Popular tourist attraction is put on the market

Owners Chris and Suzanne O'Donnell are selling the award- winning centre, which they established in 1991.

Based just off the A65 near Settle, it attracts more than 70,000 visitors a year and has won 19 national business awards including the Yorkshire Tourist Board White Rose Award.

Visitor facilities within the 13.5 acre site include a caf/restaurant, lecture theatre, shop, play area and staff accommodation.

Beyond the main flying arena which is used for falconry displays and training courses, there are numerous barns and aviaries for housing and breeding the birds.

The centre also has planning permission for a 36-bedroom hotel, 40,000 square feet exhibition hall and further consent for a six bedroomed house for the owner.

Peter Smith, of estate agents Humberts, says: "This is a fascinating and unique visitor attraction with an excellent trading record, with great potential for further development. We expect keen interest in the business both locally and from further afield."

The O'Donnells founded the business after Suzanne spotted a barn during a walking trip between Settle and Austwick.

She knocked on the farmer's door and agreed the sale!

The small barn now forms part of the original falconry centre development.

"We have achieved a lot on the site," said Mrs O'Donnell. "There has been a lot of planning on the site and we feel there is a lot of scope for the centre.

"We want to sell it as a going concern and there has been quite a lot of interest already. I feel personally that the time for me is right to go now. I got it up and running and now want to try other things."

The falconry centre, which employs 11 people, became embroiled in a planning controversy when the O'Donnells sought planning permission to enlarge their retail area.

Plans for the 1,060 square metre shop caused controversy with local traders and fell foul of planners.

In March last year the planning inspectors upheld Craven District Council's decision to reject the application.