Discover more at Borrowdale and Derwent Water
Find out how to get to Borrowdale and Derwent Water, where to park, the things to see and do and more.
The ancient ‘Atlantic oakwoods’ in Borrowdale and Derwent Water are both protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Find out which rare plants and animals you can expect to see during your visit, including the best places to spot native red squirrels.
Borrowdale is one of the most wooded valleys in the Lake District, and when it comes to native tree species, we care for around 500 hectares of protected Atlantic oakwood. The woodlands come to life in the summer months, with layers of lush greenery providing a rich habitat for wildlife. Mosses, ferns, and incredibly rare 'old growth' lichens thrive in the valley’s temperate rainforest.
Roe deer and the larger wild red deer are often found in the woodlands around Borrowdale. Red squirrels can be spotted in the valley, and if you’re very lucky, you may see an otter, but please keep your distance as we try to encourage population growth.
During the summer, the striking pied flycatcher takes up residence in the forest, and soaring above you, you might hear buzzards and peregrine falcons. Greater spotted woodpecker and green woodpecker can be found in the trees around Ashness and the Surprise View area, and if you are lucky, you might see a barn owl or tawny owl or hear their distinctive call.
Cockshot Wood is a great spot to stand still and listen to the birds and trees, and halfway up the track to the Bowder Stone is also a favourite spot for our rangers to stop and listen to the river and birds or look up to see peregrines.
Get in amongst this ancient landscape by following the moderate waymarked walk from the Great Wood car park.
The woodlands that cloak the surrounding fells are dominated by oak: these 'Atlantic oakwoods' are the last surviving fragments of an enormous ancient forest that once stretched from western Scotland all the way down the west coast of Britain and Wales.
They receive an incredible 11 feet (3.5m) of rainfall per year and therefore they qualify as temperate rainforest. Look up as you walk and in the crooks of the branches you may see ferns growing – another indicator of rainforest status. As of 22 May 2024, 721 hectares of the Borrowdale rainforest has been declared a new National Nature Reserve as part of the King series. To find out more, click here.
The woods in this valley are one of the most important habitats in Europe for mosses and liverworts (bryophytes), and lichens – especially 'old forest species'. As a result of their rarity and diversity, all of the Borrowdale rainforest is protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Red squirrels have inhabited Cumbria for the past 6,000 years. Today, their grey cousins are pushing them close to extinction, but there is a population in the valley that we are fighting hard to protect.
The best time to come for a walk in Borrowdale's woods and see squirrels is in spring or early summer before the leaf canopy hides them from view, or during and after the October half term once the leaves have started to drop.
If you go for a quiet walk in the valley, especially around dusk or dawn, you could be rewarded with a glimpse of some of Britain's rarest wildlife:
Derwent Water is an exceptionally important area for wildlife. It has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it is a clean, naturally nutrient-poor lake with excellent vegetation. The lake supports the healthiest remaining population of Britain’s rarest freshwater fish, the vendace (the only other natural population in Britain is just downstream in Bassenthwaite Lake).
The surrounding wetlands are important for breeding birds – most days you should be able to catch a glimpse of common sandpiper or Snipe, in amongst a beautiful variety of plants such as bog asphodel and cotton grass. The sheltered bays are valuable for wintering wildfowl and if you're very lucky, you might see an otter.
Find out how to get to Borrowdale and Derwent Water, where to park, the things to see and do and more.
From conservation projects and protecting archaeological features to improving the experience of visitors or laying hedgerows, our work at this special place is rich and varied.
Take in the views from Friar’s Crag and visit historic sculptures on a lakeside walk around Derwent Water or set off from Keswick to explore the surrounding woodlands and fells.
There are nine National Trust car parks in Borrowdale and Derwent Water to choose from. Find out how to find them and how much parking costs.
Derwent Island and House are open to visitors five days a year. Find out all your need to know about the visit and how to get the most out of your day.
Find out how to spot red squirrels, the best times to see them and how to tell them apart from grey squirrels.
Find out more about the work we are doing to look after the Borrowdale Temperate Rainforest and why it has been declared a new National Nature Reserve.