We just spent the most delightful week at the Aigas Field Centre. Our time there was both relaxing and jammed packed. Sir John and Lady Lucy did in indeed make us feel like guests in their home. The guides were informative with a lively interest in everything we questioned them on. The food was great. The cabins were warm and comfortable. Our daily outings were productive even when it rained. Tea at 4:00 PM was most civilized and a very pleasant way to wined down after a day on the go.

by Callum Rodger (age 11) This was my first holiday away without my family, and I came here last week for 6 days with my school. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, and Lady Lucy was really nice to us all (and she makes GREAT chocolate cupcakes). We did many activities here, walking, boat trips, castles, visiting the hides and I saw a beaver, dolphins, and golden eagles at the falconry at Dunrobbin Castle. I was in Fraser Lodge and it was really nice and comfortable. I LOVED my visit here and I'd like to come back with my parents some day. Thank you to Lady Lucy and the Rangers (Elspeth, Duncan, Dave, Brenna, Alicia, Scott and Sarah) for looking after me so well. Callum I'd also like to add my thanks to Lady Lucy as Callum has come home eating soup "with bits", flapjacks and drinking milky coffee - something I've never managed in 11 years. In all seriousness though, I'd recommend this trip for any schoolchild who has the opportunity to come here. Callum had a wonderful experience that he'll never forget, and his first comment as he came off the bus was "I want to go back, I have a brochure" !!!!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the Wildlife programme we'd booked on - the weather didn't look good and much of the wildlife we wanted to see was known to be elusive at the best of times. But thanks to the expertise, diligence and sheer overwhelming enthusiasm of the rangers - and I'd pick out Imogen and George as the ones who found us otters, sea eagles, golden eagles and a merlin - we saw everything we hoped for and more. The trips out to the west coast, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and up a number of the straths all bought new sightings but also new insights as the wildlife and flora were pointed out and explained. We rode next to leaping dolphins and diving sdeabirds in the Cromarty Firth. And there was no pretending to know things they didn't - if they didn't know they looked it up and told us later. From the hides at Aigas we saw pine marten, badger and beavers, as well as woodpeckers, owls, voles and many other species. But Aigas isn't just about the wildlife - it's about the hospitality in the comfortable lodges and then the house, with its stunning dining room and food that matches the surroundings. We didn't have a disappointing meal, Lucy provided great buffet lunches and superb dinners, from which I'd pick out the home-made soups as just outstanding, especially the spinach and lemon. To add to it all we have a great introductory talk by John Lister-Kaye, studded with jewels of poetry and prose to explain his love of nature and why he started Aigas. Even better was the finale on Friday night, when he read to the groups from his own and others' writings on the natural world - a great speaker and reader who imbues each word with meaning and feeling. If there is a criticism it is that there is a lot to do and perhaps too little time to explore the grounds at Aigas - but everything we did was worth doing. If you like your hide visits to be quiet and studious, as do I, perhaps you might want to check to see that you are there when there isn't a large American group around. They were lovely people but apt to talk constantly in the hides.. But this did not detract seriously from a fantastic week, though.