Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

Staying at Aigas has been a dream come true. The location is stunning, the lodges cosy, overlooking the hens and allowing excellent views of the cute red squirrels running up and down the trees. The programme is quite hectic but every day brings excellent trips filled with wildlife, stunning scenery and the excellent knowledge of the rangers. They are all a very friendly bunch at Aigas, you feel part of the family, not just a playing guest. The food was glorious, all fresh home made meals and a delicious soup for starters. For me the best part were the hide visits. In the mornings around 5 enjoying the sights and sounds of dawn, the serenity of the place. In the evenings the beaver and pine marten hide. How privileged I felt to be able to see these cute animals. Aigas House is a stunning place and being given a guided tour by Lady Lucy was a highlight of the week. The gardens are so welcoming and allow you to feel really at peace. all in all a phantastic experience!
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Cora B

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Cora B

Staying at Aigas has been a dream come true. The location is stunning, the lodges cosy, overlooking the hens and allowing excellent views of the cute red squirrels running up and down the trees. The programme is quite hectic but every day brings excellent trips filled with wildlife, stunning scenery and the excellent knowledge of the rangers. They are all a very friendly bunch at Aigas, you feel part of the family, not just a playing guest. The food was glorious, all fresh home made meals and a delicious soup for starters. For me the best part were the hide visits. In the mornings around 5 enjoying the sights and sounds of dawn, the serenity of the place. In the evenings the beaver and pine marten hide. How privileged I felt to be able to see these cute animals. Aigas House is a stunning place and being given a guided tour by Lady Lucy was a highlight of the week. The gardens are so welcoming and allow you to feel really at peace. all in all a phantastic experience!
Sir John and Lady Lister-Kaye must be congratulated on creating this unique brand of comfort and wildlife in such a glorious setting. From the moment we arrived and opened the impressive front door to find a sitting room with a blazing fire, no immediate reception staff but guests quietly chatting in the sitting room we realised just how special this is. Almost everyone we met had stayed before, which tells its own tale. Tea arrived quickly, with a warm formal welcome giving us an overwhelming feeling of comfort and anticipation. Our lodge was warm too, all facilities present, surrounded by gardens, huge trees, and at night in October the sound of close-by roaring red deer stags. There were three week-long courses running at once, and for breakfast and supper all of them intermingled. This also works brilliantly as everyone swaps experiences. The food is fantastic, high quality, local, varied. The rangers are outstanding and the planning of the tours impeccable and well-varied according to weather conditions. Not all the set-pieces worked, we failed to see otters and some groups missed out on dolphins. That's wildlife, and this isn't in any sense a zoo. Sightings have to be worked for, and every effort is made to find the desired species. The pine martens performed magnificently. Sheer attention to detail in all aspects makes for a brilliant overall experience and we shall be back when we can. In terms of value-for-money it is just amazing. It is not usually available to the general public on a day basis but book on one of the courses for an unforgettable experience.
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Daphne W

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Daphne W

Sir John and Lady Lister-Kaye must be congratulated on creating this unique brand of comfort and wildlife in such a glorious setting. From the moment we arrived and opened the impressive front door to find a sitting room with a blazing fire, no immediate reception staff but guests quietly chatting in the sitting room we realised just how special this is. Almost everyone we met had stayed before, which tells its own tale. Tea arrived quickly, with a warm formal welcome giving us an overwhelming feeling of comfort and anticipation. Our lodge was warm too, all facilities present, surrounded by gardens, huge trees, and at night in October the sound of close-by roaring red deer stags. There were three week-long courses running at once, and for breakfast and supper all of them intermingled. This also works brilliantly as everyone swaps experiences. The food is fantastic, high quality, local, varied. The rangers are outstanding and the planning of the tours impeccable and well-varied according to weather conditions. Not all the set-pieces worked, we failed to see otters and some groups missed out on dolphins. That's wildlife, and this isn't in any sense a zoo. Sightings have to be worked for, and every effort is made to find the desired species. The pine martens performed magnificently. Sheer attention to detail in all aspects makes for a brilliant overall experience and we shall be back when we can. In terms of value-for-money it is just amazing. It is not usually available to the general public on a day basis but book on one of the courses for an unforgettable experience.
Staying a week at Aigas - with its grounds, rangers, and Sir John and Lady Lucy - is among the most exceptional of my many travel experiences. Think wildlife refuge and rewilding programs rolled into a refurbished Victorian estate led by Sir John Lister-Kaye, well known in the naturalist and conservation circles for his pioneering work.I stayed for a week as part of an educational tour group, and enjoyed each day fully. Through field trips, hikes, and events, I learned a great deal about Scotland's rich history and current efforts to restore biodiversity to the country. The rangers who led our trips were knowledgeable, energetic, and enthusiastic. The modest accommodations adjacent to the estate house were clean and comfortable, with big windows for spotting red squirrels and bird life. The food was creative and fabulous, served in a spectacular dining hall. The garden and grounds were breathtaking. Sir John and Lady Lucy and Hermione were gracious hosts, eager that their guests enjoyed their stay. Make sure to look closely at the center's website, because Aigas is not open to the public. Only to guests who have signed up for its various programs. I'm eyeing the list now for another adventure. Highly recommended.
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GingerBeerBaltimore

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GingerBeerBaltimore

Staying a week at Aigas - with its grounds, rangers, and Sir John and Lady Lucy - is among the most exceptional of my many travel experiences. Think wildlife refuge and rewilding programs rolled into a refurbished Victorian estate led by Sir John Lister-Kaye, well known in the naturalist and conservation circles for his pioneering work.I stayed for a week as part of an educational tour group, and enjoyed each day fully. Through field trips, hikes, and events, I learned a great deal about Scotland's rich history and current efforts to restore biodiversity to the country. The rangers who led our trips were knowledgeable, energetic, and enthusiastic. The modest accommodations adjacent to the estate house were clean and comfortable, with big windows for spotting red squirrels and bird life. The food was creative and fabulous, served in a spectacular dining hall. The garden and grounds were breathtaking. Sir John and Lady Lucy and Hermione were gracious hosts, eager that their guests enjoyed their stay. Make sure to look closely at the center's website, because Aigas is not open to the public. Only to guests who have signed up for its various programs. I'm eyeing the list now for another adventure. Highly recommended.