Book Now
Red squirrel in Garsdale woodland

Red Squirrels in Garsdale

If you are looking for a holiday cottage where you can see red squirrels, Garsdale is one of the best places in England to base yourself. While greys have displaced reds across most of the country, the dales around Sedbergh, Garsdale and the Upper Eden valley remain a stronghold where reds continue to thrive, and guests at our two cottages regularly spot them from the garden and on the woodland paths nearby.

  • Roger Pot

    A three bedroom property ideal for families

  • The Old Cart House

    A cosy one-bedroom cottage perfect for couples and small families

Why Garsdale Matters

The red squirrel population across England has fallen dramatically over the past century, largely because of squirrelpox, a disease carried by the grey squirrel, which was introduced from North America around 1900. Fewer than 30,000 red squirrels are thought to survive in England today, and most of those are in the north.

Garsdale sits within what conservationists call a core area for red squirrels, sometimes referred to as the Greenfields Stronghold. The combination of suitable woodland habitat, active grey squirrel control, and dedicated local volunteers has helped the reds maintain their presence here. Recent monitoring suggests their range in the Yorkshire Dales may even be expanding.

The reds thrive in the coniferous woodland areas along the valley sides. Grey squirrels tend to favour broadleaf and deciduous woodland along the river corridor, so the two species occupy somewhat different habitats in the dale. Habitat loss from forestry clear felling is an additional threat beyond the greys themselves.

A red squirrel perched on the roof of a wooden feeder box, with green Dales hillside behind

Seeing Red Squirrels

Guests at our cottages regularly spot red squirrels. The path beside Dandra Garth that leads into the woodland is a reliable place to look, as are the riverbanks opposite Dandra Garth and below Roger Pot. Red squirrels occasionally visit the cottage gardens too, and they seem to enjoy the nuts and seeds in the bird feeders.

Red squirrels are regularly seen at numerous spots along the dale, including Reachey in Grisedale, Mudbecks, the Railway Cottages at Garsdale Head, Banks, East Littletown, Paradise, Dandra Garth, Coat Weggs, The Hive, The Firs, Rackenthwaite, Fold Gill, Whitbeck and Nether House.

They regularly cross the main road at Banks, The Street, The Firs and Whitbeck, so please drive carefully where warning notices are posted. Road traffic is one of the main threats to the local population.

The best times to see them are early morning and late afternoon, when they are most active. They are smaller and more agile than greys, with distinctive ear tufts and bushy red-brown tails. In winter, their ear tufts become more prominent and their coats can look quite dark.

A Core Area for Reds

Garsdale sits within what conservationists call a core area for red squirrels, sometimes referred to as the Greenfields Stronghold. Fewer than 30,000 red squirrels are thought to survive in England today, and most of those are in the north. The combination of suitable coniferous woodland, active grey squirrel control and dedicated local volunteers has helped the reds hold on here, and recent monitoring suggests their range in the Yorkshire Dales may even be expanding.

Under 30,000

Red squirrels thought to survive in England today, most of them in the north

Conservation Efforts

The Garsdale Red Squirrel Group was launched in November 2014 and quickly grew to 38 local members. The work to protect the dale's red squirrels involves a network of local volunteer groups who monitor the population, maintain feeding stations and nest boxes, and carry out grey squirrel control. This grassroots effort accounts for a huge proportion of the conservation work across northern England.

Red Squirrels Northern England (rsne.org) coordinates the broader strategy, working with volunteer groups, landowners and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The Sedbergh Red Squirrels (sedberghredsquirrels.org.uk) group covers the local area.

A red squirrel sitting on a mossy stone wall eating seeds in a lush green garden

Other Red Squirrel Sites Nearby

The Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail (yorkshire.com) near Hawes is one of seventeen designated Red Squirrel Refuges in northern England. It is a managed woodland area with feeding stations and hides, making it a reliable place to see reds if you want a guaranteed sighting. Snaizeholme is about a twenty-minute drive from Garsdale.

Holiday Cottages for Red Squirrel Spotting

Both of our Garsdale holiday cottages put you right in the heart of red squirrel country. Bird feeders in the gardens draw the reds in for nuts and seeds, and the woodland paths and riverbanks a short walk from each cottage are among the most reliable places in the dale to see them. Early morning and late afternoon, cup of tea in hand, you stand a real chance of a sighting without leaving the doorstep.

  • Roger Pot

    A three bedroom property ideal for families

  • The Old Cart House

    A cosy one-bedroom cottage perfect for couples and small families

References