Meet and fly hawks, owls and falcons with a falconer on the riverside parkland at Galgorm Resort — a hands-on treat you'll be talking about for months.
A hands-on falconry experience on the riverside parkland at Galgorm Resort near Ballymena — pull on the glove, and a hawk sweeps in to land on your fist while a falconer walks you through it all. One of the most memorable hours you can gift someone.
What you'll do — meet birds of prey up close, learn how they hunt and fly, and take a turn holding and flying them yourself. Sessions are usually built around handling and flying hawks, with owls and falcons often part of the mix — check the exact birds when you book.
The hawk walk — the highlight is walking the resort's parkland with a bird, sending it up into the trees and calling it back down to the glove. There's nothing quite like the whoosh of wings as one drops onto your fist.
How long — usually around an hour or so, though it can run longer depending on the experience you pick — confirm the length when booking.
Great for a special day — a brilliant treat for couples, a birthday, an anniversary, or a group looking to do something different. It also makes a lovely gift.
Pre-book — it's a scheduled experience. This isn't a walk-in attraction: falconry sessions run at set times and are arranged in advance through the resort, so contact them to secure a slot.
Check the minimum age & dress for outdoors. There's usually an age guideline for handling the birds, so ask when booking — and since you're out on the parkland in all weathers, wear warm layers and sturdy boots.
Plan your visit
A booked experience — arrange it through the resort
Falconry at Galgorm is a scheduled, pre-booked experience, not a turn-up-and-go attraction — the birds fly at set times with a falconer, so the first step is always to contact the resort and lock in a slot. Because the details, prices and available dates change through the year, the honest steer is to check everything directly when you book: how long your session runs, exactly which birds you'll meet, the minimum age, and whether it's a private booking or a shared group. If you're staying at Galgorm anyway — for a spa day, dinner or a night away — it slots beautifully into the day.
Falconer-led sessionOn-site resort parkingResort dining & spa alongsideMakes a gift experience
Good to know:
Availability, prices, session length and the minimum age all vary and are set by the resort — confirm them when you book rather than relying on any figure here. Falconry runs outdoors, so it's weather-dependent.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🧥Warm layersYou're out on the parkland whatever the sky's doing, so a coat and a jumper keep it comfortable — and a bit of soft rain only makes the countryside greener.
🥾Sturdy bootsThe ground can be soft or muddy underfoot on the walk, so wellies or walking boots beat trainers.
📷A camera or phoneA hawk landing on your glove is the shot everyone wants — ask the falconer the best moment to catch it.
🧢A hat & water on bright daysIf the sun's out, a hat, some water and a bit of shade between flights keep the day easy and enjoyable.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Booked through Galgorm Resort — check the current price when you book, as it varies by the experience and whether it's private or shared. Gift options are often available.
Booking
Pre-booking is essential — it's a scheduled experience run at set times, not a walk-in. Arrange it directly with the resort.
How long
Usually around an hour, though some experiences run longer. Confirm the length when booking.
What you'll do
Meet birds of prey up close, learn about how they live and hunt, and handle and fly them with a falconer — typically a hawk walk across the resort parkland. Ask which birds (hawks, owls, falcons) feature on your date.
Best for
Couples, families and groups after a hands-on, out-of-the-ordinary day, and a popular gift experience. Check the minimum age for handling the birds when you book.
Where
On the parkland at Galgorm Resort & Spa, on the banks of the River Maine near Ballymena.
Parking
On-site parking at the resort.
Weather
It's an outdoor experience, so it depends on the conditions — the resort will advise if weather affects your session.
Questions
Before you go
Do I actually get to hold and fly the birds?
Yes — that's the whole point. It's a hands-on experience: you pull on the glove and, with the falconer guiding you, the birds fly to and from your fist. Confirm the exact format for your session when you book.
Which birds will I meet?
Falconry experiences here are usually built around hawks, and owls and falcons are often part of the day too — but the line-up can change, so ask the resort which birds you'll be handling on your date.
Do I need to book ahead?
Always. It's a scheduled experience that runs at set times with a falconer, not a walk-in attraction — contact the resort to arrange a slot before you travel.
Is there a minimum age?
There's usually an age guideline for handling the birds. It's a lovely thing for older children and families, but check the current minimum age with the resort when you book.
What if it rains?
It's an outdoor experience, so it's weather-dependent — but a soft, grey day out on the parkland has its own charm. Wrap up warm, and the resort will let you know if conditions mean anything needs to change.
Can I make a day of it at Galgorm?
Easily. The falconry sits within Galgorm Resort & Spa, so you can pair it with the thermal spa village, dinner, afternoon tea or a stay — a full, rich day rather than a quick stop.
Getting there
Galgorm Resort & Spa, Fenaghy Road, Cullybackey, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT42 1EA — just outside Ballymena on the banks of the River Maine, with parking on site. The falconry is booked through the resort.
Falconry is one of the oldest partnerships between people and wild animals — the art of working with a trained bird of prey, said to go back thousands of years and once treasured across cultures the world over. What makes it magic isn't spectacle so much as trust: a hawk chooses to leave your glove, ride the air, and come back to you, all because a patient falconer has built that bond.
At Galgorm, that ancient art meets a modern country resort. The Galgorm Resort & Spa sits on the banks of the River Maine just outside Ballymena, wrapped in parkland — the kind of open, tree-fringed ground a hawk loves to fly. Guests can add a falconry experience to a day that might also take in dinner, afternoon tea or the riverside thermal spa village, so an hour with the birds becomes part of something bigger.
And it lands differently from most days out. You don't just look at a bird of prey behind glass — you feel the weight of it settle on your arm, watch it read the wind, and learn a little of how it lives. People leave a falconry session quieter and a bit wide-eyed, already planning to bring someone else back. It's the sort of thing you give as a gift and then wish you'd booked for yourself too.