Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre

Situated on the Loch Lomond Shores within Balloch, visitors can visit the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre and enjoy a fascinating day out! The Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre has over 20 amazing birds of prey at their centre, which act as ambassadors to promote conservation and inform visitors about the fascinating birds of prey that live in Scotland.

The Bird of Prey Centre is easily located at the Balloch entrance of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, amongst other attractions, including the Sea Life Loch Lomond Aquarium, Sweeney’s Cruise Loch Lomond, and the last paddle steamer in Britain – the Maid of the Loch.

Learn more about what you can expect from your visit to the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre with our complete guide:

About the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre

The Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre is one of the most popular attractions in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and it’s easy to understand why. The centre is a great place to spend an afternoon learning and enjoying experiences with majestic birds of prey like golden eagles, hawks, vultures, and even owls.

The centre is just 30 minutes out of Glasgow and is an accessible attraction to stop by if you’re coming to enjoy the stunning Trossachs National Park. They are open year-round, generally between 9:30 and 17:30 (although this can change slightly depending on what time of year you’re visiting). And during the holiday season, the centre is closed on weekdays and for major holidays like Christmas and Boxing Day. If you’re running slightly late, don’t worry – entrance into the centre is open until 30 minutes before closing time!

Ticket prices range from £8.00 for adults, £6.00 for students, £4.00 for kids, and children under 3 years of age get in free. You won’t have to worry about adding parking to that cost, though, as the Bird of Prey Centres’ has free parking just outside (there is wheelchair access available).

Its prime location in the Trossachs National Park means you’re given stunning views all around you, with the towering mountains of the national park contrasted with the sparkling Loch Lomond. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy the bird of prey experience.

Things to Do in the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre

The Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre offers the chance to meet some of the most remarkable birds in Scotland, and guests can look forward to enjoying a curated selection of activities. Here are the top things to do at the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre:

Watch a Bird of Prey Flying Show

The bird of prey flying shows is the flagship experience offered at the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre. The daily flying shows are the best event to book at the centre and provide an unparalleled opportunity to get up close to eagles, hawks, and owls.

Strap on your bird-handling glove and enjoy the experience of having these mighty birds of prey fly from their perch to your hand in the centre’s designated flying area – when we mentioned up close, we meant it! There’s no better way to see these birds in action; you’ll see how much you can learn when the bird is right before you. Experience covers each bird’s habitat and diet and how they’ve evolved to hunt! You can understand why an owl flies silently, eagles have such massive talons, and hawks are so agile. The flying show takes about 90 minutes, is available all year, and costs £125 for 1 person, £200 for two.

Stop by the Education Cabin Centre

The Education Cabin is where you can dive in and learn more about the wealth of species within the country and the rest of the world. Inside are graphs, informative text, and beautiful models showing off the many birds and their unique quirks and habits.

Birds are truly fascinating creatures that have adapted to survive in entirely different ways than other animals – learn about why and how within a few minutes at this informative cabin. Some unique exhibits are the bird skeletons, which contrast and show off what these magnificent creatures look like once you remove the feathers and flesh.

It’s recommended you check out the Education Cabin before you visit Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre’s other attractions.

Go on a Hawk Walk

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’d feel like to have a hunting hawk without any hunting, then trying out the Bird of Prey Centre’s Hawk Walk is as close to the real thing as you can get! With a bird-handling glove strapped on, you can experience the feeling of having one of the centre’s hawks flit from tree to tree as you walk, following you every step of the way.

As you walk alongside the volunteers, you’ll learn how the hawk has specifically adapted hunting skills, how they act as predators in the wild, and manage to balance on the edge of survival every day. Watching the bird fly from tree to tree is also an excellent way to learn how these birds of prey can soar when they drop down to pick up a treat from you.

The experience takes about an hour in total and features a beautiful walk. Going on a Hawk Walk costs £70 for 1 person and £100 for two.

Meet the Birds

If you need more opportunities to meet the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre birds, we recommend opting for the Meet the Birds experience. You can choose between two experiences, Meet the Owls and Meet the Birds.

Meet the Owls offers the chance to meet the beautiful owls that call the centre their home, where you can learn how different owls are compared to the rest of the bird species in the world. You’ll have the opportunity to see the birds up close and even have a few of them fly to you! There’s no better way to enjoy the silent soaring of these birds.

Meet the Birds instead covers all the other birds of prey that the centre has, including hawks, kestrels, and even the magnificent golden eagle – the premier bird of the centre. These majestic birds are one of the biggest in Scotland and will surely make a memory you won’t soon forget!

The Meet the Owls is approximately one and a half hours, while the Meet the Birds covers two hours. Meet the Owls is also slightly cheaper, £75 for 1 person and £125 for two, while Meet the Birds costs £125 for 1 person and £75 for two.

Walk the Discovery Trail

The Discovery Trail is one of the newest additions to the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre! It offers guests the chance to see the conservation work done by the centre and meet some of the birds of prey. With a guided booklet, you’ll follow a trail of questions and clues to discover more about the resident birds living here.

It’s an excellent way to learn more about how your actions can help make the environment for these birds more habitable and the best practices you can take to get involved with conservation. It’s one of the most popular destinations for school trips and educational groups, so if you’re planning something for your office or school, call the centre!

Stay at Loch Lomond Accommodation

Thankfully, Loch Lomond is flush with fantastic accommodation options you can stay at. If you’ve ever wanted to wake up to stunning views of Ben Lomond and the tranquil Loch Lomond, staying at one of the accommodations here in Balloch is the best bet!

There are plenty of hotels, self-catering homes, and bed and breakfasts. We’ve covered everything you need to know about accommodation options in the area, so feel free to read more before you make your final choice!