Birding

The Forest of Bowland AONB is internationally recognised for its special birds, habitats and wildlife. Birds such as hen harriers, merlin and ring ouzels, as well as many other species can be found in the beautiful hills and valleys. The following leaflet Birding in Bowland (PDF, 5.5mb) provides information about the best birding locations in Bowland along with information about the main birds of Bowland. It also includes details of a variety of accommodation providers which are businesses managed in a way which is sympathetic to bird watching. Some are landowners who work actively with the RSPB on wildlife conservation and some have dedicated facilities. All are conveniently located for a short birding break in the Forest of Bowland.

Access for all

Several of the accommodation providers can make arrangements for use of a Tramper all-terrain electric wheelchair. This can be used on public bridleways and footpaths, particularly in the south western corner of the Forest of Bowland. Contact the Bowland Visitor Centre at Beacon Fell Country Park on 01772 534709 or the Priory Inn on 01524 791255.

Please click on the binocular icons on the map below for details of birding locations or on the numbers for details of accommodation providers. Or make a selection from the lists below.

Accommodation providers

1. Bleasdale Cottages
2. Broadgate Farm
3. Calderbank Country Lodge.
4. Dale House Camping Barn
5. Dalesbridge
6. Halsteads Barn
7. Mansergh Cottages
8. Red Pump Inn
9. The Gibbon Bridge Hotel
10. The Old Post House Hotel
11. The Priory Inn
12. Wyreside Lakes

Birding locations

• Roeburndale Woods.
• Stocks Reservoir
• Abbeystead
• Pendle Hill
• Barnacre Reservoir

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Accommodation providers

Birding locations to visit

• Roeburndale Woods in the north of Bowland offer good opportunities for seeing oak woodland specialities such as redstart and pied flycatcher.
• The circular walk around Stocks Reservoir to the northeast offers a range of woodland and upland birds. The reservoir itself attracts wildfowl and waders and many passage migrants including the occasional osprey.
• Abbeystead in the west is one of the best areas for breeding waders on the upland pastures. Lapwing, curlew, redshank, snipe and oystercatcher are all numerous here and golden plover flocks can often be seen.
• Pendle Hill in the southeast is the place to see migrant dotterel in early May. The open stony ground by the trig point on the eastern summit is the best place to look for these delightful waders on their way to nest in the mountains of Scotland.
• In the south-west, Barnacre Reservoir (which is not open to the public) is an important staging post for hundreds of migrant whimbrel. The public footpaths on the south side offer opportunities for seeing these birds as they fly in to roost in late April and early May evenings giving their loud piping calls.

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