Wildlife in Borrowdale and Derwent Water

Winter view of snow capped mountains in Upper Borrowdale, Cumbria — Winter view towards Honister Pass, Cumbria | © National Trust Images/John Malley

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.

The Atlantic oakwoods of Borrowdale

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).

Winter wildlife in Borrowdale

Owls have their breeding season when snow is still falling. If you go for a walk in Great Wood around February half term, you can hear tawny owls hooting to each other in their quest to find a mate; the female calls ‘tu-wit’ and the male replies ‘tu-woo’.

While there is fresh snow on the ground, look out for the tracks of wild red deer, rabbits and even otters.

Remember to keep your ears open as well as your eyes and enjoy the soundtrack of winter in the mountains with the song of the raven which is much deeper and more musical than the crow.

A close up of a red squirrel climbing a tree on Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset — Look out for red squirrels in spring | © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey

The best places to spot red squirrels in Borrowdale

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.

Cockshot Wood and Castle Head wood: Follow waymarked trails from opposite the boat jetties through these lovely oak woods right on the edge of Keswick (satnav CA12 5DG)Park at Lakeside car park
Great Wood: Follow waymarked woodland trail from the National Trust car park at Great Wood, with glimpses of Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite through the trees. (satnav CA12 5UP)Park at Great Wood car park
Moss Mire: Follow the path marked to Watendlath from the National Trust car park at Surprise View as it meanders through the little wood above the crags (satnav CA12 5UU)Park at Surprise View car park
Bowder Stone wood: Follow the accessible track from the National Trust car park for ¼ mile through the trees to the Bowder Stone (satnav CA12 5XA)Park at Bowder Stone wood car park
Castle Crag wood: Follow the Cumbria Way beside the river and into the woods that flank Castle Crag's steep sides from the National Trust car park at Rosthwaite (satnav CA12 5XB)Park at Rosthwaite car park
Johnny Wood: If you're feeling up for an adventure take the loop along the river from the National Trust car park at Seatoller, which includes a chain to help you over a rocky scramble above the water, then climb steeply up through the woodland looking out for ferns in the crooks of the trees and return on the gradual descent through the wood (satnav CA12 5XN)Park at Seatoller car park

A Roe deer partly hidden by foliage, looking directly at the camera — Roe deer in woodland undergrowth, Borrowdale and Derwent Water | © National Trust Images / John Malley

Borrowdale wildlife in the woodlands

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:

Red and roe deer are present throughout the forest
Bird species include peregrine falcon, sparrowhawk, buzzard, barn owl, tawny owl, little owl, pied flycatcher and redstart, greater spotted woodpecker and dipper
Otters often visit our woodland streams and gullies
We retain as much dead wood as we can, both fallen and standing. 80 per cent of British beetle species make their home in dead wood
If you're lucky you can spot glow worms in the valley close to Watendlath

Water wildlife in Derwent Water

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).

Wetland wildlife surrounding Derwent Water

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.