Aigas Field Centre is ideally located for exploring the Highlands of Scotland and the plethora of wildlife that lives here, both on the Aigas estate and in the surrounding landscape. Accompanied by an Aigas ranger, guests will spend their days in search of dolphins, eagles (both golden and white-tailed), red and black-throated divers, a plethora of waders and seabirds, red and roe deer and many more coveted native and migratory species. Pine martens and badgers are frequently seen at the Aigas hides and the loch is visited by otters and ospreys. Guests will also have to opportunity to see one of Aigas’ wildcats.
With high expectations from all the great TA reviews, I went to Aigas as part of a Road Scholar group - and Aigas met and exceeded all those expectations. My previous 2 weeks in Scotland had been as part of a photo tour that was long on photo ops, but extremely light on information about history, geology, lore, ecology, etc etc. The wonderfully trained, articulate and enthusiastic rangers at Aigas filled in all the gaps and then some. Sir John's lecture about the history of the Highlands brought the Jacobite Rebellion and so much more into sharp focus, with application to US history and today's world situations. I could have listened for another hour. Lady Lucy's concern for the needs of her guests and the dietary peculiarities of each one make the meals a delight, and she, Hermione and the rest of the staff make it clear they will do their best to make everyone's stay as wonderful as they can. And everything is done with such ease and grace. Thanks to all for a wonderful stay. I am sending my friends (and maybe will sneak back with one of them)!
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oscar505
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oscar505
With high expectations from all the great TA reviews, I went to Aigas as part of a Road Scholar group - and Aigas met and exceeded all those expectations. My previous 2 weeks in Scotland had been as part of a photo tour that was long on photo ops, but extremely light on information about history, geology, lore, ecology, etc etc. The wonderfully trained, articulate and enthusiastic rangers at Aigas filled in all the gaps and then some. Sir John's lecture about the history of the Highlands brought the Jacobite Rebellion and so much more into sharp focus, with application to US history and today's world situations. I could have listened for another hour. Lady Lucy's concern for the needs of her guests and the dietary peculiarities of each one make the meals a delight, and she, Hermione and the rest of the staff make it clear they will do their best to make everyone's stay as wonderful as they can. And everything is done with such ease and grace. Thanks to all for a wonderful stay. I am sending my friends (and maybe will sneak back with one of them)!
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.
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Keith S
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Keith S
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.
Road Scholar had a very small and wonderful group of 13 who had a wonderful learning experience in the Aigas Field Centre in Beauly, Scotland...it was a magnificent trip. We saw a great deal of the Highlands, and learned about birds, insects, trees, the rivers, history, the large animals,lochs, and I got to see a pine martin feeding at night in the Centre. It is a magical place with knowledgeable, intelligent, well-spoken young people who know their stuff. If they don't know, they will find out, and get back to you. As our group was so small, they could give us time for our many questions! Lady Lucy produced incredible meals for the Great Hall, and conversations were always interesting. Our cabin was comfy, clean, and welcoming, with a great hot shower. They will even do your laundry! This is a marvelous place for those who love Nature, and enjoy walking (ours were not especially taxing) and want to learn about and see some of the Highlands of Scotland! They have accommodations for all sorts of groups or families. Their standards are very high!
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mayflowers7
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mayflowers7
Road Scholar had a very small and wonderful group of 13 who had a wonderful learning experience in the Aigas Field Centre in Beauly, Scotland...it was a magnificent trip. We saw a great deal of the Highlands, and learned about birds, insects, trees, the rivers, history, the large animals,lochs, and I got to see a pine martin feeding at night in the Centre. It is a magical place with knowledgeable, intelligent, well-spoken young people who know their stuff. If they don't know, they will find out, and get back to you. As our group was so small, they could give us time for our many questions! Lady Lucy produced incredible meals for the Great Hall, and conversations were always interesting. Our cabin was comfy, clean, and welcoming, with a great hot shower. They will even do your laundry! This is a marvelous place for those who love Nature, and enjoy walking (ours were not especially taxing) and want to learn about and see some of the Highlands of Scotland! They have accommodations for all sorts of groups or families. Their standards are very high!
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