Aigas Field Centre and Road Scholar: A 40-Year Partnership
Nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, amid rolling hills, misty moors and the River Beauly, lies the enchanting Aigas Field Centre, a haven for nature enthusiasts and a beacon of conservation, education and environmental stewardship. This historic estate is the home of renowned Scottish naturalist, visionary conservationist and author Sir John Lister-Kaye and his family.
When Road Scholar President James Moses — Elderhostel’s director of international programs at that time — called on Sir John during a snowstorm in the winter of 1984, the conversation between the two men led to the start of a 40-year friendship. “I told Jim he had chosen the worst time of the year for a visit,” jokes Sir John. “He told us he was looking for a venue for Elderhostel groups of about 20 to 30 people, and we were certainly interested,” says Sir John.
The first group arrived in 1985. Since then, more than 15,000 Road Scholar participants have been welcomed by the Lister-Kaye family.
As the founder and brainchild behind Aigas Field Centre, Sir John has dedicated his life to preserving, exploring and celebrating the Scottish wilderness’ natural beauty and diverse wildlife. Here, more than 1,600 species call this 600-acre sanctuary home. With a passion for conservation and environmental education, Sir John has transformed Aigas into a thriving hub for learning and discovery, where visitors can immerse themselves in the wonders of the natural world.
An Unexpected Reunion
Over the years, Road Scholars have gathered around the massive banquet table in the House of Aigas for dinner, forging friendships and sharing stories. Sir John recalls one remarkable evening several years ago when one Road Scholar participant stared across the table at another gentleman attending the program, and suddenly said “1942, South China Sea!” Both had been sailors on an American frigate in the South China Sea when the Japanese torpedoed it and their frigate sunk. “Now in their 70s, the men had most likely been in their late teens when this happened, and 60 years later, they recognized each other at the table on this Road Scholar program,” says Sir John. “It was extraordinary!”
A Symbiotic Relationship
“I’m not sure if we would still be here if it weren’t for Road Scholar,” says Sir John. “Elderhostel was prepared to commit to programs well in advance. Because of this, we were able to plan our year knowing we were going to have eight or nine Elderhostel groups between April and October,” he says. “Planning was a great problem for us, but Elderhostel had a fantastic record for producing participants. We would reserve weeks for these groups and market the rest.”
The partnership makes the process simple and easy for travelers to navigate: Participants meet a Road Scholar Group Leader at Glasgow who helps them transfer to the Aigas Field Centre. Once they arrive, the Aigas team of rangers serve as Group Leaders and educators. At the end of the program, the Road Scholar Group Leader meets participants at Aigas for the journey back to Glasgow.
“We consider our Road Scholar educational travelers, not tourists,” says Sir John. “Most weeks, we bring in someone who can play Celtic music and bagpipes. But Scotland is a very complicated, multicultural country,” he says. “Some Americans come with preconceived ideas about Scotland. They wonder why we aren’t wearing kilts. We gently teach them what the real Scotland is all about.”
“For many years, we offered a two-week program called The Heart of the Highlands,” he says. Currently, the 11-day program, Scotland’s Highlands: A Stay at the Aigas Field Centre, enables Road Scholars to stay at the Aigas Field Center. During this 11-day program, adult learners can explore the natural wonders of the Scottish Highlands and gain insight into the conservation efforts taking place here.
In addition to hosting 12 Road Scholar programs a year, the Aigas Field Centre hosts 5,000 to 8,000 schoolchildren each year from 162 neighboring Highland schools. “We thank our Road Scholar participants for contributing to this program. The support of Road Scholar over the years has made our House of Aigas and Field Centre's charitable arm, The Aigas Trust for Environmental Education, possible,” says Sir John.
Lifelong Learners
Over time, the kinds of participants visiting the Aigas Field Centre have shifted, according to Sir John. “In recent years, we’ve noticed more professionals coming with Road Scholar,” he says. “More doctors, teachers, lawyers and veterinarians. They have interesting questions about what we are doing.”
“Road Scholars are also genuinely fascinated by the settlements on the Aigas property dating back 4,000 years to the Bronze Age,” says Sir John. “We have a lot of history, and we talk about it and build a picture for them. It is thought that part of the foundations of the present house are composed of the same whinstone boulders the Bronze Age people cleared from their fields and lugged here for the walls of their huts,” he says.
Once a week, Sir John, an award-winning nature writer and author of 12 books, leads a literary evening for Road Scholars, reading from his favorite authors as well as American writers Annie Dillard, Gretel Ehrlich and Mary Austin.
What’s Next
“I’m nearly 80, so I’m handing more over to our daughter, Hermione, and her husband,” says Sir John. This year, he and Lady Lister-Kaye plan to move out of the big house into another house they’ve built on the grounds, at the edge of the gardens. “The gardens and arboretum are really important to us,” he says. “My wife has created the gardens over the last 33 years, while the arboretum is my pet project.”
A Future Rooted in Preservation
Under Sir John Lister-Kaye's stewardship, Aigas continues to thrive as a model of ecological harmony. His work emphasizes that conservation is not just about protecting nature, but also about fostering a deep connection between people and the environment.
A visit to Aigas Field Centre is more than a journey into nature; it’s a step toward understanding the critical role Aigas plays in protecting the planet. As Sir John eloquently says, "To conserve the wild is to conserve the human spirit."
“Road Scholars are interested in all aspects of Aigas, from our history to current conservation projects, and they are an immense pleasure to host,” says Hermione. “We know we can expect varied and interesting participants, and that these educational weeks will be a lot of fun. We have been opening our home to Road Scholar guests for 40 years, and we look forward to welcoming them for years to come,” she says.
Learn more about Road Scholar’s 11-day program, Scotland’s Highlands: A Stay at the Aigas Field Centre.