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.

For individual bird profiles visit the Wildlife section of the website Bird Profiles

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.

Map showing birding locations and location of accommodation providers Wyreside Lakes The Priory Inn The Old Post House Hotel The Gibbon Bridge Hotel Red Pump Inn Mansergh Cottages, Borwick Halsteads Barn Dalesbridge Dale House Camping Barn Calderbank Country Lodge Broadgate Farm Bleasdale Cottages E: Barnacre Reservoir C: Abbeystead A: Roeburndale Woods B: Stocks Reservoir D: Pendle Hill

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

Accommodation providers

  1. Bleasdale Cottages 
    Robert and Anne Gardner
    Bleasdale Cottages, Lower Fairsnape Farm, Bleasdale PR3 1UY
    Web: www.bleasdalecottages.co.uk
    Email: info [at] bleasdalecottages [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 01995 61343
    Note: Tramper available
  2. Broadgate Farm 
    Brian and Anne Clark
    Broadgate Farm, Bleasdale PR3 1UY
    Web: www.broadgatefarm.co.uk
    Email: anneclark71 [at] hotmail [dot] com
    Tel: 01995 602402
    Note: Tramper available
  3. Calderbank Country Lodge  
    Rowland Hayward
    Calderbank Country Lodge, Oakenclough, Garstang PR3 1UL
    Web: www.calderbankcountrylodge.co.uk
    Email: enquiries [at] calderbankcountrylodge [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 01995 604384
    Note: Tramper available
  4. Dale House Camping Barn 
    Chris and Cheryl Morris-Barrow
    Dale House, Dale Head, Slaidburn BB7 4TS
    Web: www.dalehousebarn.co.uk
    Email: chris [at] onward-outward [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 01200 446820
  5. Dalesbridge 
    Jon Beavan
    Dalesbridge,Austwick, Nr. Settle LA2 8AZ
    Web: www.dalesbridge.co.uk
    Email: info [at] dalesbridge [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 015242 51021
  6. Halsteads Barn 
    Jon and Janet Brook
    Halsteads Barn, Mewith, High Bentham LA2 7AR
    Web: www.halsteadsbarn.co.uk
    Email: info [at] halsteadsbarn [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 01524 262641
  7. Mansergh Cottages 
    Linda Rigby
    Mansergh Farmhouse Cottages, Borwick, Nr Lancaster LA6 1JS
    Web: www.manserghcottages.co.uk
    Email: linda [at] manserghcottages [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 01524 720129
  8. Red Pump Inn 
    Jonathan and Martina Myerscough
    The Red Pump Inn, Bashall Eaves, Clitheroe BB7 3DA
    Web: www.theredpumpinn.co.uk
    Email: info [at] theredpumpinn [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 01254 826227
  9. The Gibbon Bridge Hotel  Janet Simpson
    The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping, Preston, Lancashire PR3 2TQ
    Web:     www.gibbon-bridge.co.uk
    Tel: 01995 61456 fax: 01995 61277
    Email: reception [at] gibbon-bridge [dot] co [dot] uk
  10. The Old Post House Hotel 
    Roger Jowett
    The Old Post House Hotel, King Street, Clitheroe BB7 2EU
    Web: www.posthousehotel.co.uk
    Tel: 01200 422025 fax: 01200 423059
    Email: rooms [at] posthousehotel [dot] co [dot] uk
  11. The Priory Inn 
    Julie and Jonty Collinson The Priory, Scorton, Lancashire PR3 1AU
    Web: www.theprioryscorton.co.uk
    Email: collinsonjulie [at] aol [dot] com
    Tel: 01524 791255 fax: 01524 793563
    Note: Tramper available
  12. Wyreside Lakes 
    Sally Hughes
    Wyreside Lakes Fishery Sunnyside Farmhouse, Bay Horse, Nr. Lancaster LA2 9DG
    Web: www.wyresidelakes.co.uk
    Email: wyreside2003 [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk
    Tel: 01524 792093
    Note: Tramper available

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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