Where Can You See Red Squirrels in the UK? Best Places

Why red squirrels are hard to find

Red squirrels once lived in woods across the whole of Britain. Since gray squirrels were introduced from North America in the late 1800s, reds have disappeared from most of England and Wales. They now survive mainly in Scotland, in a few northern English forests and on islands that gray squirrels never reached or from which they were removed. The reasons are explained in why are red squirrels declining?

That means visiting the right place is the most important step. Within those areas, red squirrels can be quite easy to see.

Scotland: the main stronghold

Scotland holds most of Britain’s red squirrels, and they are still widespread in the Highlands, where there are few or no gray squirrels.

• Cairngorms National Park. The old Caledonian pine forests of Rothiemurchus, Glenmore and Abernethy, around Aviemore and Loch Garten, are among the best places in Britain. Look along forest trails, near visitor centers and in mature Scots pines.
• Highland Perthshire. Woodlands around Dunkeld, including the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes reserve, are well known for red squirrels.
• Dumfries and Galloway. Galloway Forest Park and its visitor centers, plus woods around Kirkcudbright and Castle Douglas, form a large stronghold in southern Scotland.
• The Isle of Arran and the Black Isle. Arran has red squirrels but no grays, and the woodlands of the Black Isle near Inverness also hold good numbers.

Northern England

In England, red squirrels survive mainly in the north, especially in large conifer forests.

• Kielder Water and Forest Park, Northumberland. England’s largest forest is one of the country’s most important red squirrel refuges.
• Wallington, Northumberland. The National Trust estate is a popular place to watch them from a hide.
• The Lake District, Cumbria. Forests such as Whinlatter, near Keswick, have red squirrels, although grays have spread into parts of the county.
• Snaizeholme, Yorkshire Dales. A red squirrel trail near Hawes runs through a conifer plantation known for them.
• Formby, Merseyside. The National Trust’s pinewoods on the coast north of Liverpool are home to a famous red squirrel population that recovered after a squirrelpox outbreak in 2007–2008.

Wales

Anglesey has the largest red squirrel population in Wales. A program to remove gray squirrels from the island began in 1998, red squirrels were reintroduced to Newborough Forest, and the population has grown and spread across the island since. Smaller populations survive in Clocaenog Forest in north Wales and in mid Wales.

Southern England: islands only

On the mainland of southern England, red squirrels are gone. Two island refuges remain:

• Brownsea Island, Dorset. This National Trust island in Poole Harbour has around 200 red squirrels and no grays. It is reached by boat from Poole and Sandbanks, usually in the main visitor season from spring to autumn.
• The Isle of Wight. The island has a few thousand red squirrels and no established gray squirrels. Woods and nature reserves such as Alverstone Mead, Borthwood Copse and Parkhurst Forest are good places to look.

When to look

Red squirrels are active by day. They are usually busiest from soon after sunrise to mid-morning, with another active spell in the afternoon. Calm, dry mornings are best, as squirrels stay in their nests during heavy rain and strong winds.

How to spot one

• Look up and listen. Watch for movement high in conifers and listen for a scratching sound on bark, falling cone scales or a sharp “chuk-chuk” alarm call.
• Check feeding signs. Chewed pine or spruce cones stripped to the core, and hazelnut shells split cleanly in half, show squirrels feed nearby.
• Stay still and quiet. Sitting near a feeding area or using a hide often works better than walking.
• Know your squirrel. Red squirrels are smaller than grays, with ear tufts for much of the year, but color alone can mislead; see red squirrel vs gray squirrel.

Watching responsibly

Keep a respectful distance, stay on paths and keep dogs on a lead in red squirrel woods. Drive slowly on forest roads, because many red squirrels are killed by traffic. Red squirrels are legally protected, so never disturb a drey. In many areas, local red squirrel groups welcome reports of both red and gray squirrel sightings, which help them track the animals. To learn more about the species itself, visit the red squirrel profile.