Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

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.
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No1photosnapperEssex

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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’ll start with a description of the individual elements of a stay at Aigas, with the caveat that the sum of each component, all excellent, doesn’t come close to approaching the whole. A stay at Aigas is a magical, unforgettable experience. The cabins are as they appear in photos. They are basic, sturdy, and well-maintained. They’re not charming; they aren’t beautifully decorated, but are simply and comfortably furnished and are immaculate. They are a short walk from the House. My cabin had two bedrooms, each with its own bath (tub/shower), separated by a large communal living area. I spent no time in my cabin, other than to sleep. If my week hadn’t been planned out, I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed downtime in the cabin, although the House’s inviting gathering room and library are open from 7:45 a.m. until around nine at night. The grounds and gardens are beautiful in design, perfectly maintained, and are extensive. They are themselves a reason for visiting, encompassing a large variety of named specimen trees, all labelled; long herbaceous borders; well-planted beds, and nature paths. The food is superb. There are no gimmicks—no dollops or swirls or foams or deconstructions, just simple food, locally sourced, exquisitely prepared. I was fortunate enough to have had seven dinners here, all perfect, including savory braised venison, and an impeccably roasted shoulder of lamb, accompanied by fresh, perfectly-prepared vegetables and other sides. The desserts and the “bakes” served at tea were all in-house made, and to die for. The owner, professionally trained, has written a cookbook, and I am certain could win The Great British Baking Show. Porridge for every breakfast was a bit tiring, but this may have been part of our contract/package. And, my pet peeve with almost every place in Europe is the lack of palatable artificial sweetener, and I had forgotten my Splenda stash. So, with daily porridge and no Splenda, breakfast was not my favorite meal here. As an example of their attention to detail and perfect hospitality, which I noted over and over again throughout my stay: they sent our tour leader a form on which our names were listed, requesting emergency contact information, allergies, special dietary needs, etc. The form also included space for “Comments.” Idly, I wrote in that I didn’t like salmon or trout. An hour or so after our arrival, we were seated for dinner, and plates of salmon began arriving. I figured I’d be served my plate of salmon, and it would have been no big deal—just not my favorite taste. I was amazed when one of the staff placed a delicious spinach frittata in front of me, calling me by name as she did so. And the next day, when everyone else was packing a lunch from a long table of salmon sandwiches, cheeses, fruit, etc., there was a personalized lunch bag for me, packed with a non-salmon sandwich. They really mean it when they say no request is too small. (I toyed with the idea of asking for Splenda, but there’s such a thing as being a good guest, and I felt I’d already gone too far indicating my dislike of salmon!!) The young rangers, all of whom are bright, earnest, knowledgeable and well-educated, were uniformly a joy to travel with. They drove us all over the Highlands. They took detours to show us a treasured view. Fund of knowledge excellent. On our last night, they organized a Cèilidh, a Highlands evening of poetry reading, music, and dancing; and they were genuine in their enjoyment of an evening spent with us. The hosts, Sir John and Lady Lucy were warm, concerned, and define hospitality. Lady Lucy is among the most wonderful women I have ever met. I was with a group of twenty like-minded intense garden lovers. I see on the web site that they sponsor days to weeks of special interest/themed stays, providing a base for artists and their students, photographers and their students, and various enthusiasts. During our week there were two different couples each staying a night or two. I’m not sure I would have had the same experience staying here as the primary purpose instead of using it as a base for forays around the Highlands (with the caveat that I am not a fan of long, restful, idle vacations). I think the family is wise not to have the property listed on TripAdvisor or other sites as a lodging. A photo of the rustic cabins would mislead/prejudice a casual seeker of a place to stay in the Highlands. My take-home is that this is a stellar experience, run by a family passionately committed to their ideals. They promote a good life. They promote love of the environment and an intense devotion to conserving what we have. They have brought thousands of children to their learning center for hands-on teaching of environmental conservation, believing strongly in inculcating young minds with a love of nature, and the environment.
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tonymsrad

×

tonymsrad

I’ll start with a description of the individual elements of a stay at Aigas, with the caveat that the sum of each component, all excellent, doesn’t come close to approaching the whole. A stay at Aigas is a magical, unforgettable experience. The cabins are as they appear in photos. They are basic, sturdy, and well-maintained. They’re not charming; they aren’t beautifully decorated, but are simply and comfortably furnished and are immaculate. They are a short walk from the House. My cabin had two bedrooms, each with its own bath (tub/shower), separated by a large communal living area. I spent no time in my cabin, other than to sleep. If my week hadn’t been planned out, I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed downtime in the cabin, although the House’s inviting gathering room and library are open from 7:45 a.m. until around nine at night. The grounds and gardens are beautiful in design, perfectly maintained, and are extensive. They are themselves a reason for visiting, encompassing a large variety of named specimen trees, all labelled; long herbaceous borders; well-planted beds, and nature paths. The food is superb. There are no gimmicks—no dollops or swirls or foams or deconstructions, just simple food, locally sourced, exquisitely prepared. I was fortunate enough to have had seven dinners here, all perfect, including savory braised venison, and an impeccably roasted shoulder of lamb, accompanied by fresh, perfectly-prepared vegetables and other sides. The desserts and the “bakes” served at tea were all in-house made, and to die for. The owner, professionally trained, has written a cookbook, and I am certain could win The Great British Baking Show. Porridge for every breakfast was a bit tiring, but this may have been part of our contract/package. And, my pet peeve with almost every place in Europe is the lack of palatable artificial sweetener, and I had forgotten my Splenda stash. So, with daily porridge and no Splenda, breakfast was not my favorite meal here. As an example of their attention to detail and perfect hospitality, which I noted over and over again throughout my stay: they sent our tour leader a form on which our names were listed, requesting emergency contact information, allergies, special dietary needs, etc. The form also included space for “Comments.” Idly, I wrote in that I didn’t like salmon or trout. An hour or so after our arrival, we were seated for dinner, and plates of salmon began arriving. I figured I’d be served my plate of salmon, and it would have been no big deal—just not my favorite taste. I was amazed when one of the staff placed a delicious spinach frittata in front of me, calling me by name as she did so. And the next day, when everyone else was packing a lunch from a long table of salmon sandwiches, cheeses, fruit, etc., there was a personalized lunch bag for me, packed with a non-salmon sandwich. They really mean it when they say no request is too small. (I toyed with the idea of asking for Splenda, but there’s such a thing as being a good guest, and I felt I’d already gone too far indicating my dislike of salmon!!) The young rangers, all of whom are bright, earnest, knowledgeable and well-educated, were uniformly a joy to travel with. They drove us all over the Highlands. They took detours to show us a treasured view. Fund of knowledge excellent. On our last night, they organized a Cèilidh, a Highlands evening of poetry reading, music, and dancing; and they were genuine in their enjoyment of an evening spent with us. The hosts, Sir John and Lady Lucy were warm, concerned, and define hospitality. Lady Lucy is among the most wonderful women I have ever met. I was with a group of twenty like-minded intense garden lovers. I see on the web site that they sponsor days to weeks of special interest/themed stays, providing a base for artists and their students, photographers and their students, and various enthusiasts. During our week there were two different couples each staying a night or two. I’m not sure I would have had the same experience staying here as the primary purpose instead of using it as a base for forays around the Highlands (with the caveat that I am not a fan of long, restful, idle vacations). I think the family is wise not to have the property listed on TripAdvisor or other sites as a lodging. A photo of the rustic cabins would mislead/prejudice a casual seeker of a place to stay in the Highlands. My take-home is that this is a stellar experience, run by a family passionately committed to their ideals. They promote a good life. They promote love of the environment and an intense devotion to conserving what we have. They have brought thousands of children to their learning center for hands-on teaching of environmental conservation, believing strongly in inculcating young minds with a love of nature, and the environment.
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.
read moreread less

retiredJB

×

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.