Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

We have just returned from a fabulous week at Aigas, a unique base from which to see the wildlife of the Highlands. The Field Centre is the stately home of Sir John and Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye, who are so welcoming and are the perfect hosts. They made us feel more like family guests than customers, which was immediately proved by the number of guests on our programme that have stayed there many times before. In fact, we seemed to be virtually the only first-timers, although it definitely won't be our last! The accommodation and meals are excellent, all under the personal supervision of Lady Lucy; and the wildlife programmes were extremely well organised. The programs themselves are led by both permanent and seasonal rangers, who all have a superb knowledge of the wildlife, history and geology of Scotland. Even the newer staff had all been trained extremely well, to have managed to learn so much knowledge to impart to us. It was also obvious that they all have genuine enthusiasm and take real personal pride in the work that they do for the centre. Aigas is set in a beautiful country setting, which contains its own loch and wildlife hides, containing a wide variety of Highland wildlife. It must be one of the few places where you could be lucky enough to see amongst other things, pine martens, otters and beavers. As well as learning so much, it was an extremely relaxing way to leave the rat-race for a week and do something much more full-filling instead. This is a very special place and a testament to the Lister-Kaye's for creating such a wonderful environment and also to all of the staff who do such a first-class job. We will definitely return again in the future to experience some of their other wildlife programmes.
read moreread less

Darren C

×

Darren C

We have just returned from a fabulous week at Aigas, a unique base from which to see the wildlife of the Highlands. The Field Centre is the stately home of Sir John and Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye, who are so welcoming and are the perfect hosts. They made us feel more like family guests than customers, which was immediately proved by the number of guests on our programme that have stayed there many times before. In fact, we seemed to be virtually the only first-timers, although it definitely won't be our last! The accommodation and meals are excellent, all under the personal supervision of Lady Lucy; and the wildlife programmes were extremely well organised. The programs themselves are led by both permanent and seasonal rangers, who all have a superb knowledge of the wildlife, history and geology of Scotland. Even the newer staff had all been trained extremely well, to have managed to learn so much knowledge to impart to us. It was also obvious that they all have genuine enthusiasm and take real personal pride in the work that they do for the centre. Aigas is set in a beautiful country setting, which contains its own loch and wildlife hides, containing a wide variety of Highland wildlife. It must be one of the few places where you could be lucky enough to see amongst other things, pine martens, otters and beavers. As well as learning so much, it was an extremely relaxing way to leave the rat-race for a week and do something much more full-filling instead. This is a very special place and a testament to the Lister-Kaye's for creating such a wonderful environment and also to all of the staff who do such a first-class job. We will definitely return again in the future to experience some of their other wildlife programmes.
We spent two lovely weeks in August at Aigas House and Field Center on a Road Scholar Tour, exploring the Scottish Highlands, a wonderfully rich experience that exceeded all our expectations. We hiked in gorgeous glens and moorlands, watched dolphins leaping alongside us in the Moray Firth, and spent quiet time in Aigas's nature "hides" at nightfall, watching for badgers, pine martens and beaver to appear. We visited castles and learned about their dramatic histories, and enjoyed hearing the Aigas Rangers recount local lore and anecdotes while teaching us about Highlands flora, fauna and geology, which they so obviously love. We were treated to a house tour and tea at historic Arniston House hosted by the lady of the house and her daughter. We visited with a local crofter who brought us into her home and told us about her family's 75 years on the land, highlighted by a visit to her beautiful flower and vegetable garden overlooking cattle grazing on rolling pastures. We learned about Aigas's inspiring efforts, led by Sir John Lister-Kaye and the Aigas Rangers, helping to restore native wildlife species and habitats in collaboration with the Scottish National Trust and non-profits such as Trees For Life, an organization that painstakingly nurtures native seedling trees for Highlands reforestation projects. Lady Lucy and her Aigas staff provided for our every need with warm personal attention, gracious hospitality and wonderful cuisine. Lady Lucy's guided tour of the Aigas house and gardens were a highlight of our stay. We were inspired, awed and enchanted, and fell in love with this place and the people we met. We hope to visit again soon.
read moreread less

Lois E

×

Lois E

We spent two lovely weeks in August at Aigas House and Field Center on a Road Scholar Tour, exploring the Scottish Highlands, a wonderfully rich experience that exceeded all our expectations. We hiked in gorgeous glens and moorlands, watched dolphins leaping alongside us in the Moray Firth, and spent quiet time in Aigas's nature "hides" at nightfall, watching for badgers, pine martens and beaver to appear. We visited castles and learned about their dramatic histories, and enjoyed hearing the Aigas Rangers recount local lore and anecdotes while teaching us about Highlands flora, fauna and geology, which they so obviously love. We were treated to a house tour and tea at historic Arniston House hosted by the lady of the house and her daughter. We visited with a local crofter who brought us into her home and told us about her family's 75 years on the land, highlighted by a visit to her beautiful flower and vegetable garden overlooking cattle grazing on rolling pastures. We learned about Aigas's inspiring efforts, led by Sir John Lister-Kaye and the Aigas Rangers, helping to restore native wildlife species and habitats in collaboration with the Scottish National Trust and non-profits such as Trees For Life, an organization that painstakingly nurtures native seedling trees for Highlands reforestation projects. Lady Lucy and her Aigas staff provided for our every need with warm personal attention, gracious hospitality and wonderful cuisine. Lady Lucy's guided tour of the Aigas house and gardens were a highlight of our stay. We were inspired, awed and enchanted, and fell in love with this place and the people we met. We hope to visit again soon.
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.
read moreread less

LINDA J

×

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.