Where to Photograph Red Squirrels

We are attempting to list all places where photographers can photograph squirrels within the UK. This is the start of a list that will both grow over time and hopefully we will be able to add more columns or information.

When going on a Squirrel Photographic Trip take the following into consideration:

• The typical Red Squirrel habitat is coniferous woodland.
• The Reds are smaller and lighter than the Grey Squirrel so they can reach the cones on the tips of the branches more easily. Look for them on the branches of conifers in coniferous woodlands.
• Red Squirrels like to eat seeds, berries, nuts and fruit. Watch for them feeding on the forest floor as well as scrambling up tree trunks. Red Squirrels spend approximately three-quarters of their active day above the ground in trees and shrubs.
• Timing your visit is crucial. During the autumn and winter the Red Squirrels are up early and often disappear at 11am for a siesta.
• Some reserves have feeding areas which are attractive to Red Squirrels e.g. Loch Garten, Formby. This means that you're almost guaranteed a Squirrel watching experience.
• Never disturb a Red Squirrel. These animals must not be intentionally trapped or kept, or have their dreys disturbed except under licence, by law.

Where the names in the first column is hyperlinked this links to a Location page with more information on this site and over time more of these will be added, we will be delighted if some of you would like to also produce location pages.
FC. = Forestry Commission

Squirrel Location	Near	County	NGR	Website Link	Notes
Brownsea Island	Poole Harbour	Dorset	SZ028878	Wildlife Trust Site National Trust
Formby Point	Formby	Merseyside	SD275080	National Trust
Kielder Forest	Bellingham	Northumberland	NY632934	Kielder Forest Kielder Castle Forest Park Centre	FC. has the biggest population of red squirrels in England, especially at the wildlife hide near Leaplish.
Squirrels Pantry Tea Room	Oakhurst Garden Centre, Lamplugh Road, Cockermouth	Cumbria	NY116296	Squirrels Pantry Tea Room	Red squirrels visit daily to feast on the food that is provided for them, and the garden centre sells Red Squirrel Food.
Ainsdale Reserve	Formby	Merseyside	SD292110	Ainsdale Reserves
Galloway Forest Park	Newton Stewart	Dumfriessshire	NX428855	Forestry Commission Galloway Forest Park
Glen Tanar	Cairngorms	SCT		Glen Tanar
Muirhead Red Squirrel Sanctuary, Dundee	Dundee	Angus		Muirhead Red Squirrel Sanctuary, Dundee
Wallington Hall	Morpeth	Northumberland	NZ030843	National Trust Wallington Hall	has a wildlife hide at which red squirrels are a regular visitor
Sefton Coast		Merseyside		Sefton, Merseyside	Red squirrels are present in woodland and urban areas along the Sefton Coast from Crosby in the south to Southport in the North.
Killhope Lead Mining Museum	Upper Weardale	Northumberland		Killhope Lead Mining Museum	has a red squirrel hide.
Isle of Wight		Hampshire		Wight Squirrels	3,500 on the island living mainly in broadleaved woodland
Thetford Chase		Norfolk	TL813879		in East Anglia
Cannock Chase Forest		Staffordshire		Cannock Chase Forest
Hope Forest		Derbyshire
Whinlatter Forest Park and Visitor Centre	Keswick	Cumbria	NY209245	Whinlatter Forest Park Visitor Centre	FC. Live video cam during Autumn and Winter on Squirrel Feeding station
Miterdale	Egremont	Cumbria	NY146012	Miterdale	Forestry Commission
Giggle Alley	Eskdale Gree	Cumbria	NY141002	Giggle Alley	FC
Bowness Knott	Ennerdale	Cumbria	NY109153	Bowness Knott Car Park	FC
Moor Top	Hawkshead	Cumbria	SD343965	Moor Top Car Park	FC
Bogle Crag	Hawkshead	Cumbria	SD338932	Bogle Crag	FC
Dodd Wood	Keswick	Cumbria	NY240275	Dodd Wood	FC
Ennerdale	Ennderdale	Cumbria	NY109153	Ennerdale	FC
Newborough Forest	Newborough	Anglesey	SH400650	Newborough	FC
Clocaenog	Ruthin	Denbighshire	SJ000530	Clocaenog	FC. Largest population in Wales and now centre of conservation work.
RSBP Loch Garten	Aviemore	Highland	NH978183	RSPB
Daviot Wood	Inverness	Highland	NH710415	Daviot Wood	FC. Common in this wood
Clune Wood	Banchory	Aberdeenshire	NO794954	Clune Wood	FC. Red squirrels are common
Oatyhill Entrance	Laurencekirk	Aberdeenshire	NO700702	Oatyhill Entrance	FC. Can be seen throughout the year.
Tyrebagger Wood	Aberdeen	Aberdeenshire	NJ870040	Tyrebagger Wood	FC. Regularly seen here
Whitehills Car park	Monymusk	Aberdeenshire	NJ657133	Whitehills Car park	FC. Can be seen early morning or at dusk
Bennachie	Inverurie	Aberdeenshire	NJ665225	Bennachie	FC. At dawn or dusk
Culbokie Wood	Culbokie	Highlands		Culbokie Wood	FC
Roseisle	Kinloss	Moray	NJ104656	Roseisle	FC. Active throughout forest when few visitors about
Balfour Wood Entrance	Aboyne	Aberdeenshire	NO546963	Balfour Wood Entrance	FC
Moray Christmas Tree Sales Centre		Moray		Moray Christmas Tree Sales Centre	FC Frequent visitors to this wood
Tarbet and Skipness	Tarbert	Argyllshire	NR880636	Tarbert and Skipness	FC
Upper Deeside Forests	Braemar	Aberdeenshire	NO4199	Upper Deeside Forests	FC. Red Squirrels thrive here
Scolty Woodland Park	Banchory	Aberdeenshire	NO660950	Scolty Woodland Park	FC. Red Squirrels thrive here
Erchite, part of Great Glen Forest	Inverness	Highland	NH390108	Erchite	FC. Squirrel habitat is protected here.
Red Squirrel Car Park	Peebles	Peebleshire	NT285402	Red Squirrel Car Park	FC.
Caberston	Innerleithen		NT334370	Caberston	FC. Can see both Grey and Red Squirrels in these woods. RS feeding stations
Fetteresso	Auchenblae	Aberdeenshire	NO750850	Fetteresso	FC. Thrive here
South Loch Ness Car Park	Dores	Highland	NH550284	South Loch Ness Carpark	FC. The Reds can be seen crossing the road here.
Whinfell Forest	nr Penrith	Cumbria	NY580275	Whinfell Forest-Center Parcs	Has a population of Reds in the woods

This list will continue to grow as we come across new places. REMEMBER if know of somewhere that you feel is a good place please let us know.