The Rut on Foot with the RSPB at Wild Haweswater

Join our Assistant Warden (and deer guru) Richard Smith to experience the sights and sounds of this remarkable autumn event.

At this time of year, the competitive Red Deer stags (males), are pumped full of testosterone and so display impressive behaviours - such as roaring across the fells and valleys and clashing antlers in a head to head fight. This is all aimed at showing off to the hinds (females) and asserting their dominance over other stags.

We’ll take a stroll up the Riggindale Valley at the head of Haweswater reservoir, to hopefully see and hear this natural spectacle. Along the way you’ll discover more about Red Deer, their habits, why their numbers can be problematic to the restoration of this landscape and how that can be managed.

(Red deer stag image by Rosie Dutton, rspb-images.com, People watching Red Deer through a telescope by Mark Williamson Photography)