After Chris very kindly made me aware of the Hares above Dovestone I walked up there, just taking it gently off the beaten path and (literally) stumbled on hares very quickly.
They dart off from under your feet and zig zag until approx 30-50 meters away and just watch you whilst in profile.
Apparently the Mountain Hare is a different species form its Arctic cousin, but I think the differences are quite subtle, hopefully someone will chip in with more details.
I havent been able to spot one in its form or scrape before I've disturbed it, but I intend to do this at some point. There are some rocks up on Dovestone that you could probably settle in front of and wait..and wait..and wait, but I'm sure it'd bear fruit eventually.
I actually found a leg amoungst the stones, I guess a Fox had left it there, but the thought of large birds of prey returning to the area, and the (apparently very successful) hares providing support for them is pretty exciting to me.
There's lots of sign up there (well worth looking up beforehand) - you wont have any trouble finding them!
cheers
