Scotland’s Highlands: A Stay at the Aigas Field Centre

This is a great outdoor exposure to the nature and history of Scotland's Highlands. Be aware that there are steep paths to walk at Aigas Centre between meals and accommodation, and there will be lots of walking and standing at historic sites and around the Highlands on day trips off site.

I needed some time away from my everyday life, walking in nature. This program did not disappoint. The Scottish Highlands are beautiful and uplifting, and the Aigas staff, from John and Lucy to the kitchen staff, were kind, helpful, and so knowledgeable. I came home feeling renewed.

Robert Burns said it best when he said 'My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go'. The week spent at Aigas Field Centre, a baronial estate in the Scottish Highlands, was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The hosts and rangers carried out an amazing multi-themed educational experience and simultaneously saw to our every need. We were almost reluctant to go home when it ended.

Great mix of ecology, history and culture, all while based in one lovely location. Top notch hospitality!

This was my first Road Scholar adventure and it was a five star, fabulous trip. Aigas Field Centre is both beautiful and comfortable; Lady Lucy's gardens were fabulous. Everyone there from Sir John, Lady Lucy, the Rangers and the general staff did everything they could to make sure all our needs were more than met. Sir John learned that I like horses and brought one of his Clydesdales brought to the house! The food was amazing and Lady Lucy served porridge every morning. It was a great blend of intense on-the-go and not so intense activities. The scenery wherever we went was magnificent and the Rangers extremely knowledgeable. Each were experts in their field and worked together to provide information/answer questions. This trip is slightly different than others: the RS leader brings up to the Centre and back to Glasgow. During our stay the Rangers were the guides. Based on this trip, I am looking forward to future trips

The Scottish Highlands are a magical place and Road Scholar is doing a great job providing a memorable experience!

I appreciate that Road Scholar has like-minded participants and introduces new and interesting experiences.

I cannot say enough good words about this program. It was my first Road Scholar program, but will certainly not be my last. The stay at Aigas was wonderful, the Lister-Kaye family was warm and welcoming, the food was terrific, the Aigas Rangers were some of the most passionate and knowledgeable young people I've ever met. Aigas Estate is a thing of beauty. The activities and field trips each day were lively and interesting and I enjoyed all of them. Our group leader, Linda, travelled with us from Glasgow to Beauly and then back again, and those coach rides were extremely enjoyable as well, because she is extremely well-versed about the landscape and Scottish history. She welcomed and bid us farewell at the hotel in Glasgow and really went the extra mile to make sure we were well situated for our journey. My stay at Aigas ended over a month ago and I cannot get the landscape, the people, the Scottish highlands, out of my mind. I'm looking forward to visiting Aigas again.

Aigas Field Center is one of my favorite places on this planet! A beautiful combination in this program of nature, culture, history, beautiful surroundings, excellent meals, hospitality of the Aigas owners/hosts, the knowledge and great personalities of the Rangers who lead our trips each day, and the variety of places visited that are included in the program. A huge bonus is the important work Aigas does as a conservation education center for school children, the Young Ranger program which acts as post-graduate training for naturalists of several kinds, and their conservation and participation in reintroduction programs for native species of plants and animals and the habitats upon which they depend. This was my second RS trip at Aigas, and I plan to return there yet again. On the difficult side of this trip: My travel companions and I were caught in the computer event of July 18 and ongoing which resulted in numerous flight delays, some stressful travel conditions too numerous to detail, and the eventual cancellation of the flight from Heathrow to Glasgow. Rebooking took 1 1/2 days and dozens of calls, emails, etc. as we tried to get help from both British Airways and from Road Scholar Emergency Travel Services. For many hours we received contradictory and erroneous information from both the airline and from Road Scholar Travel Services. We also could not get the assigned RS trip leader who was in Glasgow to call us. She sent emails repeating the same things and asking questions that we had already answered several times. We had to keep calling and emailing for 24 hrs until we could finally get a rebooking. We missed Friday evening through Sunday morning of the program. The airline kept telling us we had to rebook through our tour operator (RS); Road Scholar (3 different travel svcs. people) said they could not rebook without cancelling our whole itinerary, including our trip back to the USA, that only the airline could rebook. Neither was correct. More to say.

Beautiful grounds and helpful, lovely staff. Sir John is old school British Empire and makes politically offensive statements, but his wife is lovely as is the rest of the staff.

This is a unique opportunity to learn about Scottish Flora and Fauna, in a beautiful location. We were treated like kings and queens, dining in a banquet halls daily, served and entertained by Lady Lucy and Sir John Lister Kaye themselves. Our daily trips were lead by brilliant young, energetic British and Scottish Rangers. The books written Sir John Lister Kaye, and renowned Naturalist, inspire me to observe, connect, and revel in our amazing natural habitat on Earth. The setting is the incredible Scottish highlands, but the lessons are broader and generalizable: a deeper appreciation for the natural world and human's impact on it. Fun and life changing!

If you are looking for a magical tour of Scotland, this is it. The Aigas Estate and daily itinerary of local tour sites and nature opportunities on the property are amazing. The staff is exceptionally professional, helpful, kind and informative. I cannot wait to go back, it was a life -hanging experience.

INCLUDE THIS PROGRAM in your bucket list! The Aigas Field Centre is NOT to be missed, and the Highlands of Scotland are inspiring and ever changing. I am forever changed from this experience in the best way possible.

Although the Aigas Field Centre was an interesting place an the Rangers were informative I missed the touch of Road Scholar. The transportation in mini vans was not that comfortable and we never had a clear idea of what the day might hold. That said, both Lady Lucy and Sir John were amiable hosts and we felt welcome in their lovely setting. The food was excellent and the rooms met my expectations but were cold if you were in them during the day. The hotel in Glasgow was not a good one and the food was poor. There should be a change to that hotel choice.

Not the greatest trip. The Glasgow Airport Inn was the worst hotel I have ever stayed in! I arrived a day early so spent the 1st 2 nights in a dirty/very stained furniture and rug with broken closet door room. The carpet was not only filthy but wrinkled through out. Luckily I’m an able bodied senior. I also spent additional nights as I had extra days before my next Road Scholar trip. I had 3 different rooms. The 1st did not have working Wi-Fi. None of the 3 rooms had a working phone, very unsafe. I was locked out of my room once each day. Tv not working but that did get fix. As no phone I had to trek down to reception area and wait in line for as long as 25 mins to get my key card redone. They kept pretending they could not understand why the phones were not working. I had people come up to my room to prove phone did not work. This was in two different rooms. They Always said it would be fixed but never was. I have so many complaints on that hotel but I just get so very frustrated by reviewing them that I’m leaving the topic. The bus up to and return from highlands was very uncomfortable for a many hour trip. So on so on, I was calling it quits on Road Scholar tours. However, I had back to back RS tours scheduled. My next one to Croatia was Amazing! The tours were both rated the same activity wise but I found we did very little in Scotland. Scotland was not a Keep the Pace tour in the least to me. Just very disappointed in R S on this one. The only reason I will book R S again is the Croatia tour was excellent. I grew up with game wardens and volunteered in my children’s schools and therefore the education was lacking for me also. Loved Sir John, LadyLucy Rangers and staff however. I’d rate tour a 2 +.

I would highly recommend this program.

If you want to learn about Scotland, animal and land conservation, and meet lovely, welcoming people, the Aigas Field Research Centre is the place for you. I cannot praise this experience highly enough.

Excellent trip- the best. Nature oriented, but still provided information about Scotish history. Food excelled. Good accommodations. Loved Aigas.

An incredible opportunity to spend time in the Highlands at a historic site with wonderful educational opportunities.

A wonderful program! I enjoyed the beauty of the highlands as well as the knowledge gained about Sir Lister-Kaye's conservation initiatives there. The rangers are definitely the cream of the crop. Their knowledge went far beyond their areas of study, and they were all quite gracious.

We enjoyed our week at the House of Aigas. It's like a summer camp for senior adults! Recommend bringing your backpack, multiple outdoor shoes and binoculars.

Outstanding trip. Aigas Field Center is a national treasure offering an an experience that is more like that of a personal houseguest rather than a commercial tourist experience. Terrific history, wildlife and cultural educational experience.

Wow!Better than I had even hoped for. I left with a smile on my face.

What a wonderful experience on this trip! The beauty of the Highlands, the history of the Clans, the visits to historical ruins and sites, the mission by Aigas Field Centre in restoring and preserving the Caledonian Forest and the efforts to making sure that the wildlife doesn’t become extinct. The Aigas Manor House is stunning to be in and absorb the history of it, the meals are amazing, the gardens are beautiful, the rooms in the cabins are comfortable and listening to the birds and peaceful surroundings made for an absolutely relaxing time.

This is an excellent program focusing on the Scottish Highlands environment and history. Very knowledgeable staff, very good food, wonderful location. I highly recommend it.

The Aigas Field Centre is an amazing place, a true treasure in the Scottish Highlands. The hospitality was unmatched and it was a real privilege to meet Sir John and Lacy Lucy, who were frequently available and engaged. The Aigas Rangers are remarkable young people, friendly, helpful, hardworking, and engaged, with an amazing breadth and depth of knowledge about the local flora, fauna, history, and culture. I particularly enjoyed the ability to wander around on my own on the Aigas estate, looking for birds and butterflies and taking in the landscape. I would highly recommend this trip for those who like to spend much of their time outdoors in a natural setting. Oh, and the food was great!

The Aigas Field Centre program is for outdoorsy, nature loving travelers. But you don't have to be an expert. While there were true birders on this program, for example, I am more of a bird appreciator. And that was just fine. The meals in the Aigas house are excellent, the Aigas staff are beyond knowledgeable and welcoming, and the trip provided the opportunity to explore different areas of the Scottish Highlands. Being able to unpack in one place (comfortable cabins) for seven nights and then venture out on day trips was so convenient. It was a wonderful program.

Visiting the Scottish Highlands was a wonderful experience! I will keep the memories of the landscapes and trail hikes as treasures for the rest of my life.

We had a fantastic time at the Aigas Field Centre. Every activity was interesting and very well managed. The meals and accommodations were excellent and we were able to enjoy local recipes. Well done.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Aigas Field Center through Road Scholar. The program was well organized and explored the ecological, geological and human dimensions of the Scottish Highlands in a pleasing and interesting manner.

A great way to unplug and appreciate nature, add this trip to your bucket list!

I hate writing and I have never written a review. However, I must make an exception about my experience at AFC last summer. It was delightful, wonderful, spiritual and educational. It was a tough 3 yrs for me(a very scary medical condition), followed by 2 years of Covid.Staying at the AFC helped heal my soul. Beautiful,peaceful (plus gourmet meals) and an amazing staff (especially our hostess Lady Lucy).Her gentle and beautiful spirit filtered thru our week. I dont understand how she was able to influence our own group of strangers to treat each other with a bit more kindness and compassion. It was a glorious week.

Fabulous trip with lovely hosts and incredible surroundings, not to mention outstanding meals. Can't recommend this trip enough, especially in the fall with the leaves turning.

Somehow RS brings together some of the most interesting people I’ve met, in a fascinating place, in a safe and well organized way. I’m delighted to continue my mother’s tradition of worldwide adventures with RS.

Aigas Field Centre was my first experience with Road Scholar and it was outstanding! It will not be my last!

This was my 12th program - and the best! RoadScholar always delivers a great experience, but this one is definitely my favorite. I have been to the Highlands before, but this time I came away feeling as though I really "understood" the highlands. The Aigas Field Centre staff was amazing! The centre rangers were a wealth of knowledge, and they enjoyed sharing their knowledge with all of us. I learned SO MUCH!! In addition, the house staff was top notch. The food, service, house and grounds were way beyond my expectations! It is not a matter of "will" I return - it is only a matter of "when". And that will be As Soon As Possible!

Wonderful! Sir John and Lady Lucy are amazing hosts, rangers are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, bird and wildlife watching are incredible. Days begin with a big group breakfast, and if the outing lasts all day, a bag lunch is provided. Tea is at 4:30, and happens even if you are away on an adventure. After optional cocktail time, the three course dinners are delicious. John met us every morning in the common room, to chat. Our tour of the garden with Lucy was interrupted by the only real rainfall we experienced the entire time - we were amazingly lucky with the weather, very little rain. My husband and I had to vacate our cabin due to a water leak, which we learned while out on a day trip, and Sir John met us at our new lodging to apologize profusely (it wasn't their fault, things happen!) and make sure the heat was on. I wish I had known: the Scots don't use washcloths, so none are provided at the hotels, but they were available at Aigas. But if you want a washcloth at the hotel before or after, bring your own. Also, midges can be vicious, and while usual mosquito repellants work, there is one available only in the UK that is also sold in the gift shop at Aigas (less expensively than anywhere else we saw it) called 'Smidge', a picardin derivative with no nasty odor, in a pleasant lotion. I wish I had more room in my liquids bag for more than two bottles of it to bring home! Also, the hotel at the airport, the Holiday Inn, is poorly run and maintained, but you are within an easy walk of the Holiday Inn Express, which is cheaper and much better. We used it for an extended stay a few days before the Aigas experience, taking the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh for a day trip (Uber to the Queen St, not Central, train station, trains leave every 15 minutes for Edinburgh and the express is only 40 minutes). John has written 10 books and is a wonderful author, we read Song of the Rolling Earth before the trip, about his founding of Aigas, and it was delightful.

This trip was an excellent experience of the natural world in the Highlands of Scotland. While we stayed at the Aigas Field Centre for a week, we took day trips to many locations in the Highlands, learning about the history of the area and discovering its stunning beauty. I will always cherish this trip.

Aigas Field Center is a nature program in the Scottish Highlands. The program is full of field trips, learning and walking in the wilds. If you ever wanted to experience the Highlands this is trip for you. It was a great experience. Betty Brennan

A wonderful place to discover the Highlands and its culture and ecology

This was a very worthwhile program and is just as advertised! Much more than the usual tour of historic sites and shopping excursions.

Sometimes its hard to understand what you are referring or want! I didn't Particularly like the drip drip of information. I realise with COVID and each country had different policy and conditions!

The video on the Aigas website is really an accurate reflection of our experience at the center --the grounds and gardens are spectacular. The rangers are enthusiastic and incredibly knowledgeable and the variety of excursions will introduce you to the history, culture and flora and fauna of the Highlands. You will leave with a better understanding of the Highlands, a a greater appreciation of nature and an enormous respect for all that Sir John and his team have accomplished.It was an absolutely wonderful week.

This trip was the experience of a lifetime for me. If you like nature and being outdoors, this is the trip for you. It was a terrific combination of group activities involving nature education and also the opportunity to walk alone in the woods and highlands of Scotland to really experience the natural world of this amazing place. The accomodations, food and staff were amazing. There was the added benefit of learning some scottish history and side excursions to town, the coast, Culloden, and an old castle. I highly recommend this trip.

Sir John and Lady Lucy are talented hosts, making all of those entering their manor so very welcome. They're supported by knowledgeable guides and naturalists who also do everything they can to make your visit a valuable learning experience. To enhance the visit, each group is asked why they chose to visit Scotland. Many in our group indicated that the Outlander TV series had piqued their interest. They then shaped our tours to include areas that were mentioned in the Outlander story and augmented our familiarity with Scottish history. I also appreciated their artful presentations of history through the conservation of native Scottish wildlife. For example, the group doesn't simply see a rare native cat, but learns about why they're endangered... What happened in history that led to the cats needing support to come back to sustainable numbers. Although I wasn't aware before I left the US that this would also be a trip to learn about my history, a trip to Beaully revealed where my ancestry began and expanded in Scotland before coming to the US. The discovery was totally unexpected and yet our guide helped me find more information without a forewarning. To top the experience off.... My friends told Sir John that I love horses and on our last day there, the brought Queenie up to the house for me to meet. Only one of his horses, she taught me a bit more about riding practices in Scotland. Truly the icing on a magnificent cake.

Wonderful way to experience the highlands and learn about the interplay of humans, animals and vegetation in the landscape. I explored the woods around Aigas every chance I had; very safe, wonderfully quiet. The rangers (naturalist staff) are well educated and enthusiastic; I do miss having tea served me out in the field along with their all around delightful demeanor. Do check out the library with excellent books that I noted and have followed up with at home. I don’t miss the porridge or dry cereals topped with skim milk, and did provide for my own breakfasts; somehow I never tasted the touted fresh rolls and baguettes for the packed lunches. The vegetarian meal options were pretty nice. Kitchen staff very top notch and attentive. The coach service Glasgow/Aigas was cramped for leg room.

I highly recommend the Aigas Field Center experience if you like Scottish history, nature conservation, gourmet dining, expertly guided field trips, whisky tasting, live local music, dancing, and story telling; all in a picturesque setting with baronial manor surrounded by lush gardens and manicured lawns.

I have always wanted to travel to Scotland and I believe that my recent trip to the Highlands and to the Aigas Field Centre was absolutely the best choice for me. The countryside in the Highlands is beautiful, mystical, and beckons one to return again and again.

A very well organized program with a diversity of activities. I didn't think I'd especially enjoy Sir John's lectures, but he is an excellent speaker and quite down to earth. The Rangers are all exceptional people, well educated and chosen for people skills and willing to do anything to make your visit more enjoyable. The grounds are spectacular and the cabins comfortable. The main house is an amazing structure of Victorian excess but serves its purpose well with ample dining space. Those with more limited mobility were accommodated on walking excursions. All trips away from the main compound had frequent rest stops and we were always kept apprised of the itinerary, including rest stops.

This program is wonderful. The location, scenery, hosts, food, excursions...need I go on? What a truly enjoyable trip! The first of many with Road Scholar, I can assure you.

This was our first Road Scholar trip and we have already put a deposit down on our next trip. I particularly liked the small group model, even though this "small group" consisted of 32 people - a nice mix of former professions and interests. The Aigas Field Center and Rangers were welcoming. Everyone was personable and well informed. The food was spectacular. There was a good balance of activities. The Road Scholar model was indeed "value added" beyond what I could have planned myself.

Aigas and all the staff, programs, field trips, are the standards by which all others should be judged. Kudos to Sir John, Lady Lucy and all the Rangers. We will be back.

Scotland and Aigas are beautiful. It was wonderful to be able to have a home base for 7 days (in comfortable lodgings) and to have supervised instructional outings. The meals were delicious and beautifully served. Sir John, Lady Lucy, Hermione, Greg, the rangers, kitchen staff and everyone were the most enjoyable hosts and educators. They all made every effort to make our visit the best it could possibly be. It was apparent to me that the Aigas we see today is due to years of hard work, dedication and love. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to have a comprehensive visit to Scotland.

This trip to Scotland was delightful and I would recommend it to anyone who loves learning more about nature, history and culture. Ann C

Exceptional program and wonderful people! Every aspect—the site, education, lodging and food exceeded my expectations and I had high hopes for the program. Most impressive were our hosts/staff and the rangers. Every detail was planned and our hosts/rangers went beyond the call of duty to accommodate the needs of RS participants. The program’s personal touch is remarkable and without a peer in my experience.

Many people will visit Edinburgh, or even Glasgow, and think they've seen Scotland. Those are wonderful cities to visit, but do go beyond the urban lowlands and do this program. It's here (and on the way and on the way back) that you will experience Scotland. This is an inspirational program at a site that that makes any vacation you've experienced in a hotel seem utterly sterile. You will be in the home of Sir John and Lady Lucy Lister-Kayes. They will welcome you as friends,not just guests. You will experience the landscape and flora and fauna of the highlands, but you will also be treated to an immersion into environmental ethics, restoration ecology and the history of a much misunderstood part of the United Kingdom. Sir John will regale you with friendly and humorous conversation before dinner and Lady Lucy will serve you breakfast each morning. All that is wonderful, but the Aigas Field Center rangers are the folks who make the program. They are the ones who will explore the nearly 100 acre Center with you and will both explain what you are seeing and lead you to your own discoveries. These will include long hikes in the woods, evenings in the "hides" (blinds) where you will watch badgers, pine martens, red squirrels and myriad birds. The rangers will also take you on field trips into the highlands and important history sites. If you like this combination of learning experiences in a truly magical setting, this is a trip not to be missed.

My only comment is that there was no "wrap-up" on the last night. We had a fine get-together over dinner but then there was no final word. This comment is not for a web site review. John accompanied us from Aigus to Glasgow and I guess I expected him to give some final comments, ot to lead us in concluding comments.