Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

I wasn't sure what to make of Aigas. I knew it had an excellent wildlife reputation but I was rather put off by the prominence in the publicity of the aristocratic owners and their name-dropping connections to royalty etc. I had to dispel these prejudices to book a week's wildlife watching and I'm so glad I did. Not cheap but a great week and excellent customer service, not least from the Lady of the house and the brilliant Aigas rangers, whose local and wildlife knowledge was amazing. Food was great and the log cabin accommodation fine (it was a pleasure not to have TV and only limited internet connection as I immersed myself in the week's wildlife). Aigas staff could never do enough for their guests. Many other establishments could learn about customer service from them.
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JollyGreenGiant

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JollyGreenGiant

I wasn't sure what to make of Aigas. I knew it had an excellent wildlife reputation but I was rather put off by the prominence in the publicity of the aristocratic owners and their name-dropping connections to royalty etc. I had to dispel these prejudices to book a week's wildlife watching and I'm so glad I did. Not cheap but a great week and excellent customer service, not least from the Lady of the house and the brilliant Aigas rangers, whose local and wildlife knowledge was amazing. Food was great and the log cabin accommodation fine (it was a pleasure not to have TV and only limited internet connection as I immersed myself in the week's wildlife). Aigas staff could never do enough for their guests. Many other establishments could learn about customer service from them.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the Wildlife programme we'd booked on - the weather didn't look good and much of the wildlife we wanted to see was known to be elusive at the best of times. But thanks to the expertise, diligence and sheer overwhelming enthusiasm of the rangers - and I'd pick out Imogen and George as the ones who found us otters, sea eagles, golden eagles and a merlin - we saw everything we hoped for and more. The trips out to the west coast, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and up a number of the straths all bought new sightings but also new insights as the wildlife and flora were pointed out and explained. We rode next to leaping dolphins and diving sdeabirds in the Cromarty Firth. And there was no pretending to know things they didn't - if they didn't know they looked it up and told us later. From the hides at Aigas we saw pine marten, badger and beavers, as well as woodpeckers, owls, voles and many other species. But Aigas isn't just about the wildlife - it's about the hospitality in the comfortable lodges and then the house, with its stunning dining room and food that matches the surroundings. We didn't have a disappointing meal, Lucy provided great buffet lunches and superb dinners, from which I'd pick out the home-made soups as just outstanding, especially the spinach and lemon. To add to it all we have a great introductory talk by John Lister-Kaye, studded with jewels of poetry and prose to explain his love of nature and why he started Aigas. Even better was the finale on Friday night, when he read to the groups from his own and others' writings on the natural world - a great speaker and reader who imbues each word with meaning and feeling. If there is a criticism it is that there is a lot to do and perhaps too little time to explore the grounds at Aigas - but everything we did was worth doing. If you like your hide visits to be quiet and studious, as do I, perhaps you might want to check to see that you are there when there isn't a large American group around. They were lovely people but apt to talk constantly in the hides.. But this did not detract seriously from a fantastic week, though.
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Keith S

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Keith S

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the Wildlife programme we'd booked on - the weather didn't look good and much of the wildlife we wanted to see was known to be elusive at the best of times. But thanks to the expertise, diligence and sheer overwhelming enthusiasm of the rangers - and I'd pick out Imogen and George as the ones who found us otters, sea eagles, golden eagles and a merlin - we saw everything we hoped for and more. The trips out to the west coast, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and up a number of the straths all bought new sightings but also new insights as the wildlife and flora were pointed out and explained. We rode next to leaping dolphins and diving sdeabirds in the Cromarty Firth. And there was no pretending to know things they didn't - if they didn't know they looked it up and told us later. From the hides at Aigas we saw pine marten, badger and beavers, as well as woodpeckers, owls, voles and many other species. But Aigas isn't just about the wildlife - it's about the hospitality in the comfortable lodges and then the house, with its stunning dining room and food that matches the surroundings. We didn't have a disappointing meal, Lucy provided great buffet lunches and superb dinners, from which I'd pick out the home-made soups as just outstanding, especially the spinach and lemon. To add to it all we have a great introductory talk by John Lister-Kaye, studded with jewels of poetry and prose to explain his love of nature and why he started Aigas. Even better was the finale on Friday night, when he read to the groups from his own and others' writings on the natural world - a great speaker and reader who imbues each word with meaning and feeling. If there is a criticism it is that there is a lot to do and perhaps too little time to explore the grounds at Aigas - but everything we did was worth doing. If you like your hide visits to be quiet and studious, as do I, perhaps you might want to check to see that you are there when there isn't a large American group around. They were lovely people but apt to talk constantly in the hides.. But this did not detract seriously from a fantastic week, though.
We spent seven days in June on the Aigas Wildlife Holiday. A very full week which gave a taste of all that the Highlands have to offer including East and West Coast, mountains, lochs, rivers forests and glens. We were able to see dolphins, otters, beavers, pine martens, red deer, eagles, ospreys and many other birds and mammals. Our accommodation was very comfortable and we received a warm welcome from all the Aigas staff. Meals were superb and plentiful. All the rangers were very knowledgeable in their field and made the trip not only enjoyable but very informative. The Aigas Estate itself was a truly magical place to visit. The downside was that the week was over far too quickly.
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MicknCatherine

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MicknCatherine

We spent seven days in June on the Aigas Wildlife Holiday. A very full week which gave a taste of all that the Highlands have to offer including East and West Coast, mountains, lochs, rivers forests and glens. We were able to see dolphins, otters, beavers, pine martens, red deer, eagles, ospreys and many other birds and mammals. Our accommodation was very comfortable and we received a warm welcome from all the Aigas staff. Meals were superb and plentiful. All the rangers were very knowledgeable in their field and made the trip not only enjoyable but very informative. The Aigas Estate itself was a truly magical place to visit. The downside was that the week was over far too quickly.