Programmes By Date - Aigas Field Centre

I spent a fabulous week photographing wildlife and landscapes under the watchful eye of Laurie Campbell. I enjoyed close encounters with an amazing range of Scottish wildlife and the hospitality was second to none. My photography improved significantly within a very short space of time and I would highly recommend Aigas and this programme to anyone with a deep love of natural history and an ethical approach to its management.
read moreread less

Peter Burnham

×

Peter Burnham

I spent a fabulous week photographing wildlife and landscapes under the watchful eye of Laurie Campbell. I enjoyed close encounters with an amazing range of Scottish wildlife and the hospitality was second to none. My photography improved significantly within a very short space of time and I would highly recommend Aigas and this programme to anyone with a deep love of natural history and an ethical approach to its management.
Stayed for a week on the wildlife week - and practically everything met or exceeded expectations - great experience. The area is rich in wildlife and had some great sightings, red squirrels are abundant and the photography hides for them ensure great views - the beavers were on show and with some persistence morning and evening showed including 2 kits - badger showed on 3 nights and pine martin on 2. A young tawny owl posed for a picture briefly too. The days out were good too - leisurely in pace, sight seeing including to the amazing dolphins on the coast. Recommend bringing own telescope if possible as whilst the rangers carry one, it saves sharing and some sightings are distant such as golden eagle and otter - the house does hire out binoculars though for a reasonable price. Slavonian grebes great to see on a loch not far away too. On this trip, no walking really far from vehicles but that suits of course those a little less mobile. . The rangers / guides are great, full of enthusiasm and do everything to make everyone's day as good as it can be - and some sharp naturalists there too including with the placement students. The rangers/guides are well connected and knew of a local eagle nest and other wildlife in the area. The garden's are lovely to walk round too for when one wants to relax on site. The directors gave tours of both the garden and the house. Suggest really talk to the centre pre your stay to ensure you get what you need - they have dogs around the house and common room but immediately offered to put them elsewhere if anyone allergic etc. The accommodation lodges was pleasant, a little tired in places but the site is coping with the covid pandemic and with staff recruitment challenges - but doing a great job. Just ask if anything you need and they really try to make a stay perfect. We asked for an extra night in the Campbell hide and we got 3 in total which was great. All in all a great week and great people, particularly the rangers/guides. Recommended to wildlife fans and of course if Scottish highlands combined with another interest such as whisky, walking, trees etc as per the itinerary is your interest.
read moreread less

KevinA488

×

KevinA488

Stayed for a week on the wildlife week - and practically everything met or exceeded expectations - great experience. The area is rich in wildlife and had some great sightings, red squirrels are abundant and the photography hides for them ensure great views - the beavers were on show and with some persistence morning and evening showed including 2 kits - badger showed on 3 nights and pine martin on 2. A young tawny owl posed for a picture briefly too. The days out were good too - leisurely in pace, sight seeing including to the amazing dolphins on the coast. Recommend bringing own telescope if possible as whilst the rangers carry one, it saves sharing and some sightings are distant such as golden eagle and otter - the house does hire out binoculars though for a reasonable price. Slavonian grebes great to see on a loch not far away too. On this trip, no walking really far from vehicles but that suits of course those a little less mobile. . The rangers / guides are great, full of enthusiasm and do everything to make everyone's day as good as it can be - and some sharp naturalists there too including with the placement students. The rangers/guides are well connected and knew of a local eagle nest and other wildlife in the area. The garden's are lovely to walk round too for when one wants to relax on site. The directors gave tours of both the garden and the house. Suggest really talk to the centre pre your stay to ensure you get what you need - they have dogs around the house and common room but immediately offered to put them elsewhere if anyone allergic etc. The accommodation lodges was pleasant, a little tired in places but the site is coping with the covid pandemic and with staff recruitment challenges - but doing a great job. Just ask if anything you need and they really try to make a stay perfect. We asked for an extra night in the Campbell hide and we got 3 in total which was great. All in all a great week and great people, particularly the rangers/guides. Recommended to wildlife fans and of course if Scottish highlands combined with another interest such as whisky, walking, trees etc as per the itinerary is your interest.
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.
read moreread less

No1photosnapperEssex

×

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.