Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

The hosts at Aigas were Sir John and Lady Lucy Lister Kaye, he a naturalist and writer and she a gardener and superb cook. Both were gracious, welcoming and most informative. The rangers who drove the vehicles to take us to Scottish places of interest were very capable and kind. Scotland,in the Highlands is bewitching. Was not surprised to find the weather too cool and wet. Out of ten days three were sunny and the sky blue. Those three days were a surprise. A traveler comes prepared. The cabins we stayed in were fine. Each room had its private bathroom. All meals, teas and talks took place in the manor house. Three fine dogs were a bonus.
read moreread less

Carole S

×

Carole S

The hosts at Aigas were Sir John and Lady Lucy Lister Kaye, he a naturalist and writer and she a gardener and superb cook. Both were gracious, welcoming and most informative. The rangers who drove the vehicles to take us to Scottish places of interest were very capable and kind. Scotland,in the Highlands is bewitching. Was not surprised to find the weather too cool and wet. Out of ten days three were sunny and the sky blue. Those three days were a surprise. A traveler comes prepared. The cabins we stayed in were fine. Each room had its private bathroom. All meals, teas and talks took place in the manor house. Three fine dogs were a bonus.
I stayed at Aigas for five days with my daughter and we have never ever seen so much wildlife in such a short space of time. We got up early to visit the beaver before he went home to bed and after dinner we went to the hide to watch the pine martens. On top of that the rangers took us for walks and tours and a boat trip on the Moray Firth. The boat trip was the highlight of the week as we were lucky enough to not only see bottle-nosed dolphins leaping out of the water but also 6 basking sharks around the rib and swimming under us, there were another 4-5 away in the distance. It was an awesome experience. The staff at the Centre were very friendly and helpful and Sir John and Lady Lucy were the most hospitable hosts. The food was amazing. Warwick says that nothing is too much trouble and they certainly lived up to that claim. Try it for yourself you won't regret it. It is suitable for anyone even if they are on their own as you soon make friends.
read moreread less

No1photosnapperEssex

×

No1photosnapperEssex

I stayed at Aigas for five days with my daughter and we have never ever seen so much wildlife in such a short space of time. We got up early to visit the beaver before he went home to bed and after dinner we went to the hide to watch the pine martens. On top of that the rangers took us for walks and tours and a boat trip on the Moray Firth. The boat trip was the highlight of the week as we were lucky enough to not only see bottle-nosed dolphins leaping out of the water but also 6 basking sharks around the rib and swimming under us, there were another 4-5 away in the distance. It was an awesome experience. The staff at the Centre were very friendly and helpful and Sir John and Lady Lucy were the most hospitable hosts. The food was amazing. Warwick says that nothing is too much trouble and they certainly lived up to that claim. Try it for yourself you won't regret it. It is suitable for anyone even if they are on their own as you soon make friends.
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.
read moreread less

Keith S

×

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.