Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

Did this as part of Road Scholar. Best trip ever. I can only say that if you like comfortable, somewhat rustic accommodations and like to wake up to the songs of birds, you’ll like this. You are treated to excellent meals, a bit of history, and taken to diverse areas of the scenic beauty of the Highlands. The rangers who accompany you are very knowledgeable and can answer almost any question about history and nature. If they cannot answer it, the main house of Aigas has an incredible reference library at your disposal. The rangers are also a joy to be with. The Aigas staff makes it very clear that if you need anything, just let them know and they will try to accommodate your needs. The rangers handle all your luggage arriving and departing. The activity schedule varies, depending upon the weather forecast. You must be prepared for wet conditions every day. As they say “Wear your waterproofs.” No need for major hiking boots, but shoes with a “hiking” shoe tread important, since you occasionally must cross wet rocks. Nice thick socks also wise. They have midges there (we call them no-see-ums). They sell Smidge in the Aigas gift shop. Smidge was also recommended to fight against deer ticks. I only saw one deer tick on the trip. That was enough. Nobody was bitten. Temperatures were in the higher 60’s most days. Refreshing to most. It's obvious that TripAdvisor does not know that there are no HOT days there. I found trekking poles to be most helpful on the days we went on short trails. There were options offered on some trails - an easy and more challenging route. Rangers split up to accommodate the preferences. Wi-Fi is only available in the Common Room of the main house. The main house is open from 7:45 a.m. until about 9:00 p.m. There are no TV’s and the phone in the cabin is only for calling the main house in case of an emergency. The Common Room of the cabin has comfortable seating, magazines, books, a dining table, a kitchen. In the kitchen, there is a basket with Walker Shortbread, hot chocolate mix, teas and instant coffees. They provide an electric water kettle and porcelain cups. There are two bottles of water. After you finish those, you must reuse the bottle by filling with tap water. The tap is a tad tan from being percolated through peat, but nobody suffered any ills from it. The guestroom curtain is thick enough to block light, but I needed a clothespin to bring it together at the top. There are very few hours of darkness in the summer. Each guestroom has its own bathroom with a walk-in shower and towel warmer. Also provided are glycerin soaps, shampoo and conditioner. Bring a travel alarm. The schedule for the following day is written on a board in the main house Common Room. Breakfast is at 8, vans leave on adventures at 9:15 after a 15 minute briefing. Some days we ate a provided packed lunch on the road. Comfort breaks occurred about every 2 hours. On the road, they would bring along hot chocolate, tea and coffee. We were provided with an insulated, capped coffee cup. Tea and some sweets were provided about 4:30 at the main house. Cocktail time was 6, dinner at 6:30. People tried to look a little dressier for dinner, but women simply put on a wrap/shawl. Simple is better. They did have a laundry service. Allow time to stroll the grounds of Aigas. The gardens are beautiful. I felt so fortunate to be a guest there with such an incredible family and such wonderful hosts. I highly recommend reading at least one of Sir John Lister-Kaye’s books. Their experiences in the wilds boggle the mind. They are truly a very rare family.
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retiredJB

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retiredJB

Did this as part of Road Scholar. Best trip ever. I can only say that if you like comfortable, somewhat rustic accommodations and like to wake up to the songs of birds, you’ll like this. You are treated to excellent meals, a bit of history, and taken to diverse areas of the scenic beauty of the Highlands. The rangers who accompany you are very knowledgeable and can answer almost any question about history and nature. If they cannot answer it, the main house of Aigas has an incredible reference library at your disposal. The rangers are also a joy to be with. The Aigas staff makes it very clear that if you need anything, just let them know and they will try to accommodate your needs. The rangers handle all your luggage arriving and departing. The activity schedule varies, depending upon the weather forecast. You must be prepared for wet conditions every day. As they say “Wear your waterproofs.” No need for major hiking boots, but shoes with a “hiking” shoe tread important, since you occasionally must cross wet rocks. Nice thick socks also wise. They have midges there (we call them no-see-ums). They sell Smidge in the Aigas gift shop. Smidge was also recommended to fight against deer ticks. I only saw one deer tick on the trip. That was enough. Nobody was bitten. Temperatures were in the higher 60’s most days. Refreshing to most. It's obvious that TripAdvisor does not know that there are no HOT days there. I found trekking poles to be most helpful on the days we went on short trails. There were options offered on some trails - an easy and more challenging route. Rangers split up to accommodate the preferences. Wi-Fi is only available in the Common Room of the main house. The main house is open from 7:45 a.m. until about 9:00 p.m. There are no TV’s and the phone in the cabin is only for calling the main house in case of an emergency. The Common Room of the cabin has comfortable seating, magazines, books, a dining table, a kitchen. In the kitchen, there is a basket with Walker Shortbread, hot chocolate mix, teas and instant coffees. They provide an electric water kettle and porcelain cups. There are two bottles of water. After you finish those, you must reuse the bottle by filling with tap water. The tap is a tad tan from being percolated through peat, but nobody suffered any ills from it. The guestroom curtain is thick enough to block light, but I needed a clothespin to bring it together at the top. There are very few hours of darkness in the summer. Each guestroom has its own bathroom with a walk-in shower and towel warmer. Also provided are glycerin soaps, shampoo and conditioner. Bring a travel alarm. The schedule for the following day is written on a board in the main house Common Room. Breakfast is at 8, vans leave on adventures at 9:15 after a 15 minute briefing. Some days we ate a provided packed lunch on the road. Comfort breaks occurred about every 2 hours. On the road, they would bring along hot chocolate, tea and coffee. We were provided with an insulated, capped coffee cup. Tea and some sweets were provided about 4:30 at the main house. Cocktail time was 6, dinner at 6:30. People tried to look a little dressier for dinner, but women simply put on a wrap/shawl. Simple is better. They did have a laundry service. Allow time to stroll the grounds of Aigas. The gardens are beautiful. I felt so fortunate to be a guest there with such an incredible family and such wonderful hosts. I highly recommend reading at least one of Sir John Lister-Kaye’s books. Their experiences in the wilds boggle the mind. They are truly a very rare family.
Had another, and rather splendid, go at one of Aigas Field Centre's excellent programmes: Spring Birds 2011. A really excellent experience! A very enthousiastic ranger and a good bunch of experienced and not so experienced birders made this programme one of the best. Make sure you bring your camera for some of the views are rather stunning.
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Theodie

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Theodie

Had another, and rather splendid, go at one of Aigas Field Centre's excellent programmes: Spring Birds 2011. A really excellent experience! A very enthousiastic ranger and a good bunch of experienced and not so experienced birders made this programme one of the best. Make sure you bring your camera for some of the views are rather stunning.
I have loved all the organised courses I did at Aigas (Aigas Wildlife Spring & Summer) but found I was kept SO busy visiting other parts of Scotland, that I never really explored the Field Centre itself. I therefore asked to tack 3 days 4 nights onto the end of their wonderful Outer Hebrides trip (summer 2010). I visited the Loch Hide very early one morning and was spoilt to see not only 4 of the EuropeanBeavers out and about, but also an Osprey at the Loch. I had a wonderful encounter with a big group of of lovely birds in the plantation. I saw a family of Wrens with young and Treecreepers with the help of a ranger. I was privilaged to see Roe Deer and have VERY close encounters with other Birds at the hill top hide. If a course is being run at the same time as your customised visit you are able to join the group for certain activities, e.g. Pine Marten and Badger nightime hide visit, etc. As always the food produced under Lady Lucy's guidance was simply scrumptious, and the family and rangers were VERY welcoming. This is an experience not to be missed. At the beginning of April 2011, I am again visiting but this time I am joined by a friend from Ohio.
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HJefferson

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HJefferson

I have loved all the organised courses I did at Aigas (Aigas Wildlife Spring & Summer) but found I was kept SO busy visiting other parts of Scotland, that I never really explored the Field Centre itself. I therefore asked to tack 3 days 4 nights onto the end of their wonderful Outer Hebrides trip (summer 2010). I visited the Loch Hide very early one morning and was spoilt to see not only 4 of the EuropeanBeavers out and about, but also an Osprey at the Loch. I had a wonderful encounter with a big group of of lovely birds in the plantation. I saw a family of Wrens with young and Treecreepers with the help of a ranger. I was privilaged to see Roe Deer and have VERY close encounters with other Birds at the hill top hide. If a course is being run at the same time as your customised visit you are able to join the group for certain activities, e.g. Pine Marten and Badger nightime hide visit, etc. As always the food produced under Lady Lucy's guidance was simply scrumptious, and the family and rangers were VERY welcoming. This is an experience not to be missed. At the beginning of April 2011, I am again visiting but this time I am joined by a friend from Ohio.