Threave red squirrel hide

You won't spot red squirrels from the car park at Threave - you'll need to settle into the hide and wait. This isn't a attractions-in-fifteen-minutes kind of place; it's where patience actually pays off. Threave, just outside Castle Douglas, is one of the few spots in southern Scotland where red squirrels have held on, and the hide lets you watch them without spoiling their routine. The hide itself is basic - a small wooden shelter looking out onto feeding areas where the squirrels come to forage. Early morning or late afternoon gives you the best chance of seeing them bound across the branches, their tufted ears unmissable once they arrive.

Historically, red squirrels were everywhere across Britain. Now they're scarce, pushed out by larger grey squirrels in most places. At Threave, volunteers and local efforts have kept the greys at bay, so the reds persist. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Mollance Farm or Galloway Glamping are closest - it's worth adding to a morning walk, though don't bank on seeing them every visit. Squirrels keep their own schedule.

Allow at least an hour in the hide, longer if you've got kids who'll sit still. It's free, and there's something properly rewarding about actually earning your wildlife sighting rather than watching it parade past on a coach tour. Not everyone's cup of tea, but worth the detour if you're into birds and wildlife. The surrounding Galloway countryside is cracking for walks too.