We had a wonderful time! This was the first time I've traveled out of the country and wasn't sure how the trip would go. I was nervous, but everything went as planned. Tina did a terrific job and I ha Read more »
I wrote a review a year ago. Just want to re-emphasize, 15 months later, how grateful I am to Linda Larkin for organizing an absolutely wonderful trip. Our hotel in Port Rush was a bit worn but not a Read more »
I am writing to highly praise Irish Tourism. Our agent, Linda Larkin, provided a high level of customer service as we planned our tour to Ireland. She was very thoughtful and helpful. I also want t Read more »
The staff at Irish Tourism is extraordinary! My friends and I found ourselves in Ireland when the travel ban began. Maria and everyone at Irish Tourism worked hard to ensure we had places to stay, eve Read more »
Shetland Island has a long association with knitting over the centuries.
This tour offers you the opportunity to spend time with many well-known instructors and crafters who will share their expertise and knowledge with you.
Classes in Fair Isle, the Shetland Knitting Belt and Shetland Lace await!
Other knitting activities include Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studio, the Scottish Textiles Showcase and the V&A Design Gallery.
Relax in your own comfortable cabin and time to knit and dine on the overnight ferry to Shetland.
Fantastic yarn shopping, farm and sheep visits, Shetland Museum and Archives, Shetland Textile Museum, Shetland Jewellery studio, an afternoon with Shetland Designer Wilma Malcolmson and Nielanell designer studio are also included.
Explore the ancient stone fort of Jarlshof; relax with evening knitting circles and so much more. You will also have plenty of time to take in the stunning scenery and local wildlife.
More activities are waiting for you back on the mainland before your return to Edinburgh and more yarn!
A fun packed evening at the Scotch Whisky Experience with a farewell Taste of Scotland dinner round off your tour!
Meet with your fellow travel companions in the lobby of your hotel for introductions. Your Blue Badge accredited guide will provide a brief overview of the tour before your first activity! Visit Dovecot Studio, home to contemporary art, craft and design - a true bond with Scottish textile heritage and you will get to see the weavers at work. After lunch (included), Join Kitty MacKenzie at The Scottish Textiles Showcase! Kitty’s passion for Scottish textiles is fuelled by the artisans, the amazing Scottish landscape and the craftsmanship into each piece. She wants to celebrate these skilled individuals who embrace and maintain Scottish textile heritage for new generations to enjoy, and support their communities with their living textile traditions. There will be time for you to refresh and relax before your welcome dinner at your Edinburgh hotel. Overnight Edinburgh, Lunch and Dinner included.
Today, we leave Edinburgh and travel towards Aberdeen for our ferry to Shetland. Stop in Dundee on the way to visit The V&A Dundee and the RRS Discovery. The V&A Design Gallery is the first design museum in Scotland. The waterfront gallery explores design from the past, present and future through the stunning displays on exhibit. After lunch (included), we visit the RRS Discovery and Discovery Point Museum.
RSS Discovery and Discovery Point explore the epic voyages of Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton. Continue our journey to Aberdeen, where we join the overnight ferry to Lerwick. Onboard you will find comfortable cabin accommodation as well as a bar, lounge, restaurant, cinema and gift shop. Breakfast will be served the following morning before leaving. Overnight Northlink Ferries, Lunch, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast included.
On arrival, we disembark the ferry at Lerwick and set off to explore the island. Our first stop is at The Silly Sheep fibre company, a small family croft in the village of Walls. They began producing their own yarn from their growing number of sheep, which lead on to being given or buying other local fleeces to make up the quantity needed for the mill. Wool is addictive and one batch of yarn lead onto experimenting with natural dyes and mixing breeds to give different yarns - to bring them to where they are today!
Our next stop will be at Shetland Museum and Archives, showing Shetland community heritage and culture. The galleries contain wonderful examples of delicate Shetland lace and your guided tour will focus on knitting related history and its importance to Shetland. Enjoy lunch before exploring the ancient settlement of Jarlshof. Return to your hotel for a meet and greet with your knitting host, Janette Budge. Overnight Shetland, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Travel out to gorgeous Burra and Burra Bears. Wendy Inkster makes amazing, highly sought after teddy bears from recycled Fair Isle sweaters and waste panels! Continue on to meet some of the gorgeous ponies Shetland are famous for! We return to Lerwick for you to have a break and a bit of lunch (not included) before your afternoon workshop. Don't fill up too much, as we have homemade scones and cake this afternoon!
Meet with Hazel Tindall who is an expert on Fair Isle knitting. Hazel is also the world's fastest knitter! Her half day workshop is on the topic of Fair Isle Yoke Construction and you will learn how to knit Fair Isle Yokes and study some variants of the pattern. Knit your own section of yoke, experimenting with colour and shaping. Hazel will provide the know how to design your own full Yoked sweater! Return to your hotel for dinner and a knitting circle with Janette who is on hand for all your Shetland knitting questions, tips and guidance! Overnight Shetland, Breakfast and Dinner included.
Your Shetland Knitting Belt workshop this morning is hosted by Janette Budge! Her class teaches you how to work with the belt used by generations of knitters, who had the task of hand knitting for their families. Learn how to add a raepin string at the bottom of your knitting and to see how it changes your tension, speed and ease of knitting. Janette will also demonstrate different techniques for holding your yarns while knitting Fair Isle!
Enjoy lunch at Da Haaf Restaurant before some free time to explore, relax and practice your new knitting skills! Overnight Shetland, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Shetland Textile Museum is a community museum in Shetland – the only one of its kind dedicated to the islands’ textile heritage, especially knitting, both historical and contemporary. The Collection held by the Shetland Textile Museum at The Böd of Gremista in Lerwick comprises over seven hundred items, including Fair-Isle and lace knitting, knitwear, taatit rugs, tools, tweed, and items by contemporary Shetland makers. Continue to Nielanell Studio for 'Shetland Knitwear but not as you know it!' Here it is all about contemporary colour, pattern and texture.
After lunch at the wonderful Hoswick Visitor Centre, meet with your Lace Designer for a Shetland Lace knitting class, where you will be shown the skills needed to create your own Shetland-inspired lace design. After dinner, enjoy another evening knitting circle with the lovely Janette Budge! Overnight Shetland, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.
Start the day with a visit to the picturesque Shetland Jewellery, crafting Shetland, Nordic and Celtic inspired jewellery since 1953. Nestled beside Hellister Loch, watch the detailed craftwork take place first hand, perhaps buying a piece or two that come with a lifetime guarantee! Set within Weisdale Old Mill, enjoy lunch at Bonhoga Gallery and view the artwork on show.
Return to Lerwick for yarn, yarn and yarn! Visits to Jamieson's of Shetland and Jamieson and Smith Wool Brokers will keep you busy, before a relaxed browse through The Shetland Times bookstore, featuring books on knitting and island life! Board your ferry to the mainland and have dinner onboard before setting sail. Overnight, Northlink Ferry, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Enjoy breakfast on your ferry before disembarking at Aberdeen. Our first stop of the day will be at Glamis Castle, home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. This castle was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and was also the childhood home of H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The gardens surrounding Glamis Castle are beautiful all year round where you have the opportunity to see a wide variety of flora and fauna.
We continue to Askival of Strathearn for a Kilt Making Demonstration. Here you can see first hand, the process of the traditional tailored kilt making. Learn the history of the kilt and the Highland attire, the tartans and how a kilt is made. Learn how to tell a well-made tailored kilt from a bad one and how it should fit! Continue on to Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh. Overnight Edinburgh, Breakfast and Dinner included.
This morning we travel to Kathy’s Knits where we meet with knitwear designer Lucy Hague who specialises in the translation of Celtic knotwork into cable knitting. Enjoy a talk and a chance to shop for all your last minute knitting needs! This evening revel in a tour of the Scotch Whisky Experience and a wee dram! Relax over a Scottish farewell dinner at Amber Restaurant. Overnight Edinburgh, Breakfast and Dinner included.
We will transfer you to Edinburgh airport in plenty of time to complete check-in formalities and that last minute duty free shopping.
Do you have a partner or friend that doesn't knit? They are welcome to come along, ask our sales representatives about our non-knitter discount!
| Accommodation Type | 26th May 2023 - Sold Out | 9th Jun 2023 - Sold Out | 1 Sep 2023 - Sold Out | 8th May 2024 - Sold Out | 3rd Jul 2024 - Sold Out | 4th Sep 2024 - Sold Out | 2 May 2025 | 29th Aug 2025 | 19th Sep 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person Sharing | €4,488 | €4,488 | €4,380 | €4,380 | €4,399 | €4,399 | €4,380 | €4,399 | €4,399 |
| Single Supplement | €999 | €999 | €999 | €999 | €999 | €999 | €999 | €999 | €999 |
Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.
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