The Aros Experience

Overview

To see it on it's nest raising it's young, bringing in fish, sea-birds, rabbits and much more is just impossible!
However, by visiting the Aros Centre you can have this experience as we introduce you to live pictures, from two remote nests at separate locations.
Our indoor exhibition is manned by an RSPB Warden who will interpret the footage for you, explain the life cycle of these magnificent birds, that were re-introduced to Scotland from Norway, and answer specific questions. As part of the exhibition, you can enjoy a Sea-eagle's view of the Skye mountains in our audio-visual and learn a bit more about our history and culture.

Friends, we're all dying to go to Iona. But where is the original Cathedral of the Isles? And what is its connection to Skye's oldest clan? Does a flame still flicker in the fireplace of Fingal? And why did one night at Kingsburgh leap the centuries in the story of Flora Macdonald?

East by west around Trotternish. A leafy, lush ride through the green granary of Skye. Hardly hair-razing. Until you confront our hairpin bends. Why does the Sea-eagle still not soar above these heights ? Is the Golden Eagle still majestic where Fionn washed his feet?

Round we go. Up, onto the top of this island. Off the bus we get, to feel the cuddle of distant mountains on all sides. The Cuillin, the Clisham. The enchanted islands. The Grey hard torso of Torridon. The jagged worn pelvis of Rona and Raasay. All bathed in your memory by sea and lochs, rivers and waterfalls filled with wildlife.

Veer towards Skye's northerly point. A great place to see basking sharks. Home to the Nicolsons through a thousand summers and winters. Dissect the decaying fang of Duntulm castle. Monument to the Picts and the Saints, the Vikings and the Jacobites, the landlords and the cleared Skye families. And rippling through our collective memories - the giant 18-mile rock bun sculpture called The Trotternish Ridge with it's flora & fauna. Cooked from fire and water, earth and air, lava, ice and hailstones. Whipped together by force ten gales.

You've heard of dynamic earth. Well Trotternish is what happens when the earth gets dynamic. Who is the guardian of this treasure in time? Who holds our 'pillars' in place? Surely it's the largest stegosaurus ever discovered on planet earth? A good guess, but it's not true. This landscape is embroidered by the memory of millennia. And the keeper of our blanket of memories is The Old Man of Storr.

To open these secrets our guides will introduce you to all aspects of our heritage, history wildlife and culture. The first question, before you leave, will be ''what are your interests. what do you want to discover' because this tour is designed for you!

As you return to the Aros Centre you have the option of visiting the Skye the Island exhibition. This award winning presentation focus on three things for 2008. The Sea-eagle, an audio-visual of the mountain landscape of Skye and a new exhibit on RunRig.

Manned by an RSPB Warden we introduce you to the life of the Eagle with the Sunlight Eye ‘- Iolair’ Sùil na Grèine’ . For the last eight years we have brought live pictures into the Centre direct from Sea-eagle nests. Have you ever seen the chick that was the original punk rocker? Do you realise how large these birds are with their 6' .wingspan. See them for yourselves. You don't have to visit the crags, clamber along the sea-cliffs and take your life into your own hands! We have done the hard work. Relax and spend as much time in our exhibition as you like.
Welcome. Tha sinn a cur Fàilte oirbh.

If you want to experience the real thing and see birdlife for yourself then we operate three hour tours from the Centre around Trotternish (except Sunday). This peninsula of Skye, cooked from fire and water, earth and air, lava, ice and hailstones and whipped together by force ten gales is home to stunning scenery. It provides the perfect backdrop for flora and fauna. In 2007 we had numerous sightings of sea-eagles, golden eagles, basking sharks, dolphins and porpoise. Of course Trotternish is also one of the most important areas in Europe for Dinosaur fossils. Tours depart twice daily, with additional Sunset Tours at the height of the season, to introduce you to this landscape which has been home to fantasy creatures as well as those we know and love today.