Seeing a red squirrel in the wild is a magical and increasingly rare experience in the UK—but there are still a few special places where they thrive. Here’s a roundup of the best places to see red squirrels in the UK, where your chances are high and the setting is beautiful.
🐿️ Top Places to See Red Squirrels in the UK
🌲 1. Formby, Merseyside (North West England)
Managed by: National Trust
Best spot: Victoria Road woodlands
- One of the most famous red squirrel sites in England
- Easy circular walks through pinewoods where squirrels are often spotted
- Go early or late for the best chance—listen for rustling in the trees!
🏝️ 2. Isle of Wight (Southern England)
Hotspots: Borthwood Copse, Alverstone Mead, and Parkhurst Forest
- No grey squirrels on the island = red squirrel paradise
- One of the most reliable places in southern England to see them
- Bike and walking trails pass through their woodland habitats
🌳 3. Kielder Forest, Northumberland (North East England)
Why here?
- One of the largest strongholds of red squirrels in England
- Look for the Red Squirrel Trail and visit the Kielder Castle Visitor Centre
- Dense woodland and remote location = fewer people, more wildlife
🏞️ 4. The Lake District (Cumbria)
Best areas: Whinlatter Forest, Aira Force, and Grizedale Forest
- Red squirrels still hang on in pockets of this beautiful national park
- Whinlatter Forest has feeders and interpretation boards to help you spot them
🔗 Forestry England – Whinlatter Forest
🐾 5. Brownsea Island, Dorset
Managed by: National Trust
- Accessible only by boat (from Poole)
- No grey squirrels = perfect habitat for reds
- You can often spot them scurrying around near the visitor centre or in the woods
🔗 National Trust – Brownsea Island
🏔️ 6. Scotland – The Highlands, Cairngorms & Isle of Arran
- Scotland is home to around 75% of the UK’s red squirrel population
- Best areas: Abernethy Forest, Loch Garten, Glen Affric, Rothiemurchus, and parts of the Cairngorms National Park
- Often seen on feeders or dashing between Scots pines
- The Isle of Arran is also red-squirrel-only territory
🔗 Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels
🔍 Tips for Spotting Red Squirrels
- 🕓 Best time: Early morning or late afternoon
- 🍂 Best season: Autumn (they’re busy gathering food), but visible year-round
- 👂 Listen for rustling in the canopy or the crack of nuts
- 📷 Bring binoculars or a zoom camera—they’re quick and tree-loving!
❤️ Bonus: How to Help
Red squirrels are under threat mainly due to competition and disease from non-native grey squirrels. You can help by:
- Supporting organisations like the Wildlife Trusts or Red Squirrel Trusts
- Reporting sightings on local conservation websites
- Visiting reserves that protect and monitor red squirrel populations