Wellness & Wildlife Week
A week to unwind – a new programme created by our Senior Ranger Emilie Shuttlewood for 2026, our ‘Wellness and Wildlife’ week is for anyone who wants to discover some of our local wildlife, such as golden eagles and bottlenose dolphins, whilst enjoying a relaxing stay at Aigas – complete with crafting and wellness activities.
Highlights
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Yoga classes every day led by professional yoga instructor, Caoimhe Keohane.
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Expert guiding from our rangers who are eager to share their local knowledge with you.
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Wellness activities – from foraging to forest meditation.
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Free time on site to enjoy the Aigas estate including access to our on-site hides and trails which are fantastic for watching red squirrels and woodland birds.
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Crafting workshops – from painting with natural dyes to making nature-themed ornaments.
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The opportunity to learn more about our ‘Wildcat Captive Breeding Programme’ and the chance to visit one of our wildcats, Coll.
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An evening hide visit led by one of our rangers to look for our nocturnal residents – badgers, pine martens and maybe some owls!
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Breakfast, packed-lunches, afternoon tea and three-course dinners provided throughout the week.
What to expect
Begin your week on the Aigas estate, learning about our ongoing conservation projects and meeting the wildlife that shares our home. Spot ospreys fishing on the loch, watch crossbills and red squirrels in the woodland, and discover our well-placed hides for quiet observation throughout your stay. Each day will also offer a yoga class led by professional yoga teacher Caoimhe Keohane, who will also lead our forest meditation sessions.
A trip to the Black Isle will give you the chance to spot a wealth of farmland bird species like yellowhammers, linnets and grey partridges, as well as looking out for bottlenose dolphins on the Moray Firth. A stop at RSPB Udale Bay provides great birdwatching: waders such as oystercatchers, bar and black-tailed godwits, curlew and redshank can be spotted, and maybe even a fishing osprey. We will stop in the charming village of Cromarty which is bursting with history and is home to quaint pottery and antique shops. A visit to a beautiful beach will allow us to collect seaweed so we can later learn how to press them and make preserved herbarium specimens and prints.
A day on site will give you the chance to slow down and go at your own pace – whether that is wildlife watching in our custom-built hides, sharing poetry and nature readings, or partaking in a range of crafting activities.
Midweek we will venture into the fabulous local Caledonian Pinewoods which are thriving with native trees and bursting with wonderful wildflowers. Such a unique place is perfect for forest meditation and relaxing in the tranquil environment, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this ancient native landscape. We will also be on the lookout for golden eagles that patrol the skies as well as tree pipits, wood warblers and redstarts.
Walking improves mood and wellbeing so there will be the option to head out on a beautiful walk on the west coast, a place that holds lots of incredible wildlife too; we will primarily be on the lookout for our largest bird of prey, the white-tailed eagle.
During the course of the week, you will be based on the Aigas Estate, where the wildlife is on your doorstep the entire week. Whilst you will be staying in cosy lodges in the house’s arboretum, you will also have access to our extensive natural history library, whilst you can enjoy meals in our magnificent baronial hall. Alongside daytime excursions, you will have the chance to spend an evening in one of our wildlife hides to look out for pine martens and badgers – both frequent visitors.
