Days Out NI
Rescue Centre · Owls & Birds of Prey Randalstown Forest, Co. Antrim

World of Owls

A working owl, bird-of-prey and exotic-animal rescue centre in the forest — meet the birds up close, hold an owl, or book a Hawk Walk through the trees.

5 photos
Open to visitGeneral entry, no need to book · check the day
Experiences from ~£10Hold an owl · Owl Experience · Hawk Walk
RandalstownRandalstown Forest, Co. Antrim
Get directionsOfficial website
1–2 hoursHow long
All agesBest for
Mostly outdoorIn the forest
On siteParking
DonationsSelf-funded charity

A working rescue centre in Randalstown Forest, home to owls, hawks, falcons and exotic animals — meet the birds up close, hold an owl for a photo, or walk a hawk through the trees. It calls itself Northern Ireland's only owl, bird-of-prey and exotic-animal rescue centre.

  • What you'll do — wander the wooded site meeting rescued owls, hawks, falcons and exotic animals in their aviaries, with keepers on hand to tell you each bird's story. Add a hands-on experience to get properly close.
  • The experiences — hold an owl for a photo (around £10), a longer Owl Experience (around £25), or the star turn, a Hawk Walk through the forest with a bird flying to your glove (around £50, with extra people about £25 each). Birthday parties for up to ten children run around £60. Confirm current prices when you book.
  • How long — most families give it an hour or two to see the birds; a booked experience or Hawk Walk adds to that.
  • Getting in — general admission is open to the public with no need to book, and last admission is an hour before closing. It's a self-funded charity, so what you give at the gate and in the shop keeps the rescue running.
  • Come ready — it's a forest setting, so wear sturdy shoes or wellies and a coat for the weather; there's real joy in a walk among the trees whatever the sky's doing.
  • Book experiences ahead. Holding an owl, the Owl Experience and the Hawk Walk are booked in advance and run on set dates — arrange them on worldofowls.com before you travel.
  • Check before you set off. As a small charity in the forest it can close during dangerous weather, and opening days can vary by season — a quick look at the website or a call saves a wasted trip.
Plan your visit

Meet the birds, then book your encounter

World of Owls is a non-funded working rescue centre run largely by volunteers, so it isn't a big-ticket attraction — it's a genuine sanctuary you're welcome to visit. General admission is open to the public with no booking needed, and last admission is an hour before closing; a donation at the gate goes straight into caring for the birds. The hands-on experiences — holding an owl for a photo, the Owl Experience, and the Hawk Walk through the forest — are the highlights, and those are booked ahead on set dates. Opening days can change with the season and the weather, so always check the website or ring before you make the trip out. Prices given here are a guide; confirm the current rates when you book.

Rescued owls, hawks & exotics Set in Randalstown Forest Hands-on experiences by booking Self-funded charity — every donation helps
Worth knowing:

The centre can close during dangerous weather and has been carrying out storm-damage repairs, and as a volunteer-run charity its opening days can shift with the season. Check worldofowls.com or ring 028 9447 2307 before you set off, and book any experience in advance.

Before you set off

What to wear & bring

  • 👢Sturdy shoes or welliesIt's a forest site with woodland paths, so leave the good trainers and wear something that copes with mud.
  • 🧥A coat for the weatherMost of the visit is outdoors among the trees — a soft, rainy day in the forest is its own kind of lovely, so come dressed for it.
  • 📷A camera or phoneThe birds are close and photogenic, and if you book to hold an owl you'll want the picture.
  • 💷A little cash for the gateIt's a self-funded charity, so a donation and anything from the shop go straight into caring for the rescued animals.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Admission
Open to the public with no need to book for general entry; a donation is welcome at the gate and keeps the rescue running. Last admission is one hour before closing. As a volunteer-run charity, opening days can vary by season, so check ahead.
Experiences
Hold an owl for a photo around £10; a longer Owl Experience around £25; a Hawk Walk through the forest around £50, with extra people about £25 each; birthday parties for up to ten children around £60. These are booked in advance on set dates. Prices are a guide — confirm the current rates when you book.
What you'll see
Rescued owls, hawks, falcons and other birds of prey, plus exotic animals, housed in aviaries across the wooded site — described as Northern Ireland's only owl, bird-of-prey and exotic-animal rescue centre. Keepers are on hand to introduce the birds.
Ages
All ages — younger children love meeting the owls up close, and the experiences suit older children and adults too. It's calmer than a big theme attraction, which many families prefer.
Getting around
A forest site with woodland paths that can be uneven or muddy in places, so an all-terrain buggy copes better than an umbrella stroller. Wear footwear that suits soft ground.
Parking
Parking is on site in the forest. Directions are on the Opening & Directions page of the website — worth checking, as the lane in is a little tucked away.
Dogs
As a rescue centre with birds of prey and exotic animals, assume pet dogs are not suitable around the aviaries — check with the centre before bringing one, and assistance dogs by arrangement.
The charity
World of Owls is a self-funded, non-funded working rescue centre run largely by volunteers, and often recruiting more. Your visit, donation, experience booking and shop spend all support the rescue and rehabilitation of the animals.
How long
Allow an hour or two to meet the birds; a booked Owl Experience or Hawk Walk adds to that.
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Not for general admission — the centre is open to the public with no need to book, though a donation at the gate is welcome. You do need to book ahead for the hands-on experiences: holding an owl, the Owl Experience and the Hawk Walk all run on set dates, arranged on worldofowls.com.
Can we hold an owl?
Yes — that's one of the best bits. You can book to hold an owl for a photo (around £10), or go for the longer Owl Experience (around £25) to spend more time with the birds. Book it in advance.
What is the Hawk Walk?
You walk through the forest with a hawk flying to your gloved hand — a genuinely memorable hour. It's around £50, with extra people about £25 each, and is booked in advance. Confirm the current price when you book.
Is it good for young children?
Yes — it's all ages. Little ones love seeing the owls close up and hearing their stories, and it's calmer and more hands-on than a big attraction. Older children and adults get plenty from the experiences too.
Is there much walking, and what should we wear?
It's a forest site with woodland paths, so wear sturdy shoes or wellies and bring a coat for the weather. An all-terrain buggy handles the ground better than an umbrella stroller.
Could it be closed when we arrive?
It can — as a small charity in the forest it closes during dangerous weather and has been doing storm-damage repairs, and opening days vary by season. Always check worldofowls.com or ring 028 9447 2307 before you travel.
Getting there

32 Mount Shalgus Lane, Randalstown Forest, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, BT41 3LE — tucked into the forest just outside Randalstown, off the A6 near Antrim and Lough Neagh. The lane in is a little hidden, so follow the directions on the centre's own site, and check the day's opening before you travel.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website

Book or check ahead: 028 9447 2307

See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

Shane's CastleAntrim · on Lough Neagh Antrim Castle GardensAntrim · 5 miles Slemish MountainBallymena · a good climb More around Lough NeaghSee them on our map
The story

A rescue centre with a heart for the birds

World of Owls sits deep in Randalstown Forest, a wooded run of ground just outside the town and within reach of Antrim and the shore of Lough Neagh. It describes itself as Northern Ireland's only owl, bird-of-prey and exotic-animal rescue centre, and that word — rescue — is the point of the place. This isn't a zoo built for footfall; it's a working sanctuary that takes in owls, hawks, falcons and exotic animals that need care, and lets the public in to meet them so the whole thing can keep going.

It runs as a self-funded, non-funded charity, largely on the goodwill of volunteers, and it's often looking for more hands to help. That shapes the day out: it's warmer and quieter than a big attraction, closer to a walk in the woods where the woods happen to be full of extraordinary birds. Keepers know each animal by name and by story, and you'll come away having learned something real about how these birds live — and about the work of putting hurt ones back on their feet.

The experiences are where it turns unforgettable. Book to hold an owl and you'll feel how light and how still a bird that size can be. Book the Hawk Walk and you'll head off through the trees with a hawk that peels away and returns to your glove, again and again — the kind of half-hour a child talks about for weeks. Whatever you spend at the gate, in the shop or on an experience goes back into the rescue, so a good day out here is also a small good deed. Check the website or give them a ring before you go, dress for the forest, and enjoy every minute of it.