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

We had a brilliant 4 days at Aigas Field Centre in September. We had booked via the tailormade option, and enjoyed having some time to ourselves to explore the estate and spend hours in the hides (the Pinewood was particularly good for red squirrels, and we took some great photos) but also had excellent safaris with Aigas's rangers. We went in search of raft spiders and feral goats on one trip, with great photographic opportunities at a waterfall with plenty of fungi and wood ant nests to macro, and another afternoon did a slow walk around the Aigas lake, looking at insects and fungi. The rangers' knowledge and enthusiasm was excellent and made our stay very enjoyable. Our thanks also to Sir John and Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye, for some lovely rhino-related conversations and great care with my complicated dietary restrictions. The rooms are simple but exactly what's needed - warm, clean and comfortable - after long days out in search of otters and pine martens. We'll visit again, I am sure.
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CathyRhino

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CathyRhino

We had a brilliant 4 days at Aigas Field Centre in September. We had booked via the tailormade option, and enjoyed having some time to ourselves to explore the estate and spend hours in the hides (the Pinewood was particularly good for red squirrels, and we took some great photos) but also had excellent safaris with Aigas's rangers. We went in search of raft spiders and feral goats on one trip, with great photographic opportunities at a waterfall with plenty of fungi and wood ant nests to macro, and another afternoon did a slow walk around the Aigas lake, looking at insects and fungi. The rangers' knowledge and enthusiasm was excellent and made our stay very enjoyable. Our thanks also to Sir John and Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye, for some lovely rhino-related conversations and great care with my complicated dietary restrictions. The rooms are simple but exactly what's needed - warm, clean and comfortable - after long days out in search of otters and pine martens. We'll visit again, I am sure.
This was my second visit to the Aigas Field Centre. I attended Aigas Wildlife in June 2015, and although the weather wasn't the best I had a wonderful week and fell in love with the location and people. As a keen photographer I returned in July 2016 to participate in the Photography Masterclass with Scottish nature photographer Laurie Campbell. The Field Centre itself is gorgeous. Guests stay in log cabins, all with ensuite shower (some with baths), each cabin also has a communal living area. They are pretty basic, but warm and very comfortable and to be honest, you won't spend a whole lot of time there! Meals are served in the main house, in the vaulted dining room. The moto is "nothing's too much trouble" and Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye will amend the menus to suit any diet. The food was delicious. Porridge for breakfast, lunch generally in the field, afternoon tea and a three course dinner. The grounds include a wonderful small loch in which live a few beavers (not easy to see though), there are pine martens, local ospreys, badgers, birds and insects. Guests can spend time in the Campbell Hide watching the pine martens or in the beaver hide which overlooks the loch so there's the chance to see any of the animals who use it. I'd highly recommend rising early to experience the sunrise over the loch - it's stunning. All trips are conducted in comfortable minibuses with a knowledgeable ranger armed with a scope on hand to point out significant wildlife and much more. On both my visits we went to a number of gorgeous local glens, and on Aigas Wildlife there's a visit to the West Coast and to the Cromarty for the Ecoventures dolphin trip (also highly recommended). For those interested in photographing wildlife, the masterclass was inspiring. Laurie Campbell is a great teacher, and leads by example - he never stops looking for the perfect photograph. We had the chance to photograph mountain hares, red deer, pine martens, dolphins, otters, common toads, insects and fauna. It was a small group so there was plenty of one-to-one time. In summary it is a superb way to spend a week - you'll learn loads from the rangers, meet some lovely people and experience the most beautiful scenery.
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kfjmiller71

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kfjmiller71

This was my second visit to the Aigas Field Centre. I attended Aigas Wildlife in June 2015, and although the weather wasn't the best I had a wonderful week and fell in love with the location and people. As a keen photographer I returned in July 2016 to participate in the Photography Masterclass with Scottish nature photographer Laurie Campbell. The Field Centre itself is gorgeous. Guests stay in log cabins, all with ensuite shower (some with baths), each cabin also has a communal living area. They are pretty basic, but warm and very comfortable and to be honest, you won't spend a whole lot of time there! Meals are served in the main house, in the vaulted dining room. The moto is "nothing's too much trouble" and Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye will amend the menus to suit any diet. The food was delicious. Porridge for breakfast, lunch generally in the field, afternoon tea and a three course dinner. The grounds include a wonderful small loch in which live a few beavers (not easy to see though), there are pine martens, local ospreys, badgers, birds and insects. Guests can spend time in the Campbell Hide watching the pine martens or in the beaver hide which overlooks the loch so there's the chance to see any of the animals who use it. I'd highly recommend rising early to experience the sunrise over the loch - it's stunning. All trips are conducted in comfortable minibuses with a knowledgeable ranger armed with a scope on hand to point out significant wildlife and much more. On both my visits we went to a number of gorgeous local glens, and on Aigas Wildlife there's a visit to the West Coast and to the Cromarty for the Ecoventures dolphin trip (also highly recommended). For those interested in photographing wildlife, the masterclass was inspiring. Laurie Campbell is a great teacher, and leads by example - he never stops looking for the perfect photograph. We had the chance to photograph mountain hares, red deer, pine martens, dolphins, otters, common toads, insects and fauna. It was a small group so there was plenty of one-to-one time. In summary it is a superb way to spend a week - you'll learn loads from the rangers, meet some lovely people and experience the most beautiful scenery.
As soon as I drove into the car park to be met by a smiling ranger I had just the best time. The food was excellent, all requests catered for without problem. The rangers were great company, very engaging and informative and although I knew the area a little they showed me places I had never seen before. The mini-buses were roomy and comfortable and we were well looked after with stops for drinks etc. Accomodation was clean and comfortable, no single supplements either. By the end of the week I had logged more than 80 species of bird and lots of mammals including a whale and fabulous views of otters. The company was varied in terms of age and wildlife experience but we all got on together. i just had the most relaxing time and can't wait to go back!
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John W

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John W

As soon as I drove into the car park to be met by a smiling ranger I had just the best time. The food was excellent, all requests catered for without problem. The rangers were great company, very engaging and informative and although I knew the area a little they showed me places I had never seen before. The mini-buses were roomy and comfortable and we were well looked after with stops for drinks etc. Accomodation was clean and comfortable, no single supplements either. By the end of the week I had logged more than 80 species of bird and lots of mammals including a whale and fabulous views of otters. The company was varied in terms of age and wildlife experience but we all got on together. i just had the most relaxing time and can't wait to go back!