Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

Went to Uist with the Aigas Field Center. If you enjoy bird watching, walking, great food and comfortable accommodations, you need to check out this trip. Calum, Louis, and Martyn were fantastic guides. The group saw 93 species of birds, 7 mammals, and 10 invertebrates. I’m new to birding, so to be honest, I actually was only able to identify about half the birds (but not from the lack of the rangers and fellow travelers trying to help me.) To get the full benefit on the walks, I would highly recommend renting a good pair of binoculars from Aigas if you don’t have some. The trip isn’t just about nature. You will also visit historic sites and learn about living on Uist.
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Deborah S

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Deborah S

Went to Uist with the Aigas Field Center. If you enjoy bird watching, walking, great food and comfortable accommodations, you need to check out this trip. Calum, Louis, and Martyn were fantastic guides. The group saw 93 species of birds, 7 mammals, and 10 invertebrates. I’m new to birding, so to be honest, I actually was only able to identify about half the birds (but not from the lack of the rangers and fellow travelers trying to help me.) To get the full benefit on the walks, I would highly recommend renting a good pair of binoculars from Aigas if you don’t have some. The trip isn’t just about nature. You will also visit historic sites and learn about living on Uist.
I went to Aigas at the end of June for the Wildlife week, it was brilliant. There were about 20 of us split into two groups and we went out on trips in mini buses every day. The rangers were amazing, knowledgeable not only on their own subjects but local history, geology of the area, stories of the clans and if you had a question they usually knew the answer - if not they found it when we got back to the house either from one of the other staff or the huge range of books in the library. The rangers could spot wildlife that to the rest of us didn't appear to be there, then set up the 'scope so we could see it too. All of us were 'wildlife spotting' out of the buses and alerting the rest with 'eagle at 11 o'clock' that then turned out to be a buzzard! I hadn't been to Scotland but driving around the highlands was amazing. The weather was pretty good and one day was very bright and sunny which made some of the bays with the white sand and turquoise water look like some I have seen in the Med. My log cabin was cosy and comfortable and the bed was the best I have slept in away from home. There were late nights watching badgers and pine martins, early evenings to spot beavers feeding on lilies in the loch and early mornings to watch otters. The food was amazing, all home cooked by the lady of the house, local produce whenever possible. Everyone on the staff were lovely and couldn't do enough for you, it really was like being part of a large family. I went by myself, single lady, not always good in social situations, but there were other single people and it was so friendly and relaxed that it was easy not to feel excluded. It was great to get together in the common room before dinner to exchange details of what creatures had been seen during the day and at breakfast who had been daft enough to stay up until 3am waiting for badgers to arrive. Whatever age you are, if you love wildlife, go to Aigas. You won't be disappointed. I am going back next Sept, hopefully to watch the deer rut. Can't wait.
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LINDA J

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LINDA J

I went to Aigas at the end of June for the Wildlife week, it was brilliant. There were about 20 of us split into two groups and we went out on trips in mini buses every day. The rangers were amazing, knowledgeable not only on their own subjects but local history, geology of the area, stories of the clans and if you had a question they usually knew the answer - if not they found it when we got back to the house either from one of the other staff or the huge range of books in the library. The rangers could spot wildlife that to the rest of us didn't appear to be there, then set up the 'scope so we could see it too. All of us were 'wildlife spotting' out of the buses and alerting the rest with 'eagle at 11 o'clock' that then turned out to be a buzzard! I hadn't been to Scotland but driving around the highlands was amazing. The weather was pretty good and one day was very bright and sunny which made some of the bays with the white sand and turquoise water look like some I have seen in the Med. My log cabin was cosy and comfortable and the bed was the best I have slept in away from home. There were late nights watching badgers and pine martins, early evenings to spot beavers feeding on lilies in the loch and early mornings to watch otters. The food was amazing, all home cooked by the lady of the house, local produce whenever possible. Everyone on the staff were lovely and couldn't do enough for you, it really was like being part of a large family. I went by myself, single lady, not always good in social situations, but there were other single people and it was so friendly and relaxed that it was easy not to feel excluded. It was great to get together in the common room before dinner to exchange details of what creatures had been seen during the day and at breakfast who had been daft enough to stay up until 3am waiting for badgers to arrive. Whatever age you are, if you love wildlife, go to Aigas. You won't be disappointed. I am going back next Sept, hopefully to watch the deer rut. Can't wait.
This was a really intense week of studying nature and nothing was too much trouble for the staff and rangers who strived all the time to make the experience a fantastic one. From watching beavers in the hide on a balmy evening to a 5.15 search for otters on the Moray Firth every skill was deployed to get good sightings of all that the Scotland have to offer including great views of birds of glens and sands!. Food delicious and comfy ensuite room with our own little kitchen made for a really enjoyable week. Only problem was there were not enough hours in the day to fit everything in!
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MittensMaidenhead

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MittensMaidenhead

This was a really intense week of studying nature and nothing was too much trouble for the staff and rangers who strived all the time to make the experience a fantastic one. From watching beavers in the hide on a balmy evening to a 5.15 search for otters on the Moray Firth every skill was deployed to get good sightings of all that the Scotland have to offer including great views of birds of glens and sands!. Food delicious and comfy ensuite room with our own little kitchen made for a really enjoyable week. Only problem was there were not enough hours in the day to fit everything in!