Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail
Located deep in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Snaizeholme woods are located roughly 4 miles South West of Hawes. The area has some stunning walks, but the main issue with this walk is that there is little or no parking near to the woods so a shortish walk in is required. From Hawes, take the B6255 that runs from Hawes to Ribblehead Viaduct, and after about a 5 minute drive there is a disused quarry on the left that has room for about 4 - 5 cars. Please try not to block the nearby gateway into the field. The following walk is approximately 4 miles and is easy to moderate with some elevation involved.
Parking - Grid reference SD 83631 88657. W3W ///divide.fruitcake.cheered
From the parking area, head south along the road for approximately 150 meters, keeping to the right-hand side (outside of the bend) for safety. This section of road has nice wide grass verges to escape any passing traffic. The river on the right is Widdal Beck, and it’s worth taking a couple of minutes here to see if you spot any Dipper or Grey Wagtail.
Before you get to Snaizeholme Bridge look for a public footpath sign on your left and follow the path through a gate into a pasture. Please ensure the gate is closed as there are Sheep in the fields ahead of you.
Follow the obvious Landrover track across the fields, towards Low Houses Farm keeping the stream (Snaizeholme Beck) to your right.
Just before you reach Low Houses Farm keep an eye out for a gate and waymark posts on the right. This is a public footpath and will skirt you around to the right hand side of Low Houses Farm. There is no need to enter the farm yard.
Once you have skirted around the farm, continue up the side of the stream, there is a slight incline here and eventually you will reach a high point and you’ll need to cross the broken wall just before the old barn and head down to the wooden footbridge.
Cross over the footbridge and cross the field heading towards the wooden post in the field and then the bottom corner of the woods in front of you. Keep an eye out in the surrounding fields for Lapwings and Curlews.
Once you reach the corner of the woods, you will find that the footpath into the woods is blocked. There was a huge storm a few years ago and hundreds of tress were blown over and making the next 100 metre section of footpath impassable. There is a sign here to explain the alternative route.
The alternative route takes you downhill a bit and right to cross the field at the bottom of the woods. You will come to a boundary wall, where there is a gate at the top of the wall that takes you into the woods. You are now back on track.
On entering the woods turn left and follow the track down towards the house at Tow Hill. About 50 metres before the house the footpath takes you right and around the side of the house and gardens. The house here has a few bird feeders and there were dozens of different species flying around on my last visit.
The footpath will bring you back onto the track, keep going, pass to the front of West Cottage and bear left to find the public footpath. There is now a small plantation to your left with some duck ponds further down, and the well established woods to your right.
Keep going until you come to the next track, cross the small wooden bridge over the small stream and head towards the gate. Once through the gate, the public Red Squirrel viewing area is only a few metres away on your right.
The viewing station offers excellent opportunities to observe red squirrels in their natural habitat. Quietly approach and enjoy the sights while minimizing disturbance to the wildlife.
At the viewing area, there are signs to discourage you from feeding the squirrels, who are on a strict diet. If you have a dog, you are unlikely to see any squirrels, but if you do decide to take one, then please keep the dog on a lead.
Take a seat on the log seat and enjoy the sounds of the forest. There are hundreds of birds flying around here. As well as Red Squirrel, you are likely to see Pheasants, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Wren and Dunnock.
The trees here are covered in mosses and lichens making for some stunning photographs when the birds and squirrels are on them. You might want to bump up your ISO on the camera a bit because unless there is direct sunlight, this place is dark. Although your images may look good on the back of your camera or phone, when you get them onto your laptop and zoomed in a bit, the images may look a bit grainy.
Once you’ve had your fill of wildlife, and collected all your belongings then head back to the gate at the entrance to the woods, over the footbridge onto the track.
Although the track up to Snaizeholme Road looks steep, this is an easier option that heading back the way you came, esp[ecially if there is snow on the ground. Once you’re up the hill and you’ve had your breather, tun right and follow Snaizeholme Road all the way back to the main road (B6255)
Keep your eyes out for Buzzards in the large conifers up on the hillside to your left, and lower down you may well see Barn Owls hunting over the fields.
At the B6255 turn right back to the car, the grass verges are safe for walking if the road is busy.
If you don’t fancy this walk then there is a ‘Little White Bus’ that will take you from the Dales Museum in Hawes up Snaizeholme Road at the top of the woods. The price is £7.35 per person for a return ticket. Tickets can be booked on the Yorkshire Dales National Park website.
