Red Squirrels
Location: Aberfoyle, Trossachs, Scotland
Location type: Forestry
Park (what3words): ///bunk.puffed.clocking (entrance to car park) - parking charge
Parking charge: £5 per day
What to shoot: Forestry, wildlife, waterfalls.
When to visit: any time of year, amazing in autumn, but any time is great.
I was at the David Marshall Lodge just last week as part of a client 1-2-1 photo tour, but decided to return to Aberfoyle again today as there were a few spots I didn’t visit a few days ago (the weather wasn’t great last week) and I wanted to try to capture the squirrels on video as I only managed stills last time.
David Marshall Lodge is one of those places that reminds me of my childhood. Growing up in a Glasgow tenement we didn’t have a lot of countryside around, but I always enjoyed our school trips to the Trossachs and the David Marshall Lodge was a regular (once a year!) destination for us.
I arrived at the lodge just after opening time (the car park is only open 10am - 5pm) and made my way along the paths towards where I hoped the top of the waterfall could be reached. I’d never been to this part of the park before but it was not too far to walk before I heard the rumble of falling water and I knew I must be near to the top of the falls.
The view from the top of the waterfall is impressive, but not very photogenic, so after 20 minutes or so I decided to head down towards the main path and the base of the waterfall.
The base of the falls is probably the most photographed part of the park. Even after maybe 20 or 30 visits to this location over the years I still stop and take the same photograph from pretty much the same point, of the same view, every time I visit. (I could probably make a 30 year time lapse of the scene just from my photos!)
After the falls, it was off to the hide to look for Red Squirrels. I googled Red Squirrel, just to be sure they were as rare as I’d thought. Woodland Trust reports this:
”Red squirrels need woodland to survive and can be found in coniferous, broadleaved and mixed woodland. They were once found across the UK, but have disappeared from most of the country due to the introduction of grey squirrels. Now red squirrels are confined to Scotland, pockets of northern England and Wales and small islands off England’s south coast.”
Despite seeing lots last week, we had none today. I waited for about 30 minutes but nothing appeared, so I moved on.
Keen to continue with the walk I headed up the main path, turning first off the path in order to gain some peace and quiet, then, once back on the path, left at the fork up past the “Go Ape” walkways and swings.
I was at this part of the park to shoot a waterfall which I needed for a project I’m working on. After a while (40 minutes, 30 minutes of video and 55 photos) (most of which didn’t end up on the YouTube video!) I headed back down the path towards the hide for a second (hopeful) attempt at seeing some Red Squirrels.
The squirrels had clearly received the memo as there were several on my return. I spent a while photographing - and more importantly - videoing - them before heading back to the carpark and home.
Another great day in the Trossachs and I would strongly recommend a visit to the David Marshall Lodge if you’re in the area!