Birds of Prey Experience

Harrogate Bird of Prey are bringing their birds to How Stean Gorge on Saturday 7 August, for a family day out in the Yorkshire Dales. It's a full day of meeting owls and other birds of prey up close, set right in the gorge's natural surroundings.

Throughout the day, you can get close to the birds and hear from the handlers, who'll be talking you through what makes each one tick. There's hands-on handling too, so you can have a bird on your arm rather than just watching from a distance, and plenty of photo opportunities to take home. It's built for all ages, so it works as a family outing as much as a solo trip if you're just keen on the birds themselves.

How Stean Gorge is a bit of a trek out of town, but that's part of the draw — you're in the Dales, with the limestone cliffs and the river around you, which is a fitting backdrop for a day spent with birds of prey. The birds are the main event, and the handlers are there to answer questions and share what they know, so you'll walk away with a bit more of an understanding of them than you started with.

The experience is free with standard gorge admission, so as long as you've paid your way into the gorge, the birds are included. The date is currently 7 August, though they've noted it's still to be confirmed, so it's worth double-checking before you set off.