red squirrel in the lake district

Wildlife Watching in the Lake District

9 November 2022 Local area

The Lake District is a fantastic place to enjoy a wildlife watching holiday in the UK. A range of terrain and low population make the Lakes a perfect home for many rare species of wildlife.

We are very lucky to be situated in beautiful Windermere, where a range of stunning wildlife can be found. From squirrels to deer and birds, you’re in with a good chance of spotting something rare and beautiful when wildlife watching in the Lake District.

Here we explore some of the species you can expect to see when exploring the Lake District National Park. We also share some of the best wildlife activities and experiences in The Lakes.

Rare species that can be found in the Lake District

red squirrel

Red squirrel

Red Squirrels are one of the most iconic species in the Lake District National Park. Exclusive to the UK, Red Squirrel numbers have been decreasing since Grey Squirrels become more popular. Grey Squirrels carry squirrelpox which is deadly to Red Squirrels. It is estimated that 2.5 million Grey Squirrels exist in the UK, compared to  just 160,000 Red Squirrels.

The Lake District is home to the largest population of Red Squirrels in the UK – however don’t be fooled into thinking they are an easy find! You’re most likely to encounter a sighting on foot in mixed or broadleaf woodlands, which is where Red Squirrels like to live.

Dodd Wood, Ennerdale Woodlands and Whinlatter Forest have the largest populations in the Lake District.

otter

Otter

These semi-aquatic mammals can sometimes be seen playing playing on river banks in the Lake District. Despite their cute and lovable appearance, they are regarded as Britain’s top predator and are skilled at hunting on land and underwater. They are powerful animals who normally avoid humans, so we would advise viewing them from a distance if you are lucky enough to spot one! Their diets mainly consist of birds, small mammals and frogs.

Popular locations to find Otters are Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater, however they have also been sighted in many other lakes in the local area. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for five-toed footprints on river banks!

red deer

Red and Roe deer

Red Deer are the UK’s largest land mammal – growing up to 137cm tall and weighing around 190kg when they reach full size! Although Scotland is synonymous with Red and Roe Deer, they can often be found south of the border in the Lake District. Red Deer are larger than Roe Deer, who after becoming extinct in the 18th century, have had a resurgence in numbers since the extinction of their natural predators.

The autumn is their breeding season, making it an ideal time to visit the Lake District and try and spot one (or two!).

The best places to find Red and Roe Deer are Haweswater RSPB Reserve, Ennerdale Valley and Borrowdale Valley according to past sightings!

peregrine falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrines are the largest species of Falcon in the UK and are one of the fastest animals in the world! Although Cheetah’s are thought to be faster, Peregrines can reach up to 200mph in the skies. For this reason, spotting Peregrine Falcons can be tricky, but it is possible with good binoculars and patience!

Peregrines are normally a dark grey colour, and feed on other birds like ducks and pigeons which they catch mid-air!

The most popular place they have been seen flying is over Borrowdale Valley, however they nest at Falcon Crag, which is definitely worth a visit!

osprey wildlife watching lake district

Osprey

Ospreys are large, rare birds that can have a wingspan of five feet! They hadn’t been spotted in the Lake District since the 1930s until 2001, when two Ospreys settled in Bassenthwaite.

Today, numbers have grown steadily, so you are in with a chance of spotting one by Bassenthwaite, where they still nest.

Look out for their iconic white heads with brown markings above lakes, where they may be preparing to dive into the water to catch their dinner!

kestrel wildlife

Other birds

The Lake District is a haven for birders, with many native and migrating species spotted throughout the year. Kestrels and Buzzards are often seen hovering in search of food. You may also find woodpeckers, cuckoos, kingfishers and finches in the local area.

For the best chance of spotting birds during a wildlife holiday in The Lakes, we recommend heading to a nature reserve such as RSPB Haweswater. Here you can enjoy spectacular scenery and make use of observation points and hides.

badger wildlife watching in the lake district

Other mammals

You’re also likely to come across badgers, mice, voles, shrews, rabbits and foxes in the Lake District National Park, particularly if you’re walking at dawn or dusk. They can be quite wary of noise and people, so we recommend watching with binoculars from afar. Never encroach on a wild animal – give them plenty of space to forage without human disruption.


Wildlife activities and experiences in the Lake District

If you’d like to join an organised tour during your wildlife watching holiday there are plenty of options to choose from. Participating in a guided activity session is a great way to meet like minded people and discover the Lake District’s hidden gems. An experienced guide will have the benefit of local knowledge and will take you to secret spots off the beaten track. This will increase your chance of spotting something rare and will give you the opportunity to learn interesting facts from an experienced professional!

Below are our top picks of local companies who offer a range of guided wildlife tours in the Lake District.

John Temple’s Cumbria

John Temple offers a range of wildlife tours from his base in between Crummock Water and Bassenthwaite. The full and half day experiences include fell walking, bird watching and farming. During the session John will take you in search of birds and native mammals in marshes or coastal habitats. He’ll share his wealth of knowledge and passion for the great outdoors.

Visit Lake District Wildlife Walks to find out more 

Nature’s Gems

Nature’s Gems provide wildlife watching experiences in the Lake District National Park. They specialise in tours for small groups and can tailor the session around the needs of your group. If you book a bespoke tour, the guide will do their upmost to help you find any species of interest. The full day guided tour is excellent value and includes a home made vegetarian lunch!

Visit Nature’s Gem Tours to find out more

Osprey Safari

No trip to the Lake District is complete without spending some time on the water, so, why not join an Osprey Safari and enjoy bird watching from a boat! This unique Lakeland activity takes place on Esthwaite water and offers the chance to sea the resident ospreys when in season (April – September). There are 3 nests in the immediate vicinity, so there’s an abundance of birds each year. If you’re lucky you may even see one of the magnificent raptors swoop down to catch brown trout. There are self-drive and guided options available.

Visit Osprey Safari to find out more

Predator Experience

We think you’ll love the Wolf and Fox encounter at Predator Experience. During the amazing experience you’ll have the opportunity to meet wolf hybrid, Masks and Red Foxes, Fynn and Todd. The experience includes a meet and greet, open interaction and informational talk throughout. Enter the enclosure and learn for yourself how wolves and foxes differ in nature. You’ll closely monitor the predators and discover how they differ in hunting prey and rearing their young. The Predator Experience also offer other experiences, such as ‘Walking with Wolves’ and ‘Puppy Socialisation’, which are also not to miss!

Visit Predator Experience to find out more

Beyonk

‘Beyonk’ offer two brilliant wildlife activities  in the Lake District.

Night-Time Wildlife Adventure is an after dark experience where you’ll search for nocturnal creatures in the forest. Reserve Officer, Peter Jones and Woodland Warden, Tony Saunders will get you set up under canvas on the edge of the woods in Grange-over-Sands. Here, you’ll use night vision equipment to try and spot badgers playing and foraging in their sett. The Night-Time Wildlife Adventure wouldn’t be complete without spotting the dark’s most iconic creature – the bat. You’ll use a bat detector to hear the sound of bat calls, which are normally too high-pitched for the human ear. You may also see deer and foxes.

This experience is geared towards adults and older children. Due to low light and potentially tricky terrain, the Night-Time Wildlife Adventure is most suitable for agile walkers. You can expect this adventure to take around 3.5 hours.

Visit Cumbria Wildlife Trust to find out more

The Secret Side of Foulshaw Moss is your opportunity to experience a different perspective of Foulshaw Nature Reserve. This area is not open to the general public. If you are a keen walker, you’ll love the VIP access to this beautiful nature reserve. After a brisk walk through Ulpha Wood, you’ll continue to the southern edge of the Moss, where you’ll stop to enjoy the view of Whitbarrow Scar and use this break to enjoy a tea-time picnic and hot or cold drink. Then as you pick back up, the wildlife spotting begins! You’ll set up camp within a purpose built hide – in the winter you might see wildfowl and wading birds, otters in the water and red deer darting through the woods. This experience takes around 2.5 hours and is geared towards strong walkers.

Visit Cumbria Wildlife Trust to find out more

Wild Intrigue

Taking place at RSPB Haweswater, you’ll partake in wildlife spotting in the beautiful purpose-built nature hide. Here, you can hope to catch a glimpse of the notorious Red Squirrel and maybe even a Great Spotted Woodpecker! The hide features two-way mirror windows, photography ports and gimbal heads to give you the best chance of spotting some of the Lake District’s incredible wildlife. Also, the hide’s luxury seats and complimentary refreshments will make the experience even more comfortable!

Visit Wild Intrigue to find out more

hellevyn walk


Wildlife holiday in the Lake District

Park Cliffe is the perfect base from which to enjoy a wildlife watching holiday in the Lake District. Our award winning holiday park offers panoramic views and easy access to a range of habits that are ideal for wildlife watching. We are extremely respectful of local wildlife and have implemented a number of initiatives to help local conservation efforts. Our environmental promise received praise from the late TV botanist, David Bellamy and helped us win numerous awards.

Self-catering accommodation

There are many ways to stay at Park Cliffe. Bring your tent and get closer to nature, pitch your motorhome on one of our fully serviced pitches or book one of our fantastic self-catering options. Choose between our sheep-wool insulated camping pods, well-equipped static caravans, hand crafted Shepherd’s Hut or our self-catering cottage. As guests at Park Cliffe you’ll have access to our excellent facilities, including our bar and breakfast restaurant, shop, modern shower block and more.

The Lake District is regarded of one of the best places to visit in the UK, and we’re certain that you’ll love it so much you’ll want to return year on year! If that is the case, why not chat to us about holiday home ownership?