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.

Staying a week at Aigas - with its grounds, rangers, and Sir John and Lady Lucy - is among the most exceptional of my many travel experiences. Think wildlife refuge and rewilding programs rolled into a refurbished Victorian estate led by Sir John Lister-Kaye, well known in the naturalist and conservation circles for his pioneering work. I stayed as part of an educational tour group, and enjoyed each day fully. Through field trips, hikes, and events, I learned a great deal about Scotland's rich history and current efforts to restore biodiversity to the country. The rangers who led our trips were knowledgeable, energetic, and enthusiastic. The modest accommodations adjacent to the estate house were clean and comfortable, with big windows for spotting red squirrels and bird life. The food was creative and fabulous, served in a spectacular dining hall. The garden and grounds were breathtaking. Sir John and Lady Lucy and Hermione were gracious hosts, eager that their guests enjoyed their stay. Make sure to look closely at the center's website, because Aigas is not open to the public. Only to guests who have signed up for its various programs. I'm eyeing the list now for another adventure. Highly recommended.

A highlight of our Nat Hab Scotland trip, Sir John & Lady Lucy graciously hosted us for lunch & tea, gave us a house tour. We were on our own to wander the spectacular gardens. Not only did we get to hike the property - around the lake and to the fort site, but we also got to observe a Pine Marten visit from the hide at night.