Into The Blue

What do you get the man or woman who has everything?

Well, unless your man or woman is a member of an Arabian royal family, we suspect that they are unlikely to have been up close to a bird of prey.

Sometimes known as the sport of kings, falconry has a long and noble history.

Happily, blue blood and oil reserves aren’t required for this Big Deal on a Falconry Experience from Into the Blue, which would make a truly unique gift idea.

Great day out

Perfect for bird lovers, this experience at Dalhousie Castle in Bonnyrigg would also make for a great family day out or an unforgettable present.

There are two options with this deal. Option one is for the hawk walk and option two is for the owl encounter.

Those who opt for the hawk walk will have a hands on experience with the Harris hawks before heading off for a stroll with their falconer and get to see the hawks deftly weaving in and out of the trees. The magnificent birds are commonly referred to as the “wolves of the sky” as they’re the only birds of prey to hunt in packs and guests on this deal will be able to witness them doing just that in their natural habitat. The hawk walk lasts around 45 minutes.

Those who plump for the second option of the deal will learn about the habitats, hunting and behaviour of owls. They’ll get the chance to meet different species, including the Snowy and Grey Owls which are famous for being the owls used in the Harry Potter movies! The Owl Experience lasts around one hour 30 minutes.

Happy customers

The falconry experience at Dalhousie Castle gets rave reviews on TripAdvisor, averaging five stars from 282 reviews.

Here’s what some recent visitors had to say (edited for length):

‘Dalhousie Falconry was the highlight of our vacation to Scotland! Our session was amazing! It was obvious how much the owner and her staff love and care for these animals. She taught us so much about the birds and their care while we interacted with 4 birds. So satisfied with everything and we are still talking about it weeks later. If you are an animal lover falconry is amazing! Dalhousie Falconry is the organisation you can feel good about supporting. The birds are definitely loved and cared for!’

‘I can’t say enough about the wonderful people that own and operate this Falconry. These birds of prey are simply stunning and you could spend an entire day just watching them.’

Perfect gift

A chance to get up close to majestic birds of prey doesn’t happen very often in life. That’s why a Falconry Experience from Into the Blue would be a fantastic gift for anyone who’s fond of wildlife.

If you’ve been racking your brains trying to think of a unique present for that special someone, this definitely fits the bill (or beak).