Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

This was a our 4th visit, the previous one being in Oct 2011. See previous report. We managed to book a place on the Nick Baker's 'Highland Wildlife Hightlights' week and had a great time. Not only a BBC presenter for many years, but also a Wildlife lecturer as well as writing Wildlife books, Nick is incredibly knowledgable and enthusiastic about all aspects of Wildlife and made an excellent guide. He is very friendly and has a great personality. He accompanied us along with a Ranger on our daily excursions. Even when we asked him very basic questions about wildlife, he never made us feel silly and was very good at explaining facts. We did all sorts that week, from a fantastic EcoVenture Boat trip with Dolphins keeping us company, to pond dipping back at Aigas, followed by an identification talk from Nick as he examined our specimens under a microscope, which projected the image onto a large screen. It was fascinating. One evening after dinner, he gave us a really entertaining talk in the lecture theatre about some of the strange critters he had made programmes about over the years. I've never laughed so much. Like previous holidays at Aigas, we had the option of the Loch side hide visits before breakfast. It was well worth getting up at the crack of dawn. Not only did we see the Aigas Beavers returning to their lodge, but an Osprey arrived and sat in a tree opposite for at least 20 minutes. Thinking it couldn't get any better, we started getting ready to leave the hide, when we spotted a Pine Martin on the far side of the Loch. He walked along the footpath giving us all a great views. We had seen the Pinemartins from the quarry hide at night, under a dim spot light, but to see one in broad daylight made us appreciate just how beautiful they are. We were elated as we returned for breakfast. There was two other groups at Aigas that week. A party of friendly Americans doing their course and our old friend Dr. David Dixon taking his group for 'Wildlife in a Highland Landscape'. We have done several of David's courses in the past, including the above one and the Autumn 'Monarchs of the Glen' and both were very enjoyable and informative. We had the pleasure of hearing one of his informative Geology of Scotland in relation to Wildlife, talks this holiday. A marine biologist by profession, David has many strings to his bow, from being an advisor to the BBC on technical issues for their Wildlife programmes, to doing research and writing scientific papers. He is a font of knowledge on all aspects of Wildlife and geology, as well as being a super bloke. Aigas does a wide range of special interest weeks and have excellent leaders running them. We will certainly have a return visit. It's just a matter of deciding which to do next. The icing on the cake this time was staying in the Round House. A wish come true! Thank you.
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Lynne H

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Lynne H

This was a our 4th visit, the previous one being in Oct 2011. See previous report. We managed to book a place on the Nick Baker's 'Highland Wildlife Hightlights' week and had a great time. Not only a BBC presenter for many years, but also a Wildlife lecturer as well as writing Wildlife books, Nick is incredibly knowledgable and enthusiastic about all aspects of Wildlife and made an excellent guide. He is very friendly and has a great personality. He accompanied us along with a Ranger on our daily excursions. Even when we asked him very basic questions about wildlife, he never made us feel silly and was very good at explaining facts. We did all sorts that week, from a fantastic EcoVenture Boat trip with Dolphins keeping us company, to pond dipping back at Aigas, followed by an identification talk from Nick as he examined our specimens under a microscope, which projected the image onto a large screen. It was fascinating. One evening after dinner, he gave us a really entertaining talk in the lecture theatre about some of the strange critters he had made programmes about over the years. I've never laughed so much. Like previous holidays at Aigas, we had the option of the Loch side hide visits before breakfast. It was well worth getting up at the crack of dawn. Not only did we see the Aigas Beavers returning to their lodge, but an Osprey arrived and sat in a tree opposite for at least 20 minutes. Thinking it couldn't get any better, we started getting ready to leave the hide, when we spotted a Pine Martin on the far side of the Loch. He walked along the footpath giving us all a great views. We had seen the Pinemartins from the quarry hide at night, under a dim spot light, but to see one in broad daylight made us appreciate just how beautiful they are. We were elated as we returned for breakfast. There was two other groups at Aigas that week. A party of friendly Americans doing their course and our old friend Dr. David Dixon taking his group for 'Wildlife in a Highland Landscape'. We have done several of David's courses in the past, including the above one and the Autumn 'Monarchs of the Glen' and both were very enjoyable and informative. We had the pleasure of hearing one of his informative Geology of Scotland in relation to Wildlife, talks this holiday. A marine biologist by profession, David has many strings to his bow, from being an advisor to the BBC on technical issues for their Wildlife programmes, to doing research and writing scientific papers. He is a font of knowledge on all aspects of Wildlife and geology, as well as being a super bloke. Aigas does a wide range of special interest weeks and have excellent leaders running them. We will certainly have a return visit. It's just a matter of deciding which to do next. The icing on the cake this time was staying in the Round House. A wish come true! Thank you.
I returned to Aigas for the fourth time for the Monarchs of the Glen programme and it was a wonderful experience in the true sense of the word. I have previously been on the Wildlife Weeks in three different seasons and thoroughly enjoyed them, so thought a programme with a more specific focus would be interesting. Our tour leader, Dr David Dixon, was a pleasure to be with: full of fascinating information about a huge variety of wildlife, well beyond the deer we had gone to see. We had excellent talks from David, Sir John and Jeff Dymond, an experienced deer stalker, that enhanced the sightings we had of red and roe deer enormously. Supporting this was the brilliant Aigas experience: the welcome, the food and the baronial hall in which it's eaten, the comfortable and warm (even when it dropped to minus 4) lodges, the spectacular highland scenery and wildlife on the estate and, of course, the people. They are what really make Aigas the place I go back to again and again. Guests temporarily become part of an extended family and every effort is made to deal with special requests. The rangers are incredibly knowledgable and a pleasure to spend time with; their enthusiasm for what they are showing you is infectious. Anyone who watched Autumnwatch will be aware of the variety of wildlife on the estate - beavers, pine martens, badgers, red squirrels and probably thousands of birds - and the days out cover a variety of different habitats and their inhabitants. A couple of people I've recommended Aigas too have said it looks expensive. It's not a bargain break but once you've paid there's no need (and few opportunities) to spend any more money: all food and drinks with dinner is included. Add to this the expertise of the rangers all day and on several evenings and I think it's worth every penny. On the long train journey back to London, we were trying to think of one thing that would make an Aigas holiday better. The only idea we came up with was more hours in the day so that you could see more - and find some time to sleep!
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LondonRuby

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LondonRuby

I returned to Aigas for the fourth time for the Monarchs of the Glen programme and it was a wonderful experience in the true sense of the word. I have previously been on the Wildlife Weeks in three different seasons and thoroughly enjoyed them, so thought a programme with a more specific focus would be interesting. Our tour leader, Dr David Dixon, was a pleasure to be with: full of fascinating information about a huge variety of wildlife, well beyond the deer we had gone to see. We had excellent talks from David, Sir John and Jeff Dymond, an experienced deer stalker, that enhanced the sightings we had of red and roe deer enormously. Supporting this was the brilliant Aigas experience: the welcome, the food and the baronial hall in which it's eaten, the comfortable and warm (even when it dropped to minus 4) lodges, the spectacular highland scenery and wildlife on the estate and, of course, the people. They are what really make Aigas the place I go back to again and again. Guests temporarily become part of an extended family and every effort is made to deal with special requests. The rangers are incredibly knowledgable and a pleasure to spend time with; their enthusiasm for what they are showing you is infectious. Anyone who watched Autumnwatch will be aware of the variety of wildlife on the estate - beavers, pine martens, badgers, red squirrels and probably thousands of birds - and the days out cover a variety of different habitats and their inhabitants. A couple of people I've recommended Aigas too have said it looks expensive. It's not a bargain break but once you've paid there's no need (and few opportunities) to spend any more money: all food and drinks with dinner is included. Add to this the expertise of the rangers all day and on several evenings and I think it's worth every penny. On the long train journey back to London, we were trying to think of one thing that would make an Aigas holiday better. The only idea we came up with was more hours in the day so that you could see more - and find some time to sleep!
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.