Red Squirrels at Whinlatter Forest: England's Only Mountain Forest

20 March 2026

Why Whinlatter?

Whinlatter is a mixed conifer and broadleaf forest on the fellside above Braithwaite, planted from the 1920s and now managed by Forestry England. The red squirrel population is maintained by active grey squirrel control across the forest and the wider north-western fells landscape. Without this control the reds would have been displaced within years.

The visitor centre (CA12 5TW) has live CCTV feeds from feeder areas in the forest. These give close-up, reliable views of red squirrels without the uncertainty of looking for them in the trees. For families or for a first sighting, the cameras are a near-guarantee. The outdoor feeders near the visitor centre are visible from the terrace and usually have squirrels in the morning.

The red squirrel trail

Forestry England has marked a red squirrel trail through Whinlatter with interpretation boards explaining the conservation work and the species. The trail passes through the best squirrel habitat — mature Norway spruce and Sitka spruce where cone seeds are the primary food source.

Morning is the most productive time. The squirrels are active from first light through to late morning, caching food and feeding at the feeders. In autumn they are particularly visible as they work intensively to gather food before winter. A 90-minute circuit of the red squirrel trail in the first two hours after dawn in October gives an excellent chance of multiple squirrel sightings.

Beyond the squirrels

Whinlatter also holds crossbills in irruption years, siskins and redpolls in the birch and alder at the forest edge, coal tits throughout the conifers, and occasional goshawk over the forest canopy. The fell above the forest — Grisedale Pike and the Coledale round — is one of the best hill walks in the north-western Lake District. Combining a morning squirrel walk in the forest with an afternoon on the Coledale fells is a full day's wildlife and walking.