UK Wildlife: Explore the Natural Beauty of Lancashire & Cumbria

With its rolling hills, rugged coastlines and picturesque villages, the northwest counties of Lancashire and Cumbria offer some of England’s most breathtaking scenery. This beautiful landscape provides the perfect habitat for an abundance of UK wildlife, from rare birds to wild deer, just waiting to be discovered.

Lancashire and Cumbria are home to various protected nature reserves and a National Landscape. Here you can immerse yourself in nature, spot native wildlife, and enjoy sweeping views of lush green countryside leading down to glittering coastlines.

Read on to discover some of the best places to experience incredible UK wildlife and natural beauty on your next holiday in Lancashire and Cumbria.

Grizedale Forest

Covering over 24km2 of woodland, Grizedale Forest is one of the top nature spots in the Lake District. This lush green forest offers many walking and cycling trails, perfect for spotting wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for the park’s red deer, as well as badgers, foxes and pine martens. 

The highlight is the Sculpture Trail, featuring unique sculptures by some of the leading names in contemporary art blended into the natural surroundings.

Leighton Moss Nature Reserve

Leighton Moss in Lancashire is one of the premier birdwatching sites in the UK, home to hundreds of bird species. Some of the rarest birds to look out for here include Marsh Harriers, Egrets and Bitterns. 

With many walking trails weaving through the wetlands, Leighton Moss is a bird spotter’s paradise.

Walney Island

Jutting out into the Irish Sea, the wild natural beauty of Walney Island offers a peaceful escape. Along its coastline, you can observe the only grey seal breeding colony in Cumbria on the sand banks and shingle beaches. The island is also an excellent place to see migratory birds including: 

• Curlews
• Redshanks 
• Oystercatcher
• Brent geese
• Warblers
• Chiffchaffs
• Willow Warblers

Martin Mere Nature Reserve

Home to thousands of wildfowl and wading birds, Martin Mere in Lancashire provides a 600 acre wetland haven for an array of wildlife. Spot over 70 wetland birds, including flamingos, inca terns, spoonbills, common cranes, and a wide variety of ducks, geese and swans.

Take a walk around the amazing scenery and you may also even see otters! With so much incredible wildlife to discover across the trails and hides, Martin Mere promises an unforgettable experience for nature lovers of all ages.

Discover Marine Life at Silverdale Beach & Nature Reserve

Found along Lancashire’s coastline, Silverdale Beach is fringed by woodland and sand dunes designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Its shoreline rocks create rock pools that become home to crabs, seashells and other marine life. 

Within Silverdale Nature Reserve, there are also coastal grazing pastures where you may see wildflowers and butterflies, whilst enjoying sweeping views over Morecambe Bay.

Admire the Tranquil Beauty of Tarn Hows

Surrounded by dramatic peaks, the National Trust’s Tarn Hows in the Lake District is renowned for its tranquil beauty. The tree-lined trails around this tarn make for an idyllic walk, where red squirrels, rabbits and birds can be observed.

During autumn, it’s ablaze with colour, providing a magical backdrop for appreciating the area’s abundant wildlife.

Wander Through Claife Heights on Lake Windermere

Claife Heights offers awe-inspiring lakeside walking trails with panoramic views over Lake Windermere. Along the western shore, this historical woodland provides glimpses of red squirrels in the trees and birds swooping over the glistening lake. 

Autumn here is especially stunning, as the leaves turn to fiery shades of crimson and gold amidst the tranquil forested hillsides.

Immerse Yourself in Nature at Sizergh Castle

Encompassing woodlands and a mediaeval castle, Sizergh near Kendal lets you explore varied natural landscapes that sustain diverse wildlife. You may spot red squirrels and owls here, while the estate’s herd of deer graze peacefully in the open grasslands. 

With gardens and walking trails to enjoy too, Sizergh offers a magical blend of history and natural beauty.

Holgates Holiday Parks in Lancashire & Cumbria 

Across Lancashire and Cumbria, you’ll discover enchanting pockets of nature alive with wildlife. From coastal reserves protecting seabirds to forests where you may glimpse red deer, a holiday here provides an opportunity to reconnect with nature’s beauty.

Holgates Holiday Parks offers a range of self-catering accommodation across idyllic locations in Lancashire and Cumbria. With so much stunning scenery and nature reserves right on your doorstep, our parks provide the ideal base for exploring the abundance of wildlife and natural attractions across the area. 

Contact us today to plan your perfect break or to find out more about the beauty spots of Lancashire and Cumbria.