Name: Aigas Field Centre
Address: Aigas Field Centre, Beauly, Inverness, Scotland, IV4 7AD
Telephone: +441463782443
Rating: 5

We were impressed by the tranquil beauty of the Aigas property, a carefully restored Victorian estate and gardens. On our arrival, we received a warm greeting by the owners, Sir John and Lady Lucinda Lister-Kaye and their professional team of highly trained, good-humoured rangers. The delicious, plentiful meals and afternoon tea in the Great Hall of their mansion were wonderful; however, what we most appreciated was their commitment to enhance our knowledge of conservation, environmental issues, and the native wildlife and flora. The day trips afforded us a marvellous opportunity to learn about the geology and history of the Highlands. These were enhanced by evening lectures by Sir John and his team; visits to the blinds to see the badgers, re-introduced European beavers, and rare Scottish wildcats. We also enjoyed Sir John's historical house tour, the traditional music, and a magical evening of story telling. Perhaps our best day was spent with Sir John's son, Warwick, who normally devotes his time to managing Aigas. His knowledge of the local wildflowers, birds, and mammals in the nearby lochs and hills was astonishing: we watched golden eagles circling above the mountain summits; we saw the silhouettes of, native red deer stags on the hilltops, and watched peregrine falcon juveniles try their wings by targeting a fleeing kestral. We particularly appreciated the Aigas team's passion and commitment to environmental education, as well as their sensitivity and concern for people and this vulnerable planet. I admire their ethics, generosity and kindness toward their guests. We intend to return to this top calibre facility, which exceeded all of our expectations.
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Laura288

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Laura288

We were impressed by the tranquil beauty of the Aigas property, a carefully restored Victorian estate and gardens. On our arrival, we received a warm greeting by the owners, Sir John and Lady Lucinda Lister-Kaye and their professional team of highly trained, good-humoured rangers. The delicious, plentiful meals and afternoon tea in the Great Hall of their mansion were wonderful; however, what we most appreciated was their commitment to enhance our knowledge of conservation, environmental issues, and the native wildlife and flora. The day trips afforded us a marvellous opportunity to learn about the geology and history of the Highlands. These were enhanced by evening lectures by Sir John and his team; visits to the blinds to see the badgers, re-introduced European beavers, and rare Scottish wildcats. We also enjoyed Sir John's historical house tour, the traditional music, and a magical evening of story telling. Perhaps our best day was spent with Sir John's son, Warwick, who normally devotes his time to managing Aigas. His knowledge of the local wildflowers, birds, and mammals in the nearby lochs and hills was astonishing: we watched golden eagles circling above the mountain summits; we saw the silhouettes of, native red deer stags on the hilltops, and watched peregrine falcon juveniles try their wings by targeting a fleeing kestral. We particularly appreciated the Aigas team's passion and commitment to environmental education, as well as their sensitivity and concern for people and this vulnerable planet. I admire their ethics, generosity and kindness toward their guests. We intend to return to this top calibre facility, which exceeded all of our expectations.
We selected the Road Scholar trip that brought us to the Aigas Field Centre for a 7 night stay. Each day taught us about and brought us to a varied selection of Highlands' experiences from the Culloden Battlefield to the Cawdor Castle. We took hikes, observed wild life from hides (blinds) and enjoyed the hospitality of Lady Lucy and Sir John. The manor home is amazing and social time and dinners were held there. We each stayed in guest cottages a short walk away. Accommodations were comfortable....it felt a little like staying at a camp for a week but with much better beds and an ensuite bathroom! The field rangers who led our varied experiences are young, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about the nature, geology and history of the region. They took great care of us on the hikes including helping me down some rather step rock steps on one hike. They also served us tea, coffee, or hot chocolate out of the back of their vehicles for our picnic lunch stops and at tea time if we were not getting back in time for tea at Aigas. The scenery is amazingly varied, rugged and beautiful. Other folks who stayed for a more nature centered week also were enthusiastic about their experiences and the wide variety of bird and plant species seen. Social times were fun too as the Americans in the Road Scholar group met and talked with the local UKers visiting for the wildlife experiences. This was such a great way to experience the Highlands and its amazing environment.
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Barbara N

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Barbara N

We selected the Road Scholar trip that brought us to the Aigas Field Centre for a 7 night stay. Each day taught us about and brought us to a varied selection of Highlands' experiences from the Culloden Battlefield to the Cawdor Castle. We took hikes, observed wild life from hides (blinds) and enjoyed the hospitality of Lady Lucy and Sir John. The manor home is amazing and social time and dinners were held there. We each stayed in guest cottages a short walk away. Accommodations were comfortable....it felt a little like staying at a camp for a week but with much better beds and an ensuite bathroom! The field rangers who led our varied experiences are young, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable about the nature, geology and history of the region. They took great care of us on the hikes including helping me down some rather step rock steps on one hike. They also served us tea, coffee, or hot chocolate out of the back of their vehicles for our picnic lunch stops and at tea time if we were not getting back in time for tea at Aigas. The scenery is amazingly varied, rugged and beautiful. Other folks who stayed for a more nature centered week also were enthusiastic about their experiences and the wide variety of bird and plant species seen. Social times were fun too as the Americans in the Road Scholar group met and talked with the local UKers visiting for the wildlife experiences. This was such a great way to experience the Highlands and its amazing environment.
I spent two weeks under the aegis of the Aigas Field Centre, the first week at the Centre itself and the second on the tour of the Outer Hebrides. The accomodation in the individual wooden chalets at the Centre is very comfortable and provides tea/coffee making facilities and ample hot water for a shower/bath. The home cooking is a delight; we looked forward in anticipation to the freshly baked cakes provided in the Common Room where we gathered for tea on our return from "the field". The Rangers are relatively young university graduates, very knowledgable, enthusiastic and considerate. At 83, I am not that nimble on my feet, but I need not have worried - the Rangers that accompanied my two weeks (Ed at the Centre and Donald in the Outer Hebrides) took very good care of us all. For the most part, I would guess that the people on my two weeks were of age 50+, but the Centre does run courses for Families and Children, too. As others have written on this page, the wildlife views on the Aigas Weeks are comprehensive and frequently close up and the Outer Hebrides tour is a wonderful mix of local and natural history, with some geomorphology thrown in for good measure. In the glens and hills local to the Centre, one is pretty well assured of excellent sightings of relative rarities that one is unlikely to find by oneself and Donald's extensive local knowledge proved invaluable in the Outer Hebrides. Excellent binoculars are available for hire at the Centre. Highy recommended!
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TonyW20

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TonyW20

I spent two weeks under the aegis of the Aigas Field Centre, the first week at the Centre itself and the second on the tour of the Outer Hebrides. The accomodation in the individual wooden chalets at the Centre is very comfortable and provides tea/coffee making facilities and ample hot water for a shower/bath. The home cooking is a delight; we looked forward in anticipation to the freshly baked cakes provided in the Common Room where we gathered for tea on our return from "the field". The Rangers are relatively young university graduates, very knowledgable, enthusiastic and considerate. At 83, I am not that nimble on my feet, but I need not have worried - the Rangers that accompanied my two weeks (Ed at the Centre and Donald in the Outer Hebrides) took very good care of us all. For the most part, I would guess that the people on my two weeks were of age 50+, but the Centre does run courses for Families and Children, too. As others have written on this page, the wildlife views on the Aigas Weeks are comprehensive and frequently close up and the Outer Hebrides tour is a wonderful mix of local and natural history, with some geomorphology thrown in for good measure. In the glens and hills local to the Centre, one is pretty well assured of excellent sightings of relative rarities that one is unlikely to find by oneself and Donald's extensive local knowledge proved invaluable in the Outer Hebrides. Excellent binoculars are available for hire at the Centre. Highy recommended!