumbria

• Forestry Commission Dodd Wood Keswick
  - Parking at NY235281 (Pay and Display) adjacent to the Old Sawmill Tearoom
  - Take the path uphill along the southern side the stream and follow straight on at all junctions to the Osprey Viewpoint. Red Squirrels are seen on the bird feeders just below the viewing platform
• Forestry Commission Whinlatter Forest Park Keswick
  - Parking at NY208245 (Pay and Display) Visitor Centre and Tearoom
  - Red Squirrel display in the visitor centre with CCTV link to Red Squirrel Feeder
  - Red Squirrels can also be seen within the forest on any of the forest walks
• Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Footpath
  - Parking at either Keswick Spa NY270238 or Threlkeld NY 315247 (roadside verges)
  - Red Squirrel feeders at the Threlkeld end of the footpath but squirrels present in woodland along the length of the footpath
• Greystoke Forest, Penrith
  - Parking at NY403347
  - Various forest walks through the forest
• Lilliput Lane Visitor Centre Penrith
  - Parking at NY509287
  - Centre open Monday to Friday. Squirrel feeder on Dovecote adjacent to shop
• Thortergill Forge & Tearooms Hidden near the village of Garrigill a beautiful waterfall & working forge with red squirrel feeders.
• Lowther Holiday Park Penrith
  - Parking at either NY523284 or NY522243
  - Public footpath to Caravan Park at NY526265. Numerous squirrel feeders on the site
• Askham Village & Lowther Estate, near Penrith
  - Parking near Askham Church NY518238
  - Public footpaths alongside River Lowther
• Squirrels Pantry Tearoom red squirrel feeders and delicious tea and cakes
• National Trust Aira Force Ullswater, NY400200 (Pay and Display) Woodland Walk
  The Beacon, Penrith, NY521310 (On street parking) Woodland Walk
  National Trust Great Wood, Keswick, NY271214 (Pay and Display) Woodland Walk
• National Trust Brandlehow Park Keswick, NY249194 (roadside verges)
• Woodland Walk Thirlmere Reservoir, NY320150 Numerous car parks and Forest Walks on western side of reservoir
• Buttermere, NY175170 Car park in village. Woodland Walk around lake
• Holme Wood, Loweswater, NY133210 Car parking, public footpath to woodland.
• Ennerdale Forest, NY110154, Car parking Woodland Walks. The Forestry Commission, National Trust and United Utilities area working together as the Wild Ennerdale Partnership. 
• Wasdale NY144044 (roadside parking) Woodland walks near to YHA
• Alston Youth Hostel situated in the highest market town in England where you can see red squirrels
  

If you are coming to the area on holiday and would like to stay somewhere that you can see red squirrels you could try these:

• Damson Ghyll guest house, Latterhead, Loweswater, Nr. Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0RR. Tel. 01900 85609. This is a Bed and Breakfast.
• Seat Howe Coach House, Thornthwaite, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5SQ. Telephone Mrs D.W.Bell on 01768 778 371 for more information or a brochure.This is self catering accomodation. 
• Center Parcs, Whinfell forest, Nr Penrith, Cumbria. 

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Merseyside & West Lancashire

The best places to see red squirrels along the Sefton Coast are the National Trust site at Victoria Road Freshfield or the new Save our Squirrels Trail at Lifeboat Road Formby.

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