Take a look at the experience days we offer
If you’ve every wondered what a falconer does, or been to a bird of prey centre and wanted to experience for yourself the magic of falconry, then David and Tracy Hughes at HawkWalk are the people to visit. Their hawkwalk and falconry experience days are second to none.
Falconry Course
Join our five-day course to work towoards Lantra qualification. Learn about traditional Birds of Prey and go hunting with us for just £500 per person. Our staff are knowledgeable and experienced, so don’t worry if you get stuck.
Night Flight with owls
Join us for an unforgettable night flight experience with barn owls and eagle owls under the full moon. Learn about the owls and fly them in the dark for just £40 per person.
hawk walks
Come to our local farm for an hour of hawk-watching! Learn about these magnificent birds and watch them fly while getting the chance to handle them. Minimum party size of two.
whole day bird of prey experience
Experience the thrill of hunting with a trained hawk on a gentle walk through the local area. Learn about the raptors and their prey, and fly the birds yourself. Lunch and refreshments included.
half day falconry experience
Get up close and personal with a Harris hawk in a half day Hawkwalk and Falconry experience in Oxfordshire. Learn about raptors, handling, and care, and fly the birds yourself. Refreshments provided.
What do our customers have to say about the HawkWalk experiences?
There’s something mesmeric about the way a bird of prey alights on your arm. It’s to do with both the tremendous speed of approach and the stalling when it lands, an almost filmic effect of fast and slow motion
“I visited them in their South Oxfordshire home, to experience a day of falconry, learning how the birds are trained, cared for and nurtured to provide a unique insight into a sport of the past which gives a chance to experience the countryside with a new pair of eyes.
The morning’s lesson – an informal session with coffee and a hand’s on session with one of the many birds that David keeps (Spook, the Snowy Owl, Squeek, the first of David’s birds, and Tiny, the Eagle Owl, amongst others) and instruction in how to tie a one-handed falconer’s knot (difficult, but not impossible), is followed by a delicious lunch at the local pub, The Bear at Home Inn.
After lunch, I took charge of my own trained, hunting falcon, an experience which opened my eyes to the mind, habits and talents of these fine birds, and the extent to which they are trained. Allowed to fly free, they demonstrate their powerful flight, turn of speed and stunning wing-span. Sitting in the trees, waiting for prey, they are still and watchful, giving me the chance to really experience the countryside for the first time: the Harris Hawks determine the pace of the walk, and I was rewarded by a new view of the world, waiting for the movement of the hawk to indicate whether there was prey to be had, waiting for the intent stare that meant a strike in the offing, or, if there was no prey to be had, calling the birds to the fist and moving to the next clump of trees.
This is a day that stays in the memory: not just because the birds themselves are so beautiful, nor because it’s uniquely hands-on. It’s also because there is a link to the past: hawks and their hunting history are alive and well, and David gives his guests the chance to step back in time, see the world from a new perspective and get just a taste of the fascinating world of falconry.”
– Helen McLeod