Where Can I See Red Squirrels?

Dumfries and Galloway

1. Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate

Surrounded by the 90,000 acre Queensberry Estate and grand Victorian Gardens, Drumlanrig Castle is one of the principal visitor attractions in South Scotland.  Walking through the Estate offers the opportunity to see the elusive red squirrel in this perfect habitat. 

1. Dalbeattie Forest

Dalbeattie Forest is the site of the first red squirrel trail in south Scotland.  This large forest offers excellent walking and mountain biking (7 Stanes) opportunities and is home to lots of red squirrels.

1. Balloch Wood, Creetown

A beautiful community woodland located within walking distance from the village of Creetown.  This woodland is famous with locals as a red squirrel hot spot!
 

Eskrigg Nature Reserve, Lockerbie

This beautiful woodland reserve is a real red squirrel hotspot.  Watch red squirrels in their natural environment and enjoy the rich array of habitats and wildlife.
 

1. Kirkwood Cottages and Fishing

Kirkwood is an idyllic farm in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway.  A holiday at Kirkwood Cottages is a wildlife delight with the extensive woodlands providing a home for many red squirrels and other creatures great and small.

1. Galloway Forest Park

Galloway Forest is a Red Squirrel Priority Woodland and a sanctuary for red squirrels and many other native friends.  Affectionately known as 'the highlands of the lowlands'; the wild beauty of Britain's largest forest park at three hundred square miles is waiting to be explored.  

1. Mabie Forest

Mabie Forest is located near Dumfries and New Abbey and the varied woodlands are home to many red squirrels.  The forest offers extensive walks for all abilities, plenty of beautiful picnic spots as well as play facilities for children.

Riverside Mill Lockerbie
Experience the spectacular sights and sounds of the River Annan cascading through the grounds of the Riverside Mill B and B.  The Riverside Mill offers the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind and spend your time watching the abundant wildlife including of course their regular red squirrel visitors!

 

Scottish Borders

1. Hyndlee Forest Red Squirrel Walk

Hyndlee Forest is one of 24 red squirrel priority woodlands in southern Scotland. The forest is located two miles south of Bonchester Bridge on theB6357. The red squirrel walk provides a great opportunity to see these charismatic animals and to search the forest floor for “squirreled cones.”

1. Craik Forest Viewing hide and red squirrel walk

Craik Forest is another of the Border’s red squirrel priority woodlands and well signposted from the nearest town, Hawick. Craik boasts an excellent viewing hide within a few minutes walk of the car park. A large wooden red squirrel sculpture also marks the route of one of the forests walks.

1. Paxton House, Berwickshire

Paxton House near Eyemouth in Berwickshire has for many years been one of the best places to see red squirrels in the Borders, thanks largely to the estate’s proactive approach to red squirrel conservation. The viewing hide is a must and the woodland walk is a great opportunity to count dreys and squirrel feeding signs.

1. Press Mains Holiday Cottages, Coldingham, Eyemouth

Each cottage has a television with live feed to squirrel feeders, badger sets, buzzard nests and many other amazing wildlife attractions. Press Mains is situated only a few minutes walk from Grange Wood, probably the best place in berwickshire to see red squirrels whilst strolling amongst the trees.

1. Floors Castle, Kelso

There are many reasons to visit Floors Castle, ancestral home of the Duke of Roxburgh and red squirrels are definitely one of them.

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   Toorwoodlee Estate, Galashiels

Torwoodlee is a beautiful private estate home to the Pringle family for over 500 years. The estate offers a tailored wildlife experience for small groups.

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   Cardrona Forest, nr Peebles

Cardrona forest covers rolling hills and beautiful valley bottoms with many walks and cycle paths. Red squirrel sightings are frequent. The nearby Kailzie forest osprey centre is also well worth a visit as are the internationally renowned mountain bike trails.