A Guide to Spotting Lake District Wildlife
One of the UK's most popular visitor destinations and England’s largest national park, the Lake District boasts the country's greatest concentration of inland waters. With 16 lakes, 26 miles of coastline and almost 30,000 hectares of unspoilt woodland, this extraordinarily beautiful part of the world inspired Beatrix Potter, Wordsworth and many other romantic poets and artists.
Famed for its steep hillsides and narrow, ribbon lakes, the Picturesque Movement recognised the Lake District’s lure during the 18th Century. Grand villas and gardens were added to enhance its natural beauty.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Lake District hosts the world’s largest and deepest lakes, Windermere and Wastwater. Home to an array of wildlife, including the native Herdwick sheep, otters, birds of prey and red squirrels, the Lake District is a haven for wildlife spotting.
Situated in the heart of Bowness of Windermere, the Ro Hotel offers the perfect base for nature watching. Grab your binoculars, dig out a camera and get ready to go on a nature safari with our guide to spotting Lake District wildlife.
Lake District Wildlife
With its rugged sloping hills and mountains to dense woodlands and acres of open countryside, the Lake District is home to a diverse selection of wildlife. Some easy to spot, some far less so, take a look at the wildlife you might be lucky enough to find in this wild national park.
Red Squirrels
Red squirrels are native to the UK but the introduction of grey squirrels in the Victorian era seriously depleted their population. These super cute but sadly endangered creatures can still be found in the Lake District.
Good places to spot red squirrels include Whinlatter Forest, where there are squirrel feeders, Borrowdale Valley and Aira Force, Ullswater, where a special red squirrel trail has been installed. Remember to look up when squirrel spotting as squirrels are known for their spectacular aerial antics.
Roe Deer
These pretty, medium-sized deer are the UK’s most common native species. Preferring the sanctuary of woodland, roe deer sometimes venture out into more open countryside.
These reddish-brown coloured deer are most active at dawn and dusk, you’ll need to be patient and quiet to see them but we promise it will be worth the wait.
Look out for roe deer at Ennerdale and Wescoe and Burns Wood, Threlkeld.
Red Deer
The largest land mammal in the UK, red deer are a spectacular sight. Standing up to 137cm tall, a stag’s antlers can reach a metre in width.
Red deer are much larger than roe deer and similarly prefer the safety and shelter of woodland to open spaces.
Head to the deer reserve at Martindale, Dalemain Estate to spot red deer. Home to the oldest, pure-breed population of red deer in the UK, this offers you a good chance of seeing these magnificent creatures. You can also spot red deer at Ennerdale, Grizedale and Haweswater RSPB Reserve.
Birds of Prey
From kestrels and osprey to peregrine falcons, red kites and even the spectacular golden eagle, a range of birds of prey can be spotted flying over the Lake District.
Head to Haweswater RSPB Reserve for a chance of spotting the elusive golden eagle. Once in serious decline, there are now over 500 breeding pairs in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England.
Migratory ospreys can be found around Bassenthwaite between April and August. Head to Grizedale, the home of Cumbria’s red kite population to admire these impressive birds. To view more Lake District wildlife, look out for peregrine falcons at Borrowdale Valley and Falcon Crag.
Other birdlife
Lake Windermere boasts the largest population of birds in the Lake District during the winter months and is home to thousands of birds throughout the year.
From Canada geese, swans and ducks to overwintering tufted ducks and great crested grebes, this is the Lake to flock to for birdspotting.
You can also spot a variety of birds in the woodlands and open countryside. Look out for pied flycatchers, woodpeckers
Otters
With their aerodynamic water skills and speedy land movements, otters aren’t easy to find. However, otter sightings are growing so you might be lucky enough to see one during your stay in the Lakes. To be in with a chance of spotting an otter, head to Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater.
Otters are nocturnal so your best chance of seeing one is at dawn or dusk when they head out to feed. Look out for the telltale paw prints and droppings along the water's edge.
Aquatic life
Many of the lakes are stocked with brown trout, Atlantic salmon, pike and sea trout. You might also spot eels, bream, carp and chub.
Flowers
The lakes aren’t just teeming with animal life, in summer the meadows, woodlands and verges are filled with native flowers. In spring and early summer search for bluebells, daffodils, marsh marigolds, yellow mantle, lady’s mantles, wood anemones and wood cranesbill.
In mid-summer, you might find wild orchids, ragged robins, daisies, milkwort and wild thyme.
What do I need to spot Lake District Wildlife?
All wildlife is best observed from a distance so a pair of good binoculars is essential in your nature safari kit. Most animals are easily spooked so wearing neutral colours that blend into the landscape is a good idea. Take a phone or camera to capture images of the wildlife you find and a notebook to write down what you saw and where you found it.
The best time to see wildlife like deer and otters is dawn and dusk. Remember to keep your distance from wildlife, particularly deer who are easily startled.